Starting your own magazine is a fantastic idea if you want to share your writing with the world. The three basic types of magazines are glossy news stand publications, photocopied zines, and online magazines. Photocopied zines and online magazines are the most simple types of magazines to start.
Zines are self-published photocopied magazines. They can be hand-written or typed out, and are extremely rewarding and inexpensive to create. Online magazines, like blogs and e-zines, are becoming more and more popular. They are usually free to create and are fairly simple. The best way to start any type of magazine is with an idea and a leap of faith. Follow the tips below to get you started.
FIVE TIPS TO START YOUR OWN MAGAZINE:
#1. Find your niche.
You need to choose a topic that A) you know a lot about B) you are passionate about and C) that others are interested in. This is called a niche. You can choose any topic you like, such as parenting, fashion, art, music, traveling, health, or anything else that you know you can write a lot about. Try to be as specific as possible so that you can target a specific audience.
#2. Decide what type of magazine you will start.
Some writers start with a printed magazine and add an online e-zine after they gain an audience. Others just start online. Some do both. A printed zine will probably cost you around fifty dollars to print out at your local copy shop. An online e-zine or blog is usually free to start. You can make money with both, though not much at first. Glossy news stand publications are expensive, time consuming, and complicated, but have a higher earning potential.
#3. Take a deep breath and go for it.
Actually sitting down and living out your dream of becoming a published author is probably the toughest step. You may feel inadequate, poorly prepared, and nauseous, but you need to just get your words down on paper (or screen). Believe in yourself and others will too.
If you want to make a zine, just start with a few articles and stories. Decide on an eye-pleasing layout and make enough copies to hand out to friends and relatives. If you want to start an online magazine, go to a blogging website, like Word Press. A glossy magazine requires more planning. You need to think about things like investors, advertisers, writers, and printers.
#4. Market and distribute your magazine.
If you do an online blog or e-zine, email your site address out to everyone you know. Go onto places like MySpace and start making friends. Participate in forums and blogging carnivals. You have to get your URL on as many websites as possible. Start learning about search engine optimization (SEO) so that search engines can find your page easier.
If you do a printed zine, distribute your first issue to family and friends. Include contact information at the end of your zine so that people can subscribe to it if they want. Be clear about your price and ask that they mail you a payment. You can also go into doctor offices (or any type of business that is related to your topic) and ask if you can leave your magazine there.
If you start a glossy magazine, market it to those who would be interested in your specific topic. For instance, if it is a health magazine, market it to health clubs, doctor offices, and to anyone else that would be interested.
#5. Make money.
You can make money with your zine by charging a subscription fee. You can make money with your online zine by inserting advertisements. Use free programs like Google Adsense and Link Share. Glossy magazines have the highest earning potential, if it succeeds.
Overall, the simplest and most rewarding magazines to start are zines and online magazines. No matter what type of magazine you choose to start, it is important to never give up. Many people will slam doors in your face (both literally and figuratively) but always keep writing and believing in yourself. Persistence and hard work will make your dream a reality.