One football preview annual. That is it.
I think a lot of people are responding thinking that it would be monthly, quarterly or something like that, which is not the case.
Looking for a little feedback on a print publication
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One football preview annual. That is it.
I think a lot of people are responding thinking that it would be monthly, quarterly or something like that, which is not the case.
I don't think there's anything you could put in print form that isn't already easily accessible either on the website or in well-established preseason magazines. It's a neat idea, though. If you think you can make it worthwhile, I would probably buy one just to support the project and see what you guys can put together, then judge if I would buy it again.
Have you read any of the "reviews" they put out for ISU? I'm more than certain that CF writers could put something together that blows the "well-established" out of the water with respect to ISU coverage and knowledge.
When I said $20 price point I was picturing hardcover, almost like a yearbook. The first half would break down last year's season with all of the pictures, game stories, etc then the second half be the season preview. I would LOVE that on the coffee table in my mancave! Then I could start a series going forward.
As a lot of others, I'm sure, have mentioned, this is kind of a risk, but if done well, I and I'm sure many other CF'ers, as well as regular Cyclone fans, would be very interested. I'd buy one for sure.
It'd be nice to have something dedicated solely to happenings in the Cardinal and Gold world, rather than a two paragraph byline written by someone who knows as much, or less, about our f-ball program than the average fan does.
After you get an idea of the format and content, I'm pretty sure you could find at least local advertisers, and maybe even more, to help defray the cost and offset some of the financial risk.
Put me down for an issue!!
It'd be nice to have something dedicated solely to happenings in the Cardinal and Gold world, rather than a two paragraph byline written by someone who knows as much, or less, about our f-ball program than the average fan does.
After you get an idea of the format and content, I'm pretty sure you could find at least local advertisers, and maybe even more, to help defray the cost and offset some of the financial risk.
Put me down for an issue!!
Do we need to have a CF bake sale? I would donate scotcharoos if we could get a weekly Ben Bruns take.:v_SPIN:
The key would be original content never seen on this website nor ever added to this website later. Limiting it to just football may be a mistake just from a content perspective.
Ideas for content:
* Where are they know articles/interviews on former athletes (Fizer, Dobbins, Cato, Troy Davis, etc.)
* Coach interviews
* Sport update for all major sports (yes even women's basketball and Volleyball)?
* Current player interviews
* Outside articles/interviews about each team's up coming season.
All in all it could work. I agree with the pre-order idea with an outline provided before of what the content would be. $10 price range is probably more realistic starting out to get a stronger committment.
Remember a lot of people were burned by Deace and is Cyclone Nation publication that never seemed to be printed and delivered at all or at the very best 2 months later which contained articles read on-line the month prior.
Ideas for content:
* Where are they know articles/interviews on former athletes (Fizer, Dobbins, Cato, Troy Davis, etc.)
* Coach interviews
* Sport update for all major sports (yes even women's basketball and Volleyball)?
* Current player interviews
* Outside articles/interviews about each team's up coming season.
All in all it could work. I agree with the pre-order idea with an outline provided before of what the content would be. $10 price range is probably more realistic starting out to get a stronger committment.
Remember a lot of people were burned by Deace and is Cyclone Nation publication that never seemed to be printed and delivered at all or at the very best 2 months later which contained articles read on-line the month prior.
As others have said, I don't want it to detract from the content on the site. It sounds like that is not what you are suggesting, so I am ok with that. Would I buy it? Maybe. I'm not sure what you could work out with the university, but I know I would definitely be more apt to buy it if I saw it sold in Jack Trice. As some others have said, a hard cover with Wesley pictures, exclusive coach & player interviews, and ~ $15 would be great.
This idea and then maybe some reference material for during the season with player/coach bios (if you're allowed to do that)...I'd like that and it would be a good thing to get my Dad since he's really not of the computer generation...something he could reference throughout the season.
I think if you stick with that and original material from people like yourself, Bruns, AA, etc. it would be a pretty good deal...and as you said it's a one time/year thing (which many on here don't seem to grasp) so the fear of keeping it going $$ wise on a periodic basis isn't there.
I think if your put as much effort into that as you do this site, you'll be sitting in butter my friend...it will be successful...
I would be for it! especially me being in Minnesota during football season.
Couple questions:
cost?
Printer? Only reason i ask is, if you have not chosen one yet PM me chris my dad is in the printing business.
Couple questions:
cost?
Printer? Only reason i ask is, if you have not chosen one yet PM me chris my dad is in the printing business.
Chris,
I would stay away. You said it yourself. U cannot lose money. Unless you HAVE to take the risk for some reason( my impression is that you don't) then don't take it. Only jump into a situation like this when you CAN lose money once you are in a better financial position to do so and at that point decide if it is something to pursue.
Everyone you talk to will say that they would be interested in buying one, but none of them have a vested interest. YOU do!
Printers will tell you that this is a slam dunk, but again, they do not have a vested interest. They don't stand to lose anything. YOU do!
Look at the costs, set some goals to get to a point where you CAN risk losing money and reasses at that time.
Probably more advise that you were looking for but advise none the less. Good luck with your decision.
I would stay away. You said it yourself. U cannot lose money. Unless you HAVE to take the risk for some reason( my impression is that you don't) then don't take it. Only jump into a situation like this when you CAN lose money once you are in a better financial position to do so and at that point decide if it is something to pursue.
Everyone you talk to will say that they would be interested in buying one, but none of them have a vested interest. YOU do!
Printers will tell you that this is a slam dunk, but again, they do not have a vested interest. They don't stand to lose anything. YOU do!
Look at the costs, set some goals to get to a point where you CAN risk losing money and reasses at that time.
Probably more advise that you were looking for but advise none the less. Good luck with your decision.
I would buy it, but I'm that crazy person who still likes real newspapers.
As far is if it is feasible.....I have no idea how many you have to print. I also wonder if you could get them in the bookstores in Ames? Maybe HyVees?
As far is if it is feasible.....I have no idea how many you have to print. I also wonder if you could get them in the bookstores in Ames? Maybe HyVees?
I may be a cheapskate, but this is what I am worried about. I do think it would take content away from the site and make it for sale. I guess that is probably the goal?
I don't know. I'm just a busy person who doesn't really have time for a print thing, but will look at a website a couple of times a day for a few minutes when I have the chance. I realize it is basically the same thing, but there is something about it that seems different that will likely make me not buy a print edition. Just me.
New ventures have a common thread.....they are capital intensive and lose money. Additionally, print is becoming more problematic with each passing day. So why lose $ on a buggy whip technology? You have said you dont want to lose on this venture and it seems to me you are in an excellent position to do just that.
5 cents please
5 cents please
I think that's one key: Plenty of knowledgable contributors on CF — both "official" contributors and a few message-boarders who have niche expertise. If you have minimal overhead in that regard, it could help.
Al 4 State said (reiterating earlier post): "As someone else said, what is it going to have that we can't get here? That would be a sticking point for me. That and cost."
Yes, we get a ton of (free) info here. The key to a publication would be, how unique is the content.
An advantage of a print pub: I'd bet a lot of frequent consumers of CF would like having that sort of thing all in one place, in physical form. It depends on how it's presented, what's included.
Question is — would it be marketable enough to ISU fans who aren't in the online community mode?
Sorry if my comments on this post are scattershot — thinking on-the-fly about the value of such a publication, at the fringe of what seems obvious (an annual magazine doesn't seem worth the risk in the digital age).
Good ideas. Make sure that you have pre-sold enough copies to fit your business plan so that you know you don't lose money. And have advertising. You might also want to sell online access to digital copy that is not print-friendly.
You could have a "best of CF" section. If nothing else, quote some of the most egotistical CFers because you know they will buy copies!
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