comments

Great topic - and as Bob said, you're on to something. I myself am consumed with a huge project, turning out a magazine. My needs are so numerous…it's hard to pick one.

This post, I hope, does for others what it just did for me. To reassess what it is I really need and actually use the tools available to get those needs met. Thank you.

Kevin - my experience has been more toward the cheapskates - along the same lines as all the logo factories such as Logoworks.com - in my profile you'll see my design business listed (www.whiplashdesign.com) so I have had many years of freelance design project experience.

One person I talked to about Guru - he said that there are good projects in there - you just have sift through a bunch of crud - he had his wife go through them all (because she had time and wanted to) - and that is where he found his best client ever.

Hope that helps!

Jason - I would so love for you to repost that list - on my browser it's getting cut off - but I am very intrigued by this topic.

Often I am reminded that I am a leader - even though I may not think it - I am. I'm launching a magazine in Oregon, a big, huge project. When you are doing the majority of grunt work for your "baby" (as in your Big Idea) - you can lose sight of what roles you are expected to fill.

I found some interesting lists when i Googled your topic - I'll post them when I am able - but I appreciate the food for thought and look forward to hearing/reading more.

Karen - you might check Biznikian Taylor Ellwood - he has a show on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ which I have found is a really hot portal for the very thing you'd like to do.

Hope that helps ad good luck to you!

Deidre - great topic! As a new publisher, I have battled with this very thing over and over again.

AP styles is good to follow although, in my opinion, if you want soul or a personality in your writing, don't stick to the AP styles strictly - but then again, just my opinion from what I have learned.

When we did our first teaser issue of id Magazine - I let an Editor-In-Chief from the newspaper world run and deal with all of the writers and written content.

After picking up that magazine, and reading it as a reader, I was not exactly happy. (During production, I had no time to actually read the articles) There was no personality, no opinions and lack of any sort of pizazz. Yes, my fault, but it was a lesson learned for sure.

Because a newspaper mind was running that, and not a magazine mentality - we lost the writer's voices along the editing process. Magazines are quite different, you do pick them up to get opinions and such. Newspapers present facts and mostly just that.

Unfortunately, I fear Dennis' statement to be true, "Nowadays, standards are so low and really good writing so rare that it seems to matter little." A lot of writing you pick up today is so, how shall I say? Dumbed-down! 6th grade level I think is the norm in newspapers - I could be wrong.

I'm going to check out Judy's suggestion, "Elements of Style" - and see what I can pick up from it.

Good luck to you!

Chris - thank you for the reminder! I am a tech-head, but with running two businesses, often things like this can allude me. Much appreciated!

I agree on the positive message it relays - Like the group I've been a member of, SECP (Self Employed Creative Professionals) - our motto there is "A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats" - which has pushed me to to rethink my thoughts on "competition"

Thank you for the heads-up Bob - I would add to your list DEACTIVATE you plug-ins! Apologies if it's been mentioned before - but that white screen of death is a killer, and can be scary, if you don't know what's going on.

There always seems to be an update right after I just finished updating from the last upgrade - can't keep up!

I tweeted it to! Karrie - great to meet you here and there…Clients are always welcome!

Hope you get well Tshombe!

Ok - Made the change! Hope she moves up!

You are so good at this my friend! I read it and made my comments - oh heck, wait - i forgot to rate it! Doh! I'll make the change to it - what a great story she has, and it always inspires me when I see yet again another story of destiny fulfilled!

Dan - as a Twitter pro - I would think this is a great idea - I'm not sure how you would incorporate it, but it is a good idea, depending on the bigger picture.

Bigger picture meaning that Biznik will explode with new members signing up from all over the USA and maybe some from around the world. Twitter has been a kind of "best kept secret" for 2 years. Now it's going to go mainstream - unfortunately or fortunately depends on your experience or goals.

Most social media sites do have it woven into their site in some way, and you would be joining that pack. I'm sure you want Biznik to be very successful - but at what speed and how much control you want over that growth is something to keep in mind.

Great article - yes, twitter is an attention getter for sure and people have a lot to say about, want to master it and learn from it. Great job Shannon!

Thank you all for changing the date! I was going to be so bummed if I missed another chance to meet Tshombe!

Btw - I did send an e-mail to the big-boys at PABA for this event, looks like I'll have to update them on the change.

Great points and tasks Kaya! I am going to do all - 1 thru 5 just as an exercise, even if I don't need them, it's helpful to get the juices and New Year flowing - Thank you!

I was thrilled reading Gloria's response! What great ways to use print in original ways!

Bob - I design and build web sites too - and yes, that is one of the draws of the web but, there are other attractions as well.

My philosophy is this: the web is only ONE tool in a business branding and marketing plan - there are many other tools, print being one of them. However, I try to persuade some of my clients to go the web route instead of the print route when it comes to newspapers.

In Portland, one newspaper in particular, Just Out has a pretty great and effective web site and blog. I have had several clients who found that their banner ad on the blog/site proved to be money well spent - the print ad did nothing.

Of course there are things that can come into play - Was the ad's call to action good enough? Maybe full color would have been better? Maybe the target market should be directed to your web site through online marketing instead? Etc, etc. My experience with the print newspaper ads is that unless you have a boat-load of money and buy a large ad, and have advertised for a few years - yes it is effective… eventually. It also depends on the type of business - many businesses throw money at print ads in papers, without really doing the research to see what is most effective for their market and business. Some businesses are successful in Just Out's print paper -others are not. Some businesses just don't resinate well in print ads. I say, instead of the "luck of the draw", do your research and see for yourself which medium is best for your market.

With this example, for me anyway, the web banner ad performs the best and is the wiser investment.

With this, the question then turns to - how do these print papers compete with the web? Here in Portland, (I had a conversation with Jeff Fisher about this) - the Oregonian is getting thinner and thinner each week it seems. Their online site is kinda crummy. Just Out does a good job of balancing the two out. My fascination that I mentioned about print, is just how are the newspapers and magazines going to change? What will the field look like 5-10 years from now?

I can confidently say that phone books - the yellow pages is officially dying a quick death.

How many people use the physical phone book any more? How many use online sources such as CitySearch.com and Dex online?

I have not picked up a physical phone book in years to find a business - I do it all online. Unless the power or internet is down for some reason.

Joann - that commercial is wonderful! People interacting with each other, talking, snuggling, playing ball - like the web but with actual bodies being present.

Joann - Great points! I'm writing an article on the Kindle, that pretty much sums that "feeling" up, like, try reading a 1,000 page book on a screen. Not pleasant.

I have received a Holiday/Christmas Card company's mailers this past month - they include at least 2 BEAUTIFUL cards (that you can't use, because the type inside is, "your name embossed here") as examples of the quality. They have a very impressive Wow! factor.

That's just one example of many in which print is really vital - I mean, really, who wants an e-mailed Holiday/Christmas card?

Now that I think about it - I don't think "hunger for tangible advertising" is what I meant.

The human, old-school, non-digital branding is probably going to become a stronger piece, as opposed to the web - where everyone is flooded with information overload.