How to Produce a Magazine

Many people dream of being a publisher, but are unsure of where to begin. Although there are many different types of publishing, one of the most popular is that of publishing magazines and periodicals. With a little hard work, it can be a realistic goal to produce a magazine of your very own. If being a magazine publisher has been a dream of yours, keep reading to learn how to produce a magazine on your own.

Step1
Select a niche that your magazine will focus on. While you can technically have a magazine that is about anything and everything, it is generally not a good idea. Your magazine should be based around a specific topic or theme, which allow you to build a core audience of loyal readers who have an interest in that topic. Ideally, it should be something that you either have a strong personal interest in, or have expertise in, so that your job of editing and producing the magazine will be an easier and more enjoyable experience.

Step2
Start a blog or web site about your chosen niche before you move on to the phase of being a magazine publisher. This step is certainly optional and can be skipped, but there are benefits to taking this step. It will allow you to get used to managing content, to form relationships with writers and to develop an audience who will subscribe to your magazine when it is ready to be published.

Step3
Decide what your publishing schedule will be. Not all magazines are published on a monthly basis. Many magazines are published every other month and some are even published quarterly. A popular tactic for new magazines is to start with publishing 6 issues per year (every other month), and then begin a monthly publishing schedule when there are enough subscribers and newsstand sales to justify the increased production.

Step4
Hire writers to produce content for your magazine. If you have a smaller scale magazine that operates on a tight budget, then you may be able to find writers who will submit content to your publication in exchange for a by-line, and perhaps a mention of their web site. You may also use a free advertisement as a method of paying for articles. However, if you want high quality, professionally written stories for your magazine, you’ll have to be prepared to pay your writers. After all, a by-line is nice for building credibility, but it doesn’t do a lot for putting food on the table. Expect to pay at least three cents per word, minimum, with higher profile writers demanding more.

Step5
Hire someone to do the graphic layouts for your magazine. These layouts blend the text together with images, to form a professional looking layout and design. Magazine and newspaper layouts are typically put together using a computer software program called Quark Xpress. This program comes in versions for both the Mac and PC, although the Mac version is more widely used. There are other layout programs as well, but Xpress is clearly the industry leader, so you will need to find a layout editor who is proficient with this software.

Step6
Line up distribution channels for your magazine. Paid subscribers are one way of getting your magazine out, but if you only send to subscribers, you’ll be completely missing most of your potential customers. You need to seek out distributors of periodicals (newspapers and magazines) so that you can formulate deals that will get your product carried by super markets, drug stores and newsstands from coast to coast. Having a strong distribution network is one of the keys to producing a magazine successfully.

Step7
Find a print shop that can print the magazine that you produce. Every metropolitan area has one or more professional print shops that can handle the job for you. The prices can range greatly depending on the number of copies printed, the number of pages per copy, the paper weight chosen, whether glossy paper is used and how much color ink is involved. Arrange a meeting with your printer to discuss your budget and the particular details of your magazine, so that you may work together to find a solution that works great for everyone involved.

Don't ever throw away unsold copies of your magazine. It is worth the added expense to mail them out as freebies to potential customers, along with a letter inviting them to subscribe to your publication.