Hard Copy Questions

A hard copy edition of a web-content site

[vincevincevince]

I've noticed that being an online only publication doesn't command nearly as much respect as a printed publication - even if the circulation is low. In fact, it seems that companies and notable persons are more willing to answer queries from an unknown local paper full of stories about school plays, than a focused online publication with probably a higher readership!

The question is - if I were to do a monthly run of the new stories in hard copy - would that help - has anyone here tried that? How did you get it printed (I've noticed that I need to be doing 10,000 copies to get a low price for print runs with the firms I found online (UK)). I'm thinking of a folded A3 format publication, just one double sided A3 leaf.

[monkeythumpa]

Will it be worth the added expense for your bottom line? That would be my metric.

[vincevincevince]

Will it be worth the added expense for your bottom line? That would be my metric.

Extra exposure may increase on-site traffic, possiblility but probably not a strong one of hardcopy advertising, ability to get better coverage due to better press credentials should lead to harder hitting news... etc.?

[Syzygy]

This is a very interesting area; a market is developing here slowly but surely. A trend worthy of tracking.

I know of one company that has set up in the UK specifically to help site owners cross the divide and produce paper/hard copy versions of their online offerings.

Other aspects to consider when looking to go into print, vincex3, are: repro costs, means of distribution and the costs associated therein, plus time & manpower.

As for it gaining you greater credibility and thus better access to sources, hmm. Working across both paper and web, I find that in the main the key to success in getting info (regardless of what type is sought) from companies or individuals of note, is entirely down to the approach one uses - and who you approach.

It is news/newsworthy comment for the purpose of content that is the ultimate quest here? If so, there are quite a few things you could/should do that you may not be doing presently, which may be at the root of your 'credentials' problem...

Syzygy

[vincevincevince]

Syzygy, the ultimate quest is, as always, the bottom line. However, in a sector dominated by print media and periodicals (such as the area I have in mind), I feel sure that being in hardcopy as well would add significant value to the brand/title.

Lecturers still tell students not to trust information 'from the web', and that websites 'whilst acceptable, are discouraged as citations'. These are some of my motivations for investigating a hardcopy version.

A further advantage is getting something through the post is much more likely, in my opinion, to be remembered than seeing it whilst browsing the net.

[BigDave]

How about forming some sort of symbiotic relationship with some of the current dead tree publications?

I take several magazines that have published interesting threads from online fora and listservs.

If you make it clear that you are trying to work *with* them instead of competeing *against* them, and you might get what you want without all the expense.