Tripling online download of company magazine

[Tuumble]

Wasn't sure where to put this but I'll run with 'the Biz'

I've just finished writing, editing, designing, co-ordinating the latest edition of our company's 8-page company magazine/newsletter.

Some of the material has come from other organisations but it's essentially all my own work because I had to edit material to suit the audience. I'm rather proud of it actually.

The last issue was published back in August - it's quarterly - and was distributed to 750 Internet industry personnel and organisations in 30+ countries with another 100 issued at our quarterly member meeting.

It has been pretty well received and is still regularly downloaded from the website. To date it's had about 300 hits it's still getting 3 downloads a day in November.

The latest issue will be released online this coming Tuesday, a week before our next meeting. It has some material relevant to the meeting and will therefore act as a promo for the event to get some last minute publicity.

What I want is to get this issue downloaded 1000 in the next 3 months to outstrip paper distribution. This will be tough with Christmas in the middle but I reckon it can be done.

I intend to send a link to the major Internet news/magazine sites so they can pick out some material for additional exposure for the company which could be boosted if they posted a link on their website.

Do you think this will work to the exent that I could break 1000? What else I could I try to make this milestone?

[elliot]

Although I'm not an expert on this particular subject, I believe that more people would read your newsletter if they feel that more value is associated to it. So the question really gives is as follows:
How do I increase the value offered to people reading this newsletter?
or, at the very least, their perception of the value offered by it?

People like incentives. I'm not sure what if any you would be able to provide them. Perhaps you would know this better than I. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Tuumble]

Well, I have managed to pull a few strings and get a press release sanctioned which will be issued tomorrow.

Basically it includes highlights of the magazine plus it has been tied in with two events being staged later this month so it's industry topical.

It's not a startling press release by any means but I wrote it in a way that would encourage people to at least access the PDF.

Don't get me wrong, this is not just about 1000 downloads per se but I could give away all the detail in the press release but then why would anyone want to read more?

I've also added a couple of images to show what it looks like. This will help because it will be seen as a colourful publication and not just reams of black text on a white page.

This could fly or sink without trace but only time will tell.

[elliot]

Excellent news. If everyone is told about it before the meeting, they are more likely to a look and see what it's all about.

[Tuumble]

I hope this is OK to post - obviously I'll understand if it's removed if it's deemed as advertising but here is a link to the press release etc.

I would actually be interested in your views on the newsletter in design terms even if the content doesn't make much sense to the non-techies out there.

[Brutha]

I hope this is OK to post - obviously I'll understand if it's removed if it's deemed as advertising but here is a link to the press release etc.

The press release lost me at the second paragraf.
A good press release is written in a way that allows the editor of the newspaper to copypaste it into his news magazine.
If your press release is longer than he wants his newspaper article to be, he should be able to copypaste the first X lines and still have a good article.

Don't get me wrong, this is not just about 1000 downloads per se but I could give away all the detail in the press release but then why would anyone want to read more?

If you have no interesting details in your press release why should the reader of that press release except that you have interesting information in your newsletter?

[Tuumble]

Originally Posted by Brutha

The press release lost me at the second paragraf.

Some of those sentences are a little long I guess but it does state what's in the magazine. Just could've been worded a little better.

A good press release is written in a way that allows the editor of the newspaper to copypaste it into his news magazine.

So far the release has been picked up by 16 websites and has been copy and pasted word for word. The only differences is that some have removed direct links and others taken away the editors notes.

Sixteen pick ups is quite low compared to what we are used to but it's a bit of a non-story if I'm honest. People can read the magazine or not - it will be interesting to geeks so letting people know about it is a good service I'd say..

If we had to pay for the release as a one-off rather than as part of a contract we may not have issued it but who knows.

If your press release is longer than he wants his newspaper article to be, he should be able to copypaste the first X lines and still have a good article.

The first line is: 'The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has launched the latest edition of its popular 8-page news magazine, HotLINX, available now at www.linx.net.' which is exactly what the story is. Those in the industry who read these sites will know who the company is and will know what to expect.

If you have no interesting details in your press release why should the reader of that press release except that you have interesting information in your newsletter?

I'll admit the contents are not written quite as well as they should be in para 2 but I'm OK with it. I guess we'll have to wait to see what number of downloads we get over the three months between issues.

So far after 24 hours we've had 55 downloads while issue 11 had 300 since August so I'm not too disheartened.