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Post by Mac Write on Jul 26, 2006 0:09:23 GMT -8
After talking with Graham tonight about my long time idea of a newsletter about Ferries of BC, we have come up with the idea of a monthly Zine about Ferries of BC that would be a monnthly newsletter/magizine/ or something about ferries. The idea has grown so big, that it's going to need quite a few people/team to get it out each month. From Editors, to reporters, to columnists, and so on.
The goal of the newsletter is to appeal to the general public and get them interested and vocal about their ferry systems - From B.C. Ferries to Inland ferries and everthing in between. What do you want to see in the newsletter/zine, what do you think would help get the general public interested in ferries and informed about the happenings of ferries each month?
Your opinions please
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Post by Retrovision on Jul 26, 2006 0:16:16 GMT -8
I think this idea could help expand interest in ferries even further beyond the select few who know about the ferry-fan community, and help attract a wider range of opinions / content, etc.
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Post by Mike C on Jul 26, 2006 12:37:26 GMT -8
Sounds good! If you want more customers other then the people inside this board, you will need some good material (i.e. saying that the Tachek has a slightly shorter waiting room then the QQII is NOT good material. Mentioning that the Coquitlam has a very interesting and useful evacuation chutes is.) How would this be distributed?
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Post by Mac Write on Jul 26, 2006 13:41:37 GMT -8
Oh I am wanting to see serious circulation in the tens of thousands (long term). It's to appeal to the none ferry buff. I have some ideas for the news section and content but need your opinions. Just thinking about it in bed last night, it's going to be a serious amount of work each month. But to help the people of BC be really informed about their ferry system will help keep a fire under BC Ferries, Seaspans, Highways, WMG's, etc's butt.
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Post by Mike C on Jul 26, 2006 13:52:03 GMT -8
Well, alright, but again, how will it be distributed? (i.e. via E-mail or something/someway else?)
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 26, 2006 15:31:07 GMT -8
Tens of thousands is too many, perhaps in the hundreads but tens of thousands may be going a bit too far.
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Post by Splash on Jul 26, 2006 17:01:29 GMT -8
You better have pretty deep pockets and ample time to expect this idea to fly. It's not going to work. There isn't a market for it; people aren't interested in ferries. This is a ferry fan site, and we're the only one's who care. No one else does.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 26, 2006 17:10:23 GMT -8
Splash, I believe that you should spend your time elsewhere instead of making snide remarks. If we were not intrested in ferries then why would we even be here? How do you know that their is not a market for it eh? Explain instead of just putting in it ain't going to work.
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Post by Mike C on Jul 26, 2006 17:29:23 GMT -8
Splash: There's already a ferry newsletter out there - and it's a huge hit. BC Ferries Service Notices & Press Releases via E-Mail - one of the best. So do you mind? We're trying to make something productive happen.
Mac: Splash does have one point: You'd better have the time and the money to make it happen. It won't work if you publish it "whenever you feel like it." However, there should be a good sized market, but tens of thousands is a bit much.
Good Luck, and may the force be with you.
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Post by Mac Write on Jul 26, 2006 17:36:12 GMT -8
Don't have the money but I originally was thinking e-mail. Maybe a PDF newsletter you can download. Then seek advertising to cover costd and improve it.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 26, 2006 17:55:18 GMT -8
I thought that Splash's comments were fair and valid, and I agree with them.
Dan, I think you misinterpreted Splash's comments......in my interpretation they weren't snide, and Splash is not saying that we aren't interested in ferries.......Splash is correctly saying that we (us on this forum) are likely the only-people interested in ferries to that extent.
It sounds like a fun way to lose lots of money, or an expensive-hobby, however you look at it.
I'm not interested, but I wish Mac's crew luck if they want to make a go of it.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 26, 2006 18:15:29 GMT -8
Fluge, the statement may be true but there is no proof of that, perhaps the interest ring of BC Ferries it maybe true but with ferries for say in europe it may not be true. I did not misinterpet his comments, I still think it is somewhat rude to say it cause you never know if others who have a passion for ferries will come here.
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Post by Splash on Jul 26, 2006 19:37:09 GMT -8
Splash, I believe that you should spend your time elsewhere instead of making snide remarks. If we were not intrested in ferries then why would we even be here? How do you know that their is not a market for it eh? Explain instead of just putting in it ain't going to work. I work in the media and I can tell you from insider knowledge, this project isn't going to work. 1.) The price of printing. Anyone ever printed a magazine before? Even a small newspaper? The price is absurd. It costs thousands of dollars to print even a few hundread copies of the most basic types of print media, and even after you've printed them, there is no guaruntee that there is going to be people to purchase them. 2.) Before a new publication is launched, companies conduct market analysis to find out if people will actually buy the product that they have in mind; but before companies even get to the stage of conducting a market research, there needs to be a demand for the product in the first place 3.) Distributuion is the next problem. How do you expect to distribute this publication? Simply leaving them inside terminal buildings will almost certainly see them un-noticed, so you'll need to hire people to distribute them (similar to what the "24 Hours" people do at SkyTrain stations, and even with that, do you think they're breaking even? 4.)Staffing. It takes more than a couple of people with micrsoft word and an idea to put together a publication. You need to promote yourself, set up an office etc etc. I could go on and on, and I will if there is a valid reason for me to , but there is no way that you'll see any success in this idea. It's a neat idea, and I think it would be a good publication to read but I'm sorry to say that nobody, expect members of this forum (myself included!) , care about ferries. They are an extension of our highway system. Many people don't even know what ship they just got off after a sailing. Instead of rolling out a magazine, why not promote this site? Attract more visitors to the site instead of launching an expensive publication that will end up in the trash. I'm sorry to rain on you're parade here, but I don't want to see this idea end up in a disaster. Here's an idea of what you could model your newsletter off of. It's published monthly online by the West Coast Railway Assoc. on the internet. No need for printing costs and easy to make. wcra.org/railwaynews/ |
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Post by Splash on Jul 26, 2006 19:39:08 GMT -8
I did not misinterpet his comments... Yes you did ;D |
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Post by Curtis on Jul 26, 2006 19:58:42 GMT -8
I agree that this should be more of a internet thing
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 26, 2006 20:22:01 GMT -8
Splash I stand where I stand,, that is how I personally take it, you may disagree with my view but that does not mean I was misinterpeting. I do appreciate you explaining your reasons for why it would be a failure. I believe that distribution via the Internet can be a better method of doing things.
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Post by Splash on Jul 26, 2006 21:14:02 GMT -8
How was I being rude? This topic is asking for opinions. I gave mine. Evidently, you disagree with it, but that doesn't mean I am rude.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 26, 2006 21:39:44 GMT -8
How was I being rude? This topic is asking for opinions. I gave mine. Evidently, you disagree with it, but that doesn't mean I am rude. If I were to join right now, I would feel a bit offended. That is what I think was a tad rude, otherwise, it was fine to voice your opinion. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 26, 2006 21:49:55 GMT -8
(all right, move-along folks, keep the traffic...I mean the "Topic" moving......)
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,311
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Post by Neil on Jul 26, 2006 22:09:12 GMT -8
Here's a little experiment.
Next time you're at a party, or out with a group of friends, express your enthusiasm for the fact that there's a 'V' sailing on route 2, or maybe inform everyone about the history of 'rad unit' problems on the Queen of Capilano.
Notice how everyone nods apprehensively, and gradually moves away from you. Tell you anything?
99.999% of the population gets all the ferry info they need from the schedules in the paper, and BC Ferries' website, and the occasional news story.
When non-ferry-fans meet to talk about ferries, it's usually users who are concerned about the threat of privatization, subsidies, service levels, and the cost of pre-paid frequent user tickets- not subjects that a lot of this forum's members, particularly the young ones, have a lot of interest in. They don't spend much time planning fan trips on the Cumbie, or talking about the latest poster at Swartz Bay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Mr. Write, for goodness sake, don't lose any more sleep musing about tens of thousands of new found ferry aficionados. Enjoy your uniqueness as a ferry freak. You don't need legions of converts to validate your interests, and, pal, you ain't gonna find them.
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Post by Mac Write on Jul 26, 2006 23:11:33 GMT -8
the stories will be what the general public want's to hear (like fare increases, service levels) and stuff along with stuff for he geeks and so on.
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Post by NMcKay on Jul 27, 2006 0:02:27 GMT -8
try lulu.com. they use Color lasers to keep prices cheap, and its all on demand, no unsold copies.
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Post by Mac Write on Jul 27, 2006 0:45:42 GMT -8
to start off with it will be a free PDF download. Then the work begins on getting advertisers once distribution picks up.
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