[NSRCA-discussion] Electronic versus Paper K-Factor Poll

Sat Jan 24 17:52:26 AKST 2009

I personally like the paper copies because I like going back and  
reading old issues without having to have to access a computer to do  
so (like when on a road trip in a car).    However, the email posted  
by Mr. Newman makes a very good case for the electronic version to  
save money.   If the vote is to go e-mail, just make sure it is easy  
to access (I do not wnat to have to remember another stupid login name  
and password) and there is a historical file so we can access older  
versions.

On Jan 24, 2009, at 6:35 PM, Troy Newman wrote:

> Hey guys,
>
>
> This is a little long. Please read it’s important to the NSRCA.
>
> I would like to say something regarding the printed KF vs. a online  
> only KF
> Today the KF is costing the organization a ton of money every month.  
> I spoke to Derek about this at the AMA show a few weeks ago. Today  
> the KF is running us about $2100 a month for just round numbers.  
> Most folks don’t know this or understand the huge cost involved  
> every month. We are funding it from dues and NATS money when  
> advertising comes up short. John Konneker is struggling to sell  
> advertising and doing a great job….but we already owe our check to  
> the company store.
>
>
>
> We are bringing in advertising money that is short of that number,  
> Let’s call it 1700 or 1800 a month typical for the last few years.  
> Now I know John K has been working very hard to increase advertising  
> money. The problem is even its breaking even…..is it really worth it  
> to you to have it in your mail box? AT $2100 a month to the group?
>
> Look at it this way. Re-structure the KF to a new layout. An online  
> magazine. The advertisers are not going to like the idea at first… 
> but here is the what I think would work.
>
> #1 tell all the advertisers. Today is a new day.  We are going to  
> give you free ads for 2 months at your current ad level. And we are  
> going online only.
>
> #2 make all KF downloads free to the public. Absolutely free in  
> every respect. But put a counter on the downloads. Get the modeling  
> public looking at what we have to offer.
>
> #3 at the end of 2 months….take the counter numbers to the  
> advertisers and say look…we were producing 800 copies a month. Now  
> it’s downloaded 2000copies a month. You just doubled your exposure.
>
> #4 Oh by the way Mr. Advertiser, we understand the economy is tough  
> on you too. Let’s do this. We want you to stay with us advertising  
> and since it’s a web only magazine, we are going to cut your ad  
> rates in ½. You get the same number of pages for the ½ the  
> money…..would you like to double your ad space for the same $$ you  
> were paying? This makes the online only magazine larger…more  
> prestige, more info for the public to see and like. Today we are  
> limited on content…we can only afford so many pages. Online there is  
> no limit essentially. At least not the budgetary limit we currently  
> have.
>
>
>
> Now let’s look at what this will do. John Konneker is selling $2000  
> a month in ads for just round numbers. It’s close to this from the  
> info I have been told.
> $2000 a month is $24,000 a year. We are using that to pay the US  
> mail, and printer company. That’s 24K a year guys!
>
> Now let’s go to online and ½ the rates….more circulation as its free  
> to all that want to get it.  We get to take $12,000 a year and put  
> in our pockets to support and grow pattern.  What can you do to grow  
> pattern if you have money in the bank? Can we give more to the USA  
> Team. Can we hold invitational contests like the Tucson shootout and  
> give cash prizes  in all classes or buy products to give away to  
> pilots. Could we completely fund the NATS banquet?
>
> The advertiser people want more exposure…so we give it away for free  
> after all the more that download it the better it is to sell ads  
> right?   Then we get new members by showing them we are friendly and  
> open folks that want them to come play with us. We get them to join  
> our organization because we support pattern not because we make a  
> magazine.  Telling them to join to get the news letter is like  
> saying we have a club but you gotta pay to play. They will be  
> helping to pay by downloading it. Oh and download often they will.   
> People want this information…..when they like what they see they  
> will join the organization. If you hold it as a sacred cow then they  
> don’t want to play in that environment. Elitism: remember the stereo  
> type we all know it’s not true or is it….You have to pay to play: is  
> this elite? Just a question there not slamming the argument…just  
> pointing out what we have been doing in the past. I think it’s time  
> for a change.
>
> Oh and by the way back to John Konnecker’s job on those months when  
> advertising is low meaning not breaking even on the printing costs  
> we currently have…Guess what we are using MEMBERS DUES and NATS  
> funds to pay the printer company and the US mail.  On the new system  
> low month for ads is just that, a low month and it’s still profit  
> mostly profit…Today we go in the hole on the KF and make up the  
> difference. Would it be neat to say well we only made $5K in  
> advertising last year but we put 4K of that in our pockets.  Instead  
> it we brought in 24K in ads, and spent all of it plus another 2-3-4K  
> out of the NSRCA treasury to pay for a printed KF.
>
> This new idea allows us to have money to advertise ourselves hold  
> events and promote pattern and get new members. The idea of paying  
> to get the KF is not attracting new members….the members we have are  
> footing the bill to pay the printer on those months that the KF  
> advertising comes up short.
>
> This is common sense guys…run this like a business and it can grow  
> and expand. Live pay check to pay check like we are….. and we are  
> always struggling to stay afloat.
>
> Is the KF in its current form worth $2100 a month to you? Yes a  
> small setup fee would need to be charged to layout the Online  
> version…so Online doesn’t mean free setup…just free printing and  
> distribution.
>
> Look Al Gore invented the internet…lets think like business people  
> and use it to spread the word. The US mail is not going to go belly  
> up, the price of stamps will just increase and so will our costs to  
> print and mail each and every member a copy.
>
> Please keep this information in mind when you vote in the poll
>
> My two cents on the subject.
>
> Troy Newman
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