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

Sat Jan 24 20:34:16 AKST 2009

I apologize if it’s already been covered, I read Troy’s post and skimmed the
others to make sure that it didn’t pop out at me.

Where are we going to get the money for someone to format the electronic
K-Factor? Would that even be a concern? I assume that there could be a
plug-and-play format to the magazine that maybe Chris or whomever just adds
the content in the appropriate areas and bypass a publisher. Does the
formatting come from the publisher currently? Isn’t that where most of the
cost is? Unless we can internalize the magazine’s production with the
transition to online only, we could really save. Would that be feasible?

I like the paper K-Factor better, as it’s a little more portable say for
traveling. I think that it’s a little more “user friendly” in the fact that
it’s easier to read, unless of course it’s to be reformatted from the online
version we have now. We can still give out printed back issues to anyone at
a contest or at a trade show or something to show what the magazine content
is, and hopefully generate some interest with new people if the concern is
to generate a wider audience. If most of the cost is in the setup, and not
the production, why not print a little higher percentage over what we get
now, and send the extras to the VP’s,  and AVP’s to distribute at hobby
shops or to people at their fields or new Sportsman pilots.

I don’t see an all-electronic version necessarily a bad thing, I just don’t
see it as the holy grail that I perceive some have lauded it to be.

Kindest Regards,

Ryan Smith

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of krishlan
fitzsimmons
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 11:40 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Electronic versus Paper K-Factor Poll

While Troy makes some good points, there is alot of research to be done.
Troy is incorrect IMO on that we are limited on pages. I haven't ran into
this problem in 2 years of editing. We are limited on people submitting info
to me. I put everything I can get into the Kfactor.

As for advertisers staying with us, I'm not so sure they would stay with an
online only magazine. Look at Imac.. They have two ad's on theirs and they
are bigger than us. 

I don't feel people will join the Nsrca because they like what they read. I
think most of us pay because we support pattern. Heck, the only reason I
feel I pay my AMA dues are for the magazine. I don't want that online.. 

Sacred cow eh? lol.. 

Troy, yes, this is a business. But we're not selling products here. We are a
group of individuals that fly planes. Online is good, yes. I agree. Paper is
good too. How much in paper and ink will it take to print out your copy of
the Kfactor so you can take it to the bathroom? My ink gets me probably 300
pages tops. At $60 per ink set. 30 pages per Kfactor x 12 months, 360 pages.
Probably about $70 worth of ink. Hmmmm. I'll support a dues increase first..

I like paper first and online, but I would like to propose that we make our
online magazine downloadable for a small fee to non members, and also make
all our advertisers ads clickable in the online version. And also offer them
a pay per click advertising spot on the website. 

Don't get me wrong folks. I think this discussion is great, as it was at the
AMA show a few weeks back. I will be more than happy to support whatever.
But it's hard enough to get any articles or pics as it is to make the
Kfactor enjoyable. How many articles and pics will you submit when its only
online? I think this will kill the KFactor. 

Chris 

--- On Sat, 1/24/09, Troy Newman <troy at troynewman.net> wrote:

From: Troy Newman <troy at troynewman.net>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Electronic versus Paper K-Factor Poll
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 6:35 PM

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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