Club Magazine

I've been championing the idea of a club magazine with some of the mods (you know who you are! ).

I think we could produce something fairly respectable, mainly for the following reasons:

• The talent of photographers we have on the site (e.g. Tom, Lui)
  
• The quality and humour in certain member's writing (e.g. Michael, Red M, Matt H)
  
• The photogenic cars people have built (e.g. Supradibbs)
  
• The photogenic driving some members like to partake in (e.g. Jamie P)
  

The build threads we've seen over the past year have also been incredible, in both pictoral and technical aspects.

The club events make the ideal content for major features, and we've got members competiting in 3 different kinds of motorsport that spring directly to mind.

Members could add blogs about trips they've been on, and it would give the newer members a way to familiarise themselves with the club and its members without feeling like they have to become 'accepted' as a poster on the site first.

We've such a wealth of experience on here, I think it would be good to have something we can be proud of as a club.

What do people think? What objections do people have?

I've added a poll with a few options/ideas, vote for as many as you like. It's just to get an idea of demand or lack of... I can add more options as they are suggested.

I'd be happy to get involved in my own time to help pull it all together, I have some professional experience at this sort of thing.

As stated in the past when this topic has come up I really don't understand the need for it - if I want to read this stuff and look at pictures of Supras I come here. Everything you plan to include and the people you want to provide it are already in place.

I'm sure it would look pretty printed out or even rebundled into a PDF each month but why bother when it's already available right here?

I don't have an issue with the concept, I just don't see why it's necessary.

As stated in the past when this topic has come up I really don't understand the need for it - if I want to read this stuff and look at pictures of Supras I come here. Everything you plan to include and the people you want to provide it are already in place.

 

I'm sure it would look pretty printed out or even rebundled into a PDF each month but why bother when it's already available right here?

 

I don't have an issue with the concept, I just don't see why it's necessary.

I think it's an opportunity to collate the information into a user-friendly format, which may be easier to enjoy if someone isn't as proficient on computers or forum software.

It has always been in the back of my mind that we should do something like this. The time and effort involved put me off, but if a group of like minded people can put it together then it would be a great benefit for the club.

How would it be paid for?

Personally I'd rather just read it on the forum.

EDIT, Need a not interested option on the poll.

I think it's an opportunity to collate the information into a user-friendly format, which may be easier to enjoy if someone isn't as proficient on computers or forum software.

Surely they will need to be proficient enough to find the forum and use the search button in order to find out there is a club magazine though?

Or are you planning to sell this in WHSmith?

We are a successful internet-based club built around a forum, how big is the group of people you want to reach out to with a magazine as an alternative? What will they bring to the club? How will you contact them to make them aware of the club magazine? How will they receive it? Will there be a discounted membership for people who are unable to use the Internet but are able to join a club and request a magazine via it?

It has always been in the back of my mind that we should do something like this. The time and effort involved put me off, but if a group of like minded people can put it together then it would be a great benefit for the club.

What benefits do you think it brings the club? I feel like I'm missing something here.

Surely they will need to be proficient enough to find the forum and use the search button in order to find out there is a club magazine though?

Not if we have copies for sale at all the car shows the club attends, or at meets, or any real world situation really.

Or are you planning to sell this in WHSmith?

Nope.

We are a successful internet-based club built around a forum, how big is the group of people you want to reach out to with a magazine as an alternative?

Who knows? People may well like to spend £2 to find out about the world of Supras without having to sign up and pay £10 for membership. Call it 'on-the-bog' reading.

What will they bring to the club? How will you contact them to make them aware of the club magazine? How will they receive it? Will there be a discounted membership for people who are unable to use the Internet but are able to join a club and request a magazine via it?

Obviously the publication will be linked to the site, but at the same time will not (and couldn't be) a carbon copy of it.

The site has masses of content. I'm talking about simmering it down into interesting articles and features which your average car enthusiast might like to read.

What percentage of the £2.00 an issue will the contributing people get?

Will there be an option to opt out of having forum content you've posted included in the magazine or is it taken that anything posted here is the the property of the club and can be used in any way it sees fit?

What percentage of the £2.00 an issue will the contributing people get?

It should be non-profit IMO and £2 was just a guide price.

Will there be an option to opt out of having forum content you've posted included in the magazine or is it taken that anything posted here is the the property of the club and can be used in any way it sees fit?

Of course, nothing will make it into the magazine without permission from the author, completely apart from the site. That goes without saying from an ethical point of view (well, mine anyway).

While it would look nice and shiny, I suspect the arse-ache & money involved wouldn't see a return even if it was to break even.

Great content about Supras is on here already (as has been said)

It's a limited market already etc. Nice idea Gaz, but I'm out

What benefits do you think it brings the club? I feel like I'm missing something here.

We are all here for the love of the Supra so it means people can read more about it or see pictures they may not have seen.

Same could be said of the calendar, all the pictures in there are already on the forum somewhere and the calendar part is quite publically available!! But still they sell as the members like looking at pictures of the cars.

Same would apply to a magazine, members will get to see their car in print, show their friends and read articles. We then get a different advertising stream when other people see the magazine and come along to the site.

There is a reason why paper based literature has been so popular for so long.

There is a reason why paper based literature has been so popular for so long.

There is also a reason why a lot of specialist magazines don't last very long despite seeming like a fantastic idea at the time.

There is also a reason why a lot of specialist magazines don't last very long despite seeming like a fantastic idea at the time.

yep, lack of funding as they can no longer sell advertising. The magazine wont be based on getting enough advertising to keep running though, it will be based on enthusiasm of those doing it and some funding from the club. If either of those run out then it is knackered

interesting concept - certainly attractive for the older generation that dont get enough of their supra fix online and prefer a print hardcopy format.

If the contributors are content in putting themselves and their time forward on a regular basis (whatever that frequency is) then it can only be a good thing.

I would certinaly recommend having an online version as that is what I would be checking out - like Micheal said - think the forum itself does a more than sufficient job itself.

As for bog reading - thought thats what a laptop or an iphone was for

Or if you were really flashy something like this

imi

Like the idea...

Gaz, happy to help out, even if it is just proof-reading.

I think it is an interesting idea.

Although I spend a lot of time on the site, I am sure I have missed out on a lot of content as there are various forums that I do not visit.

It might be nice to get a feature on a members car each time and answer a few of the simple "how do I..." questions.

The traders on the forum could also take advantage of the magazine by promoting offers etc...

I think the important aspect of a forum magazine is that all the dribble can be filtered out.

If all the top quality articles / threads etc were collated into a singular entity it would make for a very interesting read.

It would be of most benefit to those members who don’t access the forums that much. Those who may miss a lot of the really interesting stuff who could catch up on everything important by simply picking up a copy of the quarterly / monthly ‘review’ if you will.

I’m in favour, but it will take a lot of collaborative effort.

The Mazda Rotary club had a magazine they were giving out for free at Jap Show - it's a nice idea and a nice introduction to the club.

I think it would be a good idea if we did some kind of handout for events - buyers guide, modding tips etc. Then if it developed into a full scale magazine, see where it goes.

I quite like the idea, and wouldn't mind helping out. There is mention of content already being available on the forum here, but sometimes i just want to read something interesting for 5 minutes say in a tea break at work, rather than trawling through 10 pages of posts which only actually has a hand full worth reading.

The idea of having the most interesting web content in the magazine sounds good. I'm assuming we can get Nizam in as a guest writer?

It would be good also to have some special info that is magazine only so at least you feel as if you're getting something not available anywhere else

I'm quite happy to offer my design skills for free! I can also source the cheapest method for print as well.

I think the idea is great - with the right content (future show dates/meets etc) and some good photgraphy I'm sure an annual forum/members mag could be a real success.

It would be good also to have some special info that is magazine only so at least you feel as if you're getting something not available anywhere else

Supra related crossword? A sudoko

I used to love Club Magazine.

Now we're talking, fellas!

It would be good also to have some special info that is magazine only so at least you feel as if you're getting something not available anywhere else

Precisely what I was thinking. Proper features on events, days out and motorsport dates. They can go onto the website afterwards if needs be, but some kind of USP in that vein would certainly be a good start.

I'm quite happy to offer my design skills for free! I can also source the cheapest method for print as well.

 

I think the idea is great - with the right content (future show dates/meets etc) and some good photgraphy I'm sure an annual forum/members mag could be a real success.

I think you're right, and thanks for the offer of your skills

Supra related crossword? A suduko

Something like that, if done well, could work very nicely.

Supra related crossword? A sudoko

Sudoku?!

OK, can we agree now that Matt isn't proof reading any of this