Which Kit? Magazine (an attack)
Discussion
ardEx-Biker said:
I . . . . come on PH at workwe have a broadband connection here and I only have dial up at home
Ditto!
Over the weekend, it was the other way round for me.... working away from home, hotel only allowed dial up connection.... how I missed the home comforts of broadband
Be great if I could get it at home. Already sorted it with a neighbour to network out systems and run the broadband from one input.
All we need is for broadband to reach us.
Maybe I should put this on the what p155es me off thread - You up country type that get technology that should be available to me too!!!!!!
All we need is for broadband to reach us.
Maybe I should put this on the what p155es me off thread - You up country type that get technology that should be available to me too!!!!!!
I understand where you are coming from..... Broadband (both cable and BT ADSL) was available to houses 50 feet away from me at least 16 months before it became available to me....REALLY frustrating!.... I "registered an interest" for nearly everyone in my postcode!
When it finally became available, I was first on the list!
Really would struggle without it now..... When I am not travelling, I work from home, and a fast internet connection just makes work SO much easier....
When it finally became available, I was first on the list!
Really would struggle without it now..... When I am not travelling, I work from home, and a fast internet connection just makes work SO much easier....
kitcarman said:
. . . .give something away with the copy.
The idea is, that by getting someone to buy a copy one month because of a freebie, that they will be so interested in the mag they will continue to buy it.
There are 2 options to the freebie:
1. You pay for something to give away. This could be a sticker or one of many other things that people could think are useful.
2. Someone else pays for the freebie. This is obviously of more benefit to you, for a few reasons. . .
I kid you not, but the sales of kit car increased at the rate of approximately 200 copies per month from Jan 1998 till that August. The sales of the August 1998 issues of Which Kit? were equal to those of Kit Car. Fib’s was bloody furious.
Irrespective as to our personal and legal problems, the magazine circulation war continued. . . . Kit Car was genuinely picking up extra support every monthand Which Kit? was loosing to the same extent
I’ll cut it there, give Peter opportunity to buy a new box of pins, you opportunity to post observations and then I’ll post again, but dealing with HOW I achieved what I achieved using some of the techniques suggested by Mark.
The technique used was to court the big retail houses. They will, at a price
, give shelf space on what they call ‘range development
’ schemes which they operate. To qualify, the magazine has to demonstrate three things. 
That they’re worth the effort (ie shown some gains in sales), that they are actively promoting their title in its own pages and promoting outside itself by going the extra mile. What Mark has suggested is what retailers regard as that extra mile
. We gave away various catalogues (Machine Mart, Demon Tweeks and various Pilgrim publications [which brought vilification, but I’ll not go there]). We also managed to secure 100,000 Scotchlocks secured to the cover in little clear plastic boxes. You’ll agree that such promotions aren’t that brilliant for readers, but they showed that we had trade support which convinced them to give us their support
. We did something like this every third month for about 3 years
. Problem was that as the print run increased, we priced ourselves out of the market. Initially we were looking for 15,000 catalogues, but we’d now need 30,000 for a promoted issue. Having said all this, we’ve landed the Rally Design catalogue
for the first issue of 2004 and I’ve told Tom to look for something for the May issue (we did the Stoneleigh show catalogue on a couple of occasions). I’m also keen on a sticker to promote a Summer issue. I’m also thinking that allied to our new Track Days, that a track day handbook
might work very well. What ideas can you lot add? 
I only need 4 for the whole of 2004, but I would like the best 4. Inside the magazine, I’d like to see other promotions allied to the promotion of products and events
. I’m in negotiations with John Cooke (European Promotions) who has secured from Luego a chassis to give away at next years Exeter show. We reckon that a 3 way promotion involving John’s shows, the Luego chassis and Kit Car would work very well – but how? Any other ideas for promotions
? Den
>> Edited by kitcarman on Saturday 1st November 20:00
The track day handbook is a great idea.
I'm guessing it'll show where the tracks are, contact details, stats (eg length, technicality) difficulty to learn, noise levels and different track layouts plus other info.
If you produce such an in depth book though, why not give it away with subscriptions instead?
But then again, it is the sort of thing that will interest lots of sports car drivers and motorcyclists, who all go on track days.
I'm guessing it'll show where the tracks are, contact details, stats (eg length, technicality) difficulty to learn, noise levels and different track layouts plus other info.
If you produce such an in depth book though, why not give it away with subscriptions instead?
But then again, it is the sort of thing that will interest lots of sports car drivers and motorcyclists, who all go on track days.
Ex-Biker said:As one ex-biker to another, I wouldn't like to p**s on your chips, but I presume you haven't seen the rather excellent Circuit Guide produced by Circuit Driver
The track day handbook is a great idea.
I like the idea of a trackday, particularly if it's a bit different by including a kitcar clinic, some driving tuition, corner weighting, car suspension/carburation setup help etc., in-car video ...
What about a discount voucher/scheme with Machine Mart - I'm sure I'm not alone in spending a small fortune there! They already do discount days for regulars.
There’s no way that I’d be looking at competing with Circuit Drivers guide
They’re far too far up the ladder
My idea would be to put together a ‘fun’ publication of say 16 pages divided into, say 4 parts (articles). One introducing the concept of driving on a track and the fun it can be. All just to get the juices flowing. 
Then a bit about the track, facilities 
and exactly what can be expected for the £100 as well as, for those w/o car
, what will be on offer for £15 by way of passenger rides. Probably with a booking form (and discount voucher) to bring 'em there. Next, a bit about the practical aspects such as noise levels
, driving safely, marshals warning flags
, when to and under what circumstances
to overtake (bearing in mind the number of numpties, self included). 
Finally a bit about why Kit Car magazine decided to get involved, along with a full programme of such events, ordinary static shows, the joy of building your own motor car and (wait for it. . . .) an exhortation to become a regular 
reader. These guides would be distributed as a promotion
, then included in a ‘goodie bag’ given to every attendee and given away at all shows (except Donnington
). Once the first guide has done and served its first season, I could imagine
a bigger and better one for the next season. Possibly, it could grow to be a tasty Kit Car Guide to kit car track days. Could provide a useful number of spin-offs, me thinks
. Den
[quote=kitcarman]These guides would be distributed as a promotion, then included in a ‘goodie bag’ given to every attendee and given away at all shows (except Donnington).
Hmmm, I am sure if you ask Fib's nicely, he will let you stand outside the entrance to the main hall at Donnington, together with a load of dolly birds, dishing out "Kit car" promotional goody bags.......
>> Edited by Wacky Racer on Sunday 2nd November 22:32
These guides would be distributed as a promotion, then included in a ‘goodie bag’ given to every attendee and given away at all shows (except Donnington). Hmmm, I am sure if you ask Fib's nicely, he will let you stand outside the entrance to the main hall at Donnington, together with a load of dolly birds, dishing out "Kit car" promotional goody bags.......
>> Edited by Wacky Racer on Sunday 2nd November 22:32
OK, not sure this is exactly going to send KC sales figures through the roof, but a something that I would have found usefull was a few pages with a table of manufacturers, all their current models, basic pricing*, donor cars and contact number. Much like the table you get in the back of almost every product orientated magazine.
*The pricing may be a bit awkward with so many options available, but maybe the kits could be put into a pricing bracket 500-1000, 1000-2000, 2000-4000 etc.
*The pricing may be a bit awkward with so many options available, but maybe the kits could be put into a pricing bracket 500-1000, 1000-2000, 2000-4000 etc.
kitcarman said:
Den, Did you miss this bit then?
Ex-Biker said:
Or is it 2 years free subscription to the best idea of how to get you more sales?
Selective vision
You’re on, but. . . . .
. . . . . . let’s hear good practical and workable ideas
Noticed this kitcarman.
Has anyone got it yet?
and UltimaAndy for his track day idea
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