Readers 'v' builders
Discussion
This might seem an odd question on a web forum.
In your opinion, how many people who read the kit car magazines are people that are builing or seriously looking to build a kit car?
I'm asking because I am of the opinion that 50% of readers are 'possibly thinking' about building or reading through an interest in cars etc. This is only my opinion though.
As an additional quetion, what do you think could be done to the kit car magazines to encourage more readers?
(I'm sure there will be a few people who visit here, that will be interested in the answers)
In your opinion, how many people who read the kit car magazines are people that are builing or seriously looking to build a kit car?
I'm asking because I am of the opinion that 50% of readers are 'possibly thinking' about building or reading through an interest in cars etc. This is only my opinion though.
As an additional quetion, what do you think could be done to the kit car magazines to encourage more readers?
(I'm sure there will be a few people who visit here, that will be interested in the answers)
Mark, are you trying to muscle in on my job?
Kurrmet has it almost right, my 7 years with Kit~Car Magazine has shown me that one of the strenghts that KC (and possibly the other Kit Car Mags have) is that there is a high turnover of readers, effectivly new blood that constantly dip into the market to source information about either a particular company or product or a whole range.
Although we (Kit~Car Magazine) have a strong loyal following as we all know the KitCar/Specialist Sports Car industry is so diverse and as a typical magazine only has so many pages there isnt always going to be a relevant feature or form of editorial in an issue that interests everyone all the time.
Unlike other Magazine's I have worked on Kit~Car Magazine is unique, very much like the industry, Kit Car Owners and their cars it represents and reports on.
But to answer your questions from what I know:
In your opinion, how many people who read the kit car magazines are people that are builing or seriously looking to build a kit car? Your right Mark it seems to be about 50%.
As an additional quetion, what do you think could be done to the kit car magazines to encourage more readers?
Well thats the million dollar question, and we are trying to work this one out every month with every issue we put out.
Cheers
Tom
Kurrmet has it almost right, my 7 years with Kit~Car Magazine has shown me that one of the strenghts that KC (and possibly the other Kit Car Mags have) is that there is a high turnover of readers, effectivly new blood that constantly dip into the market to source information about either a particular company or product or a whole range.
Although we (Kit~Car Magazine) have a strong loyal following as we all know the KitCar/Specialist Sports Car industry is so diverse and as a typical magazine only has so many pages there isnt always going to be a relevant feature or form of editorial in an issue that interests everyone all the time.
Unlike other Magazine's I have worked on Kit~Car Magazine is unique, very much like the industry, Kit Car Owners and their cars it represents and reports on.
But to answer your questions from what I know:
In your opinion, how many people who read the kit car magazines are people that are builing or seriously looking to build a kit car? Your right Mark it seems to be about 50%.
As an additional quetion, what do you think could be done to the kit car magazines to encourage more readers?
Well thats the million dollar question, and we are trying to work this one out every month with every issue we put out.
Cheers
Tom
Edited by tombs on Tuesday 6th February 16:48
I always thought that most people that aren't dead set on building soon read other car mags that touch on kit cars, but aren't their main staple.
Once you are looking for hints and tips to make your choice, you get something like KC to read up on the marques and models for information, then make your choice and move onto the even more specific news letters or forums, getting the odd issue when they an article on something the reader needs.
But then I think it's amazing mags like KC stay in publication for this reason, so I must be wrong.
Once you are looking for hints and tips to make your choice, you get something like KC to read up on the marques and models for information, then make your choice and move onto the even more specific news letters or forums, getting the odd issue when they an article on something the reader needs.
But then I think it's amazing mags like KC stay in publication for this reason, so I must be wrong.
I read and build. That should put me in both categories.
Most of the features are interesting and informative and I've sourced many parts through the ads, both business and private.
I've looked at other kit car mags but always go back to Kit-Car. I've even submitted letters and press cuttings on issues that I thought may be of interest to other kit builders, but never had a reply or acknowledgment of receipt on anything. Perhaps that's something they could do to improve the sales.
Bill Bob
Most of the features are interesting and informative and I've sourced many parts through the ads, both business and private.
I've looked at other kit car mags but always go back to Kit-Car. I've even submitted letters and press cuttings on issues that I thought may be of interest to other kit builders, but never had a reply or acknowledgment of receipt on anything. Perhaps that's something they could do to improve the sales.
Bill Bob
tombs said:
As an additional question, what do you think could be done to the kit car magazines to encourage more readers?
Well thats the million dollar question, and we are trying to work this one out every month with every issue we put out.
Well thats the million dollar question, and we are trying to work this one out every month with every issue we put out.
What could be done? Perhaps nothing. I was a reader long before I built mine simply to see what was about and to help me decide what to build. I continued reading whilst building to get tips and hints here and there, plus a bit of inspiration to finish when I got to the tricky bits looking at finished builds. I kept it going for a while once I got on the road, but found myself more and more just speed reading and pretty much concentrating only on bits concerning my car.
In the end I gave up with the mags as I didn't really see the point - I have both the national and regional clubs and forums to visit as well as this place, and shows and meets too. I'm not sure there's anything a kit mag can offer me now, and probably won't bother with any of them until it's time to sell and I start looking for my next project.
Perhaps the mags may just have to expect a large turnover in readership with a few hard core long term subscribers and just live with the notion that that's how it is?
I bought quite a few when I was buying my kit, and in the early build stages.
Once I was really into it, all I needed was specific info - which was much more readily available via the factory and then the internet owners club. So I haven't bought a kit magazine for a couple of years now.
If you're going to build a GTM Libra or Spyder go to TEAM GTM
www.teamgtm.com
You'd be mad not to!
Once I was really into it, all I needed was specific info - which was much more readily available via the factory and then the internet owners club. So I haven't bought a kit magazine for a couple of years now.
If you're going to build a GTM Libra or Spyder go to TEAM GTM
www.teamgtm.com
You'd be mad not to!
I'm not sure if my original question is slightly misunderstood.
I wonder how many people who read (any of the) kit car magazines are 'browsers' and 'enthusiasts', as opposed to seriously looking to build or in the process of building a car?
What else makes us buy one of the magazines?
Tom, not after your job. As I said, this thread could be an interesting read for people like yourself, Adam & Graham etc.
I wonder how many people who read (any of the) kit car magazines are 'browsers' and 'enthusiasts', as opposed to seriously looking to build or in the process of building a car?
What else makes us buy one of the magazines?
Tom, not after your job. As I said, this thread could be an interesting read for people like yourself, Adam & Graham etc.
From my own experience I used to only read the occasional issue if there was something interesting on the cover (other than the usual Sevens & Cobras) but when I was seriously looking for a kit I bought everything I could find regardless of quality until my decision was made. I then went back to 'occasional mode' and this was mainly due to the lack of new info coming through - same old adverts, same reviews, and yet more Sevens & Cobras again (sorry magazine type chaps but just my opinion) Its a bit like all the shows in this country - once you seen one ..... you get my drift?
From a journalist's point of view, it is difficult to make a niche market like ours seem fresh and 'new' every month and perhaps the old quarterly issue days seemed more interesting to readers due to the new content, slow as it was. The internet now plays a far bigger role of course and the search engines take a lot of the advertising advantages away from the mags, which makes things even more difficult....
From a journalist's point of view, it is difficult to make a niche market like ours seem fresh and 'new' every month and perhaps the old quarterly issue days seemed more interesting to readers due to the new content, slow as it was. The internet now plays a far bigger role of course and the search engines take a lot of the advertising advantages away from the mags, which makes things even more difficult....
I've been taking these magazines since 1984, albeit with a 10 year break 1988 to 1998 whilst a student and starting my career. Still a reader rather than a builder due to demands on cash (wife/kids/old house) and on time (wife/kids/career). I know what I want to build (Striker/MNR/Westfield) but with the best will in the world it's not going to happen for a year or two and so I'm looking for a cheap Marlin to run in the meantime.
black5 said:
I'm not sure if my original question is slightly misunderstood.
I wonder how many people who read (any of the) kit car magazines are 'browsers' and 'enthusiasts', as opposed to seriously looking to build or in the process of building a car?.
I wonder how many people who read (any of the) kit car magazines are 'browsers' and 'enthusiasts', as opposed to seriously looking to build or in the process of building a car?.
Interesting question. I'd suggest not many. A magazine like Evo attracts readers who simply dream of owning the cars they cover, rather than people who read it to decide between a Zonda or a Murcialago. OK, I know they have affordable stuff in there, too, but we all know which we prefer reading about! With kit car magazines, it's the other way around and the cars we cover are, by and large, attainable. For that reason, I think most people who read kit car mags do so with serious intent to either buy or build a car.
Adam.
melch said:
I've been taking these magazines since 1984, albeit with a 10 year break 1988 to 1998 whilst a student and starting my career. Still a reader rather than a builder due to demands on cash (wife/kids/old house) and on time (wife/kids/career). I know what I want to build (Striker/MNR/Westfield) but with the best will in the world it's not going to happen for a year or two and so I'm looking for a cheap Marlin to run in the meantime.
know what you mean melchy. however this year have put my foot down with a firm hand as the fund have now accumulated sufficiently to purchase a kitcar albeit at the cheaper end and the other half made the stipulation that it has to have 4 seats so the kids can enjoy it too
hence my choice of vindicator sprint family
black5 said:
Tom, not after your job. As I said, this thread could be an interesting read for people like yourself, Adam & Graham etc.
Mark, I was joking...
Now I understand your question, Adam's spot on. I’ve always used the terminology that kit car readers are “doers not dreamers “, most readers will be looking for inspiration and advice on what’s available in the Kit Car/Specialist Sports Car Market. Having said that there are of course those that just happen to love this market, they may already have a kit or they may not, but they just like to get and feel involved and would like to be kept informed about the developments of our industry.
As for what sells well, it’s not always down to content or front cover that will necessarily dictate whether a particular issue will do well or not, there are many other factors that are involved.
I've been buying both mags for about 4 years. i was a dreamer and now i'm a builder (Marlin Sportster).
I enjoyed the actual Build series, but these seem to have dissappered which I assume is a financial issue as nobody seems to want to buy the cars after they are finished. Nigel Dean's were the best but even he seems to have stopped buiding??
Now PPC are doing a build series by a reader. So the others better watch out.............
I enjoyed the actual Build series, but these seem to have dissappered which I assume is a financial issue as nobody seems to want to buy the cars after they are finished. Nigel Dean's were the best but even he seems to have stopped buiding??
Now PPC are doing a build series by a reader. So the others better watch out.............
pfedwards said:
I enjoyed the actual Build series, but these seem to have dissappered which I assume is a financial issue as nobody seems to want to buy the cars after they are finished. Nigel Dean's were the best but even he seems to have stopped buiding??
The build series of my Sylva Riot will start very soon! We never had great difficulties selling the cars on after they were complete. Not that this will be an issue with the Riot, cos I won't be selling it for at least a year or so.
Adam.
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