The editor of WNC Woman Magazine, in a column in the Asheville magazine’s June issue, promises to pay people $50 “when someone you’ve referred to us signs up” as an advertiser. Sandi Tomlin-Sutker says all you have to do is email together@wncwoman.com with your contact information and the potential advertiser’s info.
In her Last Word column, Tomlin-Sutker bemoans the economic tough times that print publications are facing. She also notes the slumping economy in general, and rightly notes that most print publications rely on a shriveling business model – most rely heavily on advertising revenue.
So Tomlin-Sutker is urging her readers to tell advertisers that their print ads are useful.
“As a business makes decisions about where to put their marketing and advertising dollars, one of the most important considerations is, of course, will I get business from this ad? Will my ad campaign put me in front of the right consumer? If you believe we offer that benefit to advertisers, talk to them about us.”
Tomlin-Sutker also says her eight-year-old publication is considering making content changes, and goes on to ask readers about their likes and dislikes in print, and asks if readers would take part “in a more active WNC Woman presence online, one where you could interact with writers and other readers around issues, concerns and information about what’s happening in the community?”
I think most print publications realize the answer is clear – readers want, and often demand, more online interaction. Carrying around a print magazine or newspaper is just an outmoded way to consuming information for lots of people. It should be interesting to watch as WNC Woman, and our other local publications, continue to adapt to the digital media age and the weak economy.