#Tvl Newsletter Directory
6 messages in this thread
Christine,
You forgot the unopened-mail coasters, unread-magazine placemats,
and the letter opener butter knives!
I'm trying to get rich and famous (or at least rich) by publishing
a directory of travel-related newsletters. I have a raw list of more than
300, now, and am contacting newsletters to see if they're interested in a
free listing in the directory. I've been so busy compiling the
information, that I'm just now starting to think about design — what will
be easy and attractive to read, cheap to print, and not boring! Any
suggestions?
——- Susan
Susan,
What kind of directory do you have in mind? A small booklet? A book?
If my assessment of travel agents is correct (after writing for them for
2-1/2 years now), whatever you design will have to be easy to SCAN, with
mucho graphics instead of mucho words. TAs always seem to be overworked and
behind schedule, so the easier you make it for them to find a few
newsletters they like, the more they'll appreciate your efforts. That's my
guess anyway.
Have you thought of including shots of actual newsletters (like we do in
the Travel News sales brochure)?
Dianne
Dianne,
Format I'm considering now is 5.5 x 8.5, spiral bound. Because the
information will be rather "form-like", there will be some white space
between lines, etc. Each newsletter will be on one page. I had thought
about including shots of the newsletters, but have a couple of concerns —
mostly cost, and also the implications of singling out a few newsletters to
feature in graphics, while not showing others. I am thinking about using
some kind of catchy graphics symbols to designate the different special
interests represented by many newsletters -business travel,
membership/clubs, sports/adventure travel, etc. Unfortunately, not all
categories lend themselves to a simple graphic — travel industry,
franchise, single travel, specific destinations, etc. Ideas?
——– Susan
OK…Now I have a better idea of what you're doing, and yes, I'd agree that
shots of the nls would drive the costs up and increase the workload as
well.
I like the idea of the graphic code for categories, and think you could
find something to assign to even the ones you listed in your message. Maybe
even a fancy letter for some of them. I';d have to scan icons to get some
ideas.
How are you rating service, or are you? What about longevity of the
company, which would be one of my concerns as an agent (to weed out the
fly-by-nights).
And, of course, what they'll really be looking for is the price(!).
Dianne
Susan…..
perosnally I favor those nice woven-newspaper seats we all used to make as
kids…the directory sounds like an interesting project….I know that I've
often wondered about the availablity of certain types of newsletters (on
political management issues) and could never figure out where to check ….
and I was interested in Dianne's reply….what strikes me is that you are
offering free listings… so many directories do not….first thought that
springs to my mind is maybe too redundant but…what about splitting list
into say quarterly listings with several of the most intirguing or useful
featured and others merely listed with brief descriptions or maybe beter
yet….offering diplay ads to newsletters to help finance the project…
since I'm better at organization than design ..I would recommend listing by
categories….say general nl's separated from those with very specialized
interests, also those
for industry concerns separate from say those on one location ..(guessing
at types available) and I would go for the simplest, cleanest design
possible …
how much info do you expect to include on each? can you use graphics,
photos, repros? and what is the distribution method and size?
intrigued….
…Christina
Christina,
If you're interested in finding political newsletters, you might want to
pick up a copy of Howard Penn Hudson's "Hudson's Newsletter Directory." It
lists over 24,000 newsletters published in the USA, and is
cross-referenced, as I recall. It's available from:
Howard Penn Hudson
The Newsletter Clearinghouse
44 W. Market St., Box 311
Rheinbeck, NY 12572
(914) 876-2081
And if you talk with Howard, please send along my best regards. He also
publishes "The Newsletter on Newsletters," and "Newsletter Design," both
excellent newsletters, as well as putting on seminars about how to produce
subscription-type newsletters (as opposed to corporate NL's – we teach how
to do those). He's a brilliant guy who's been around the business for a
looonnng time.
–Thom