Cultural Magazines Toolbox

Small Magazine Handbooks

The Small Magazine Handbook Series: tools for effective management. Over 400 pages of expertise! The handbooks collect the best practices in the industry today, and act as field guides to the multi-disciplinary practice of publishing a magazine. There are five titles in the series—on advertising, editorial, circulation, financial management and human resources—all available in print and as digital editions. Order a copy: members; non-members; students.

Quick Tips

• Quick-and-Dirty Workflow for Small Magazines, by Graham Scott
• Business Tips for Literary Magazines, by D.B. Scott
• 11 Tips to Help You Sell More Single Copies, by Scott Bullock
• Ad Sales 101, by Gwen Dunant
• Volunteers 101, by Lisa Whittington-Hill
• Subscription Sources That Really Work, by Faith Drinnan
• 8 Tips for Creating an Engaging, Cost-Effective Podcast, by Tina Pittaway
• Blogging for Magazines, by Kat Tancock
• 10 Newsstand Tips for Niche Publishers, by Scott Bullock
• Fundraising 101, by Lisa Whittington-Hill
• How Small Publishers Can Handle Objections from Potential Advertisers, by Melissa Ahlstrand
• Succession Planning for Small Mags, by Kim Jernigan

Find more targeted advice in our Small Magazine Hotsheets.

Benchmarks

Magazines Canada, in consultation with its Cultural Magazines Committee, commissioned the 2010 Benchmarks study for a comprehensive look at the state of cultural magazines in the country. It is the first in-depth study in ten years and was based on data contained in 2009 grant applications received by the Canada Council for the Arts. The Benchmarks study examines audience, circulation, editorial, promotion, production costs and overhead and serves as a valuable resource for cultural magazines who are looking to compare themselves and learn from their peers. Also, find highlights of the study in Stephen Osborne's Overview of Cultural Publishing in Canada: Part 1.

Board of Directors

Cultural magazines often operate as part of a non-profit organization. A magazine's board of directors can be a valuable resource, if you develop and work with its members effectively. Publisher and Arts Consultant Judy Wolfe has a set of practical tools on her website. Slides are also available from her 2011 MagNet presentation, "Managing Your Board of Directors." And don't forget Small Magazine Human Resources: A Guide to Working Together by Alicia Pace. Part of the Magazines Canada handbook series, this handbook includes tips on HR and volunteer management, creating, recruiting and hiring your team, training and more. Order a print or digital copy.

AudioMags

Want to hear from the experts? Listen to an AudioMag, Magazines Canada's podcast series featuring new views, opinion and timely information from the industry’s best and brightest.

• Episode 7 examines creative ways for growing your cultural magazines, merging advertising and circulation campaigns and more. Featuring Geist’s Publisher Stephen Osborne and Ad Sales Director Trevor Battye.
• Episode 8 goes deep into the world of online ad sales and the need to monetize everything. Featuring Martin White, Principal of Online Magazine Marketing.
• Episode 17 looks at the need for succession planning at small magazines and building on existing strengths. Featuring John Shelling, Managing Editor of BackFlash.
• Episode 34 shares winning strategies for managing partnerships and sponsorships to increase circulation and raise brand awareness. Featuring Mary Schendlinger, Co-founder and Consulting Editor of Geist.
  

Join Magazines Canada

Review our Membership Kit to become a member of Magazines Canada and join our organization of nearly 400 titles, growing every year.

Digital Newsstand

Magazines Canada members have the opportunity to join the Magazines Canada Digital Newsstand.

For more information on cultural magazines, contact edickson@magazinescanada.ca. For more information on the Canadian magazine industry take a look at Canadian Magazines canadiens: the definitive resource on magazine publishing.

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