Revised & Improved 9 Magazine Plus a Free Issue

[claptrap]

I admire Brian and Wayne and people like them for the "bet the farm" risk they take in starting their own business and the value they create. It's a risk most people won't take. It's easy to tear down, it's difficult to create.

I disagree that the field is crowded, in that I like to have a choice at the newsstand and I don't feel they are mutually exclusive. I take a few moments to browse the contents to see if there is an article that interests me, if there is then I'll buy it. Only if a magazine consistantly has articles that appeals to me will I subscribe. Only once in a while will I buy Excellence, as it rarely has articles that apply to my situation in that I don't have a late model Porsche and they seem to focus on that segment (but I do like the PartsHeaven ads). I will not buy a magazine just to help it succeed, it must have value to me.

I think Brian has an opportunity, if he strives for quality content, does some market research, focuses on a target audience that will support his effort, focuses on customer service and continuous improvement, and contracts a good proofreader, I believe he will succeed. Brian has already shown that he has the right attitude.

I think he also has a goldmine here with the people on this board and the DIY projects they embark on, whether it be an engine swap, painting a car, brake upgrades or whatever. I enjoy reading about projects and don't mind learning from other people's experiences.

Good luck Brian with your enterprise.

Scott.

[speeder]

I have no idea whether Mr. Brian "bet the farm" to start this publication, I do not know him and have not seen the magazine, but from the reviews here it sounds like a very non-professional effort. Proper use of standard English, (or French, Russian, etc., depending on the country), is the bare minimum standard for even a high school paper. This is not some effete high-brow criticism, even Hotrod magazine is written reasonably well.

This is constructive criticism; as someone with an educational background in journalism, it is the basics. And as to the suggestion that a focus on hotrodding early Porsches is the recipe for success, I'm not so sure. This is interesting to me, and many others on this board, but the only recipe for survival in the magazine business is attracting advertisers, lots of them, at rates that result from good circulation #s w/ a targeted audience. Anyone who thinks that this is possible by selling a few hundred issues to people on this board and the others like us is just whizzing up a rope, sorry to say.

[9magazine]

The magazine is doing very well despite the lack of an editor early on, and other issues.

The focus of the magazine is DIY projects for all Porsches! We have had projects on mostly 911's due to the fact this is what I currently own. We add the new models stories to spice things up without pages and pages of black & white photos of guys pulling off.

I'm not looking to compete against Excellence or Porsche 911 World. I'm looking at helping those who have or are looking at buying an older Porsche maintain and restore their car.

Visit your local Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion, Hastings, or other newsstand and pick up a copy. Look it over, get a feel for what we are trying to do. This next issue we have stomped out the typos, grammar and spelling errors. The next issue we begin to focus on having a DIY project or Q&A section for almost every Porsche model.

Advertising is a key part of all of this, with more advertisers we will be able to have more projects, better layouts, and over all a better product. However with the economy the way it is, many advertisers just don't have the extra budget to do so. We hope this will change. If you are an advertiser try us, we have a large first time Porsche owner readership who needs to know about your business!

Last, I enjoy reading the posts from this board. Good, bad, or other wise I use it to better the magazine. I have always invited people to email me and let me know what's on their minds!

Thanks to everyone who has supported the magazine, 2003 holds many new features for our readers and advertisers.

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
bminson@9magazine.com
http://www.9magazine.com

[old_skul]

Originally posted by expathk
I agree with Doug though - I don't think we need companies pushing their wares on us here. Using the board in this way opens up every business to promote itself here and I'm sure thats not the point of this board.

Wrong.

This forum resides on Pelican Parts' server. Meaning, it's a way for PP to "push" its wares on us. If you want the true "open community" forum, head for the Rennlist. (Yawn.)

I'm actually pretty tired of people spouting off on how bad 9 Magazine is. To be honest, I've never seen someone take such a pounding (aside from the Cool Collar) and simply keep plugging away, trying to make improvements. I have respect for the guy even if the magazine *is* crappy. But I have to tell you, I'd rather read a crappy mag about Porsches than Better Homes & Gardens.

[billh1963]

I like the mag and I believe that it has potential. In fact, I just bought my second copy this morning! Other than the typo erros and just outright bad spelling [ferendheight(sic) instead of fahrenheit] which drive me crazy, I think it's going in the right direction.

I second the motion of many on this board that you can't (and shouldn't) compete with Excellence, et. al. In the early and mid-'80's I subscribed to a small magazine called Sport & GT or something like that. It had the kind of articles I liked. They spotlighted a nice original car every month and gave a history, described market availability, parts sources, etc. They also provided good tech articles and described problems and the solutions to real world car problems. They also talked quite a bit about restoration tips.

I have to admit that although I turn 40 next year and could afford to buy a new Porsche, it doesn't interest me. I have always been interested in the "older" cars and have also always been "value for money" oriented. I like tinkering on my "toys" (whether they be boat, car, or motorcycle). A magazine that caters to this line of thinking would interest me.

[MMARSH]

Originally posted by old_skul



I'm actually pretty tired of people spouting off on how bad 9 Magazine is. To be honest, I've never seen someone take such a pounding (aside from the Cool Collar) and simply keep plugging away, trying to make improvements. I have respect for the guy even if the magazine *is* crappy. But I have to tell you, I'd rather read a crappy mag about Porsches than Better Homes & Gardens.

I agree. A lot of people would not even come back to this board after the pounding you've taken in the past, and those that would have come back probably would have been extremely defensive and rude about the criticism, however true it has been. I respect the way you've taken the criticism and I think it says alot about your character. I haven't seen the magazine yet, but I will give it a chance. Like old_skul said, keep plugging away. I wish you luck and future success.

I apologice for any gramer an speling mistakes in advanse

[island911]

Originally posted by old_skul
. .. . To be honest, I've never seen someone take such a pounding (aside from the Cool Collar) and simply keep plugging away, trying to make improvements. . . .

Hmmm. . . While they may still be plugging away; I haven't seen the "improvements" made to the Cool Collar.

But as far as abuse goes, this is all too funny. In fact I'm pining for nostaics x-mas post where we find out his wife bought him something she read about in 9-Magazine, called a "Cruel-Collar."

[nostatic]

ex-squeeze me? Aren't the terms wife and cruel-collar redundant?

-ducking to miss the frying pan

[Wayne 962]

The cool collar has proven itself many times to work, by the testaments of the people located on this board...

-Wayne