Introducing the Limited Edition Volume 1, Issue 0 of Trail Builder Mag
I am excited the announce a very limited run of our first print issue of Trail Builder Mag. As a matter of fact, there are only ten copies in existence. So what’s the deal?
This really is an experiment or trial. Why is that important? I’ve had numerous email exchanges, Zoom calls, in-person meetings, conversations via DM, and more about this magazine. One of the themes I keep repeating over and over is this … Trail Builder Magazine needs to be sustainable from day one. We already know of the volatility of the whole print magazine world. A common statement I hear is, “A print magazine? Now? Whew, that’s risky. But good luck!”
That’s why financial sustainability from the get-go is essential. If I can’t make this work out of the chute, then we’ll forever be playing catch-up in hopes that “one day” we’ll finally “turn the corner” and be in a good place. I don’t buy that. It’s not how I operate. That means being smart and not getting unnecessarily burdened with crushing overhead. Even then, it’s still a risk. But one I’m excited to take.
I have no advertisers, nor am I even actively seeking them. Some have already reached out. Part of the challenge is I don’t want 20-30 percent of the pages of Trail Builder Magazine to be ads. No, there’s nothing wrong with ads. I’m not against them. When done right, ads can strengthen a magazine since readers are exposed to brands, products, and services that are relevant to them. The other challenge is usually magazines send pitch decks to potential advertisers with all kinds of valuable data and demographic material. Why? So an advertiser can learn how many magazines are generally purchased per issue, how many eyeballs would see the ads, how many website visits (for web ads), and more. Advertisers can weigh through whether spending that kind of money makes sense. However, I haven’t sold a single issue of Trail Builder Mag yet. Will we sell 10, 100, or 1,000 for our first issue? I don’t know yet.
One of the decisions I needed to make early on was about the size or dimensions of the magazine. It should be evident that the larger the magazine, the higher the printing costs. Within the magazine world, there are a few “standard” sizes. I opted for 5.5 by 8.5 inches. Not only is it more cost-effective, but in conversations with trail builders, they all agreed that a smaller magazine you could throw in your bag or backpack would be better. That’s what I went with. Part of this run of ten magazines is to secure a printer, test the print quality, and develop a system and process for the magazine. Inside Issue 0 are three articles from our website.
Ok, enough business talk. So how do you get a copy? Also, since only ten exist, how can you snag one? Easy, sign up for our newsletter. You'll be entered into a drawing for a magazine. I'll ship it to you whether you live in Australia, Norway, South Africa, Colombia, Mexico, the U.S., or Canada. It's all free. Yes, I said free. I'm not selling these magazines. I'm giving them away. If you're already subscribed to our newsletter, you'll automatically be entered into a drawing.
I may sound like a dripping faucet, but it bears repeating … this magazine is for you. You are the hero. Through Trail Builder Mag, we are creating a platform to inspire, inform, and connect together around the common goal of building, maintaining, and advocating for more trails.
Click below to sign up for our newsletter for a chance to win a copy of the limited run of Volume 1, Issue 0 of Trail Builder Mag.
Words: Sean Benesh Photos: Sean Benesh
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
