First Print Ads Sold for AFP Print 1.2

Well, I'm nearing the end of my first week out selling the second printed issue of Anderson Free Press. To be honest, I'm kinda shocked no one has blogged or picked up on this yet. (I did hear congrats from one other grassroots journalist...) Maybe I expect too much? Like it's not a big thing? Out talking to business owners this week, though, I'm reassured that it's a big thing. I don't know how many times I heard the local competition's name in a negative way. I just kinda nodded my head sympathetically and pointed out the good qualities of AFP Print - 18,000 households. Direct Mail. Low Price. Content. Passion. Community.

Most have liked the message of the paper too - changing media for the better. I'm finally starting to get excited. Like just printing was no big deal. I know it comes down to being able to sell the advertising around it. And I landed my first sale today. (And my publisher, Smelser, used to tell me not to count the birds before they hatch, but I know this is a definite.) Two print ads of a TBD size and at least one web ad as well. A local business owner who's been in business in the area for 25 years saw the paper and rate card I left and emailed today. I called him two minutes later and set up a time to go see him.

It's a simple process, really, but one I never thought I was good at. This was relatively easy, though. Which means, in my mind, that it's a good product, that the people like what they see. It's not a lot (yet), but other people can see the potential, I think. And that gives me energy.

And maybe everyone is just out there laughing at me for getting into print. Very soon, though, I'll have a larger circulation (even though it will just be once a week) than the local daily paper. And cheaper prices. And that's a good combination. Direct Mail. The Web. Citizen Generated Content.

Speaking of that - the Scanner News thread idea is still growing. AFP members broke a story the other day about a lawyer being kidnapped by a client. Let me repeat that - AFP members - citizens of the area - broke the story hours before the local newspaper had anything on their website. (Their breaking news at the time was a national story.) Granted, they had reporters to go out and do the story, but the important thing is that it broke at AFP. I'll eventually have the reporters to send out to do the full story, but for now I'm more than happy with the members of the site breaking news.

So many things going on at the moment, but I'm filled with hope as the first ads are sold for the next print edition. Gannett has three to six months before I go back to Muncie with a full warchest, but for now, I start to bite into The Herald Bulletin's print revenue. No more scraps. I want to eat at the table. Not to get rich, but to dump the money back into resources for the people.

Out and about today, I stopped at a member's house to give them a couple copies of the first AFP print edition. It was a good feeling. Customer Service. That's one of the keys.

The community at AFP grows and the bulk of the print copies haven't even hit mailboxes yet. Another week and they'll be in people's hands. I've been told to expect about a 2% rate of return. We'll see how it goes.

I have hope, though.

This is the hard part (sales), but it's looking more and more doable.

Want more details? Just ask.

Technorati Tags: Advertising Grassroots Journalism Newspapers Print Weekly