Welcome to wipp’s blog

WIPP is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers who work in the periodical publishing industry. We are dedicated to helping women in print and online magazine publishing support each other, develop leadership skills, balance professional and personal interests, and foster growth for independent publications by and for women. Read our blog posts, visit us at our other online locations, and become involved. Learn more about membership.

Creative Word-of-Mouth Marketing

On December 10, 2009, the American Marketing Association presents its latest seminar, “Creative Word-of-Mouth Marketing.” Held in Houston, Texas this event will encompass a diversity of techniques on how to get people talking. No matter what the goal of a marketing plan may be, there’s always a word-of-mouth technique that fits.

Some of the Word-of-Mouth Marketing Tools will include:

• Influence your Influencers
• Create a Blog and Interact with Bloggers
• Use social media to engage your supporters
• Establish a user community

Register online by December 8, 2009 and enhance your marketing skills!

Sweet or Sour Marketing?

A few weeks ago, I stood at a crowded corner of downtown San Francisco. Promoting  a new company, I distributed two items to working professionals passing me by one their way to work: a flyer detailing the company’s services and a piece of candy with the company logo written in dyed sugar.

Was this bit of “sugar on top” a great way to raise public awareness on this new business? First, let me share that the candy was anything but a treat. Putting money towards having candy fashioned with their company logo, this business created a sweet that looked like a large aspirin pill and tasted like the real drug. Even the employees found it unedible.

At the time, I couldn’t help but see this as a negative marketing tactic. Of course the company itself deserved much adulation for its services and hadn’t intentionally created bad candy. What do the members at WIPP think? Was this marketing tactic good or bad?

Webinar: Engage Your Readers Across Media

On December 3, 2009 Association & Media Publishing presents its webinar “Engage Your Readers Across Media.” At this 1 hour session magazine publishers will learn how to successfully attract and engage their readers through electronic and digital media–including blogs, social networking sites, online presentations, and more.

Attendees will gain invaluable insights as their colleagues share the challenges and successes in using new media to engage readers. Discover the best strategies to implement for engaging your readers and register today.

The Society of Successful Women Event

The Society of Successful Women is throwing a Sapphire Mixer on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 in Tampa, FL. Attendees will meet some of the most amazing professional women in the Tampa Bay area and discover why The SSW was recently named the leading organization for women in business.

This event includes opportunities to showcase your business and even appear in the organization’s magazine. The cost is only $20 and all proceeds benefit The Society of Successful Women.

To learn more about this event or to RSVP, click here.

Good News About Magazines

Itching for some good news about the magazine industry? We’ve got you covered.

A New Period

Women in Periodical Publishing is a mouthful. The decision by the board to create our first new image in eleven years was preceded by many discussions about our name and who we are. Is periodical relevant? What does it mean to publish and how does a professional get that way?  This organizational soul-searching is likely to continue, so we went ahead, kept our long name and gained a more complete graphic identity to express the depth and diversity that is behind it. Women in periodical publishing is a mouthful, but a name is only one of the tools we use. We hope our new look still says something about our work and our mission. Join wipp, and together we will lead an industry organization and an industry into another decade.

Look for our mark online

Just like you, wipp will make statements periodically, support those who publish regularly and always encourage other women to speak, write, edit, illustrate, design, proof, print, distribute, market, read, lead, and to do those things often.

We give thanks for the fine work on our new look to super designer, Dorothy Marschall of Marschall Design.

Reading for Teens

What are teens reading these days? In the October 26, 2009 issue of Publishers Weekly, the cover story “What Do Teens Want?” explores what kinds of books draw teens away from watching MTV and reality shows. Here’s an interesting look at the growth in the teen book category. However, I couldn’t help but wonder about magazine/periodical publishing.

Getting teens to read is a chore and congratulations to any parent whose teenager reads for pleasure. My own mum once told me, “When you were in high school, you could have been interested in reading anything and I would have encouraged it. So long as you were reading, it was fine.” 

I’m curious as to what my fellow members at WIPP think. Do you think magazine/periodical reading should have been addressed in this article? Do you think parents should be happy that their kids can’t wait for the latest issue of Seventeen or Rolling Stone to hit stands? Most of all, would you call a teenager a reader even if the pages he/she turns are glossy and illustrated?

You can read the article by clicking here.

Connect with the Most Influential Women in Business at PINK’s 5th Annual Empowerment Series!

PINK’s extraordinary Fall Empowerment series is comingto a city near you! Learn from the most powerful women in business in intimate, discussion-driven events. Choose from breakout sessions on Finance, Marketing, Leadership, and Balance.

San Francisco*
October 28

Atlanta
November 6

New York
November 9

* A few spots are available to WIPP members for $50. Contact Bridget Cody  at bcody@pinkmagazine.com to receive your special WIPP discount.

Don’t miss this event. Register today!

FREE Business Journalism Webinar!

 

Taught one hour each day, from December 7-11, the interactive course sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University covers the nuts and bolts of setting up a business from legal and accounting questions to branding and marketing yourself.

A highlight of the week is a live chat held by Joe Grimm and five successful business journalists turned entrepreneurs. Even if you have no plans to go into business for yourself, you will benefit from learning  how to brand yourself in your current job.

Register today!

 

 

 

 

SXSW: Music, Media, and More

Where can you hear original music from around the world, see great indepedent films, and learn about new technologies, all in one place? At none other than SXSW, one of the most popular creative festivals around. So gather a group of friends and prepare to head to Austin in March 2010 for an experience you won’t forget.

SXSW Interactive (a WIPP partner) features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders, and an unbeatable line-up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games, and startup ideas the community has to offer.

Join SXSW in March for the panels, the parties, the 13th Annual Web Awards, the ScreenBurn at SXSW Arcade, the Film and Interactive Trade Show and Exhibition, Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator at SXSW and, of course, the inspirational experience that only SXSW can deliver. Register today to save $100 off the walkup price!