Crash test boat films - do they influence your magazine buying habits?

[dylanwinter]

This series has also been one of my highlights of the year - actually when it comes to yachting journalism it is the highlight of the year.

Great to see yachting magazine bosses with the foresight to invest in this sort of stuff

I am sure they blagged for a lot of resources - but still there was a lot of manpower on the ground and you know for sure who would have been footing the bill at the inevitable visist to the pub after each shoot.

excellently presented and beautifully shot

all round

well done chaps.

Now I confess that it did cause me to pick up YM more often and I bought more copies this year than I did last

did anyone else here buy more copies of YM this year than last?

- and if you did then I wondered if this series of films had any influence in that decision

did the films have a positive or negative impact on PBO sales


Dylan

 

[Sandyman]

Something new I suppose. Better then the usual old stuff in Yachting mags just trundled round the buoys with a new take each year.

 

[Lakesailor]

No. I don't buy many mags at all.

 

[dylanwinter]

but did you buy more mags

Something new I suppose. Better then the usual old stuff in Yachting mags just trundled round the buoys with a new take each year.

obviously if you are a subscriber then the question is... did the fact that they produced videos to go with the articles make you more likely to renew your subscription

just curious....

but obviously if video helsp to sell print that is a good thing

but it all it does is hoover up resources that might be better spent elsewhere then the relationship is not as synergistic as it should be

and they will stop making them.....

which would be a shame

Dylan

 

[Sandyman]

obviously if you are a subscriber then the question is... did the fact that they produced videos to go with the articles make you more likely to renew your subscription

just curious....

but obviously if video helsp to sell print that is a good thing

but it all it does is hoover up resources that might be better spent elsewhere then the relationship is not as synergistic as it should be

and they will stop making them.....

which would be a shame

Dylan

Like Lakesailor I do not buy sailing mags. Got to the point where I found I learnt little or nothing from them anymore and am not prepared to pay to read advertising.

Maybe its a bit of forward thinking from the publishers realising the future market
is going to be electronic and videos are likely to be an important part of it.

I believe the old saying holds true...........A picture tells a thousand words.

 

[dylanwinter]

Interesting

Like Lakesailor I do not buy sailing mags. Got to the point where I found I learnt little or nothing from them anymore and am not prepared to pay to read advertising.

Maybe its a bit of forward thinking from the publishers realising the future market
is going to be electronic and videos are likely to be an important part of it.

I believe the old saying holds true...........A picture tells a thousand words.

so we have two people whose magazine buying habits are unchanged by these excellent films

At the moment YM is easrning about a dollar per thousand from the adverts that are run alongside the films when they are watched in youtube

so far it has 453 views - so that is less than 50 cents

I assume they gave it to the local TV - they are giving it away to us here

not looking good for video budgets at yachting magazines on this thread so far.

So is there anybody else except me who bought more YMs

if not......

well I would like to be a fkly on the wall at the meeting where they discuss if the thousands of pounds they have invested has been worthwhile

I really, really hope it has been

by the way I am not being paid for this market research on behalf of yachting mags but if I am going to try to sell words and video about sailing it would be good to know if they are complimentary

of course, if you want to see more films then you should at least pretend that it has persuaded you to buy more magazines



Dylan

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Like Lakesailor I do not buy sailing mags. Got to the point where I found I learnt little or nothing from them anymore and am not prepared to pay to read advertising.

Maybe its a bit of forward thinking from the publishers realising the future market
is going to be electronic and videos are likely to be an important part of it.

I believe the old saying holds true...........A picture tells a thousand words.

I do buy the magazines, and one of the reasons is that I do like reading the advertising. Helps me keep up with new developments.

Having said that, I do think that IPC could afford to let subscribers have the digital version included in their sub.

As far as videos go, I think they belong on websites, or even better, built into a digital version. Look at how the Telegraph is improved online and thats free!

Crash test boat was interesting, and well done Admiral. I insure with them and will continue to do so. Can't say the videos increasing my buying though.

 

[Hoolie]

I subscribe to PBO, but not to YM. I think their initiative on this and other matters will persuade me to subscribe - when I get back to the UK!

And I agree that subscribers should be able to access the digital version.

 

[dylanwinter]

three to two then

I subscribe to PBO, but not to YM. I think their initiative on this and other matters will persuade me to subscribe - when I get back to the UK!

And I agree that subscribers should be able to access the digital version.

I guess that is not a bad hit rate

I think that if they give susbcribers access to the digital versions then they should put digital versions on disks on the magazines

why should us capricious smiths and station buyers be punished this way

Dylan

 

[wizard]

Well I will be the first to admit it - I cancelled the PBO sub and signed up with YM.

Had several issues now and well pleased with the mag and its level of info - far more than PBO.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I didn't know that there was a series of them. I saw the one about fire; that was pretty good, but I've seen no more.

Where are they?

 

[blackbeard]

My subscription to YM is safe for another year.

 

[dylanwinter]

well said Spartacus

Well I will be the first to admit it - I cancelled the PBO sub and signed up with YM.

Had several issues now and well pleased with the mag and its level of info - far more than PBO.

I for one hope that there are more people like you and me

PBO have commissioned their first feature from me for about 20 years....

so maybe there is synergy between word and video

I hope so

I am Sparctacus!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Not changed my buying habits, still occassionally think about cancelling my subs. However you starting this thread has prompted me to watch all the videos this evening, which are very interesting....... they reinforce the point that one doesnt want to get into any of those situations in the first place !!!

 

[smackdaddy]

I loved this series! Very well conceived and produced.

To your question, I think for me it didn't really change my buying habits as much as made me re-evaluate the techniques I'd use for each scenario.

 

[gerry99]

I am encouraged at the approach. For far too long the content of the three main mags, YM, PBO and ST has, in my view, been bordering on bland, with magazines reviewing the same or similar products and yachts within very short times from each other. I believe that when you are down to reviewing torches, gloves and boots you are getting to the bottom of the proverbial barrel.

The crash test boat is the first bit of innovative journalism in ages and IPC deserve credit for the series. Has it made any difference to my purchase decisions? No! This one series is great, but is it a one off or an indication of the yachting press raising the bar in terms of content and quality? If it is more than a one off then yes it will, if not then my subs will not be renewed when due in a few months time

 

[dylanwinter]

Good point

I am encouraged at the approach. For far too long the content of the three main mags, YM, PBO and ST has, in my view, been bordering on bland, with magazines reviewing the same or similar products and yachts within very short times from each other. I believe that when you are down to reviewing torches, gloves and boots you are getting to the bottom of the proverbial barrel.

The crash test boat is the first bit of innovative journalism in ages and IPC deserve credit for the series. Has it made any difference to my purchase decisions? No! This one series is great, but is it a one off or an indication of the yachting press raising the bar in terms of content and quality? If it is more than a one off then yes it will, if not then my subs will not be renewed when due in a few months time

you make a good point...

they have to keep it up

so what else could they do that would be as dramatic and innovative

in 2012

this is hard to beat

Dylan

 

[Seajet]

Well it has influenced me; I'd stopped buying any sailing mags as I also found them pretty uninformative & bland ( it would be so refreshing and indeed possibly humourous if a way to publish honest, warts and all boat reviews could be found ) and there seemed little to attract.

The crash test series made me think again, and yes to be really honest I feel I ought to support YM for all the reasons Dylan mentions, they deserve a few of my squids for investing a lot of thought, effort and indeed money...

What next is a very big question, also as Dylan says this will be a hard act to follow, and I'm realistic enough not to expect something similar too soon !

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I think that if they give susbcribers access to the digital versions then they should put digital versions on disks on the magazines

why should us capricious smiths and station buyers be punished this way

Dylan

As a capricious Smith's and Station buyer I'd agree with that. But I'd be happier to see a decent digital version which gives you something designed for digital media rather than just a digital copy (albeit of high quality) of the printed version with a few embedded links. Maybe even two levels, a premium (with access to old articles and tests) and a basic.

 

[jbweston]

you make a good point...

they have to keep it up

so what else could they do that would be as dramatic and innovative

in 2012

this is hard to beat

Dylan

I think they should take a selection of skippers nominated by their crews and subject each one to a thorough psychiatric examination and assessment. Then report on one a month:

Jim Bloggs - the latent axeman waiting for a dark night and adverse tide . . .
Randy Smith - secret drinker and Spurs obsessive who drives his crew barmy on night watches . . .
Molly Winch-Handel - militant vegan and gps-hater who bans all meat, animal products and electronic aids to navigation even on ocean passages . . .
Colonel (ret'd) Albert Fullbore - blue and defaced ensign historian, none of whose crew must ever have been within one mile of a comprehensive school . . .

Then at the end of the year, readers vote for the one they think is the most dangerous, who gets the prize of a date with Libby Purves and a bent Rocna anchor.

Nothing to this magazine publishing lark.