Digital Publishing – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Regular readers of the blog will be fully aware that I’m a big fan of digital publishing. Not that I don’t enjoy a good printed magazine. Indeed I still think there’s nothing better than sitting down with a glass of red wine, opening the crisp, new pages and getting that fresh print aroma and you open the printed page on a feature you’re looking forward to reading. So I don’t see print publications dying any time soon. But I do think they’ll be changing and it’s something I’ve written about on several occasions. Time to step up and put my ideas into practise….

Throughout 2012, with the assistance of others who will be introduced as we progress, I’ll be working to establish several digital publications in some niches I think will work. Some will have digital editions of magazines, some will have eBooks to purchase and download. Others will be all online.

We’ve already had some very positive expressions of support and advertising spend. While this may be on a small scale right now, that’s related to of the size of our audience and our rates reflect this. However, we can see the green shoots of the possibilities and it’s very exciting.

For full details of all of the ideas we’re pushing forward with and the various digital properties we’re developing, fill out this form and send us an email. We’re also believers in the good old phone, feel free to call or if you insist, text, on 0044 7812 766760.

Thanks so far must go to people who’ve been good enough to offer their advice, support, words of encouragement and disbelief. These include Philip Raby, all the staff at Specialist Cars of Malton, Andy McKenna of Ice Driver for those texts saying, “Just f*cking do it…” and my family for the ‘Yeah, whatever….” when I become animated about cars, driving and flying.

I’m still writing and photographing for other outlets, as well as continuing to instruct on track, both freelance and as part of larger companies. However, one of the prime motivators of ‘self publishing’ is the freedom to write about all of those interesting feature ideas we come up with and feel so passionately about. The overiding ethos being that if we like it, we can’t be the only ones and others must feel the same way too. It’s a theory that has always stood up well when writing of magazine editors and one we continue to use as our yardstick.

We’re expecting setbacks, unfulfilled promises and other frustrations. We’re expecting naysayers and predictions of doom from those yet to wake up and see the possibilities of these exciting times. But we’re also looking forward to receiving more of the positive feedback we’ve already experienced, plus the messages of support from our peers, for which we are grateful.

Exciting times, what could possibly go wrong? Don’t clap, throw money….