On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 12:17 AM, Naveen Dhanuka neevaan@gmail.com wrote:

Hi all,

I registered the domain FOSS Guru some time back with the help from a friend in US. I finally want to announce that I am making it a magazine now. There have been many many a magazines in and out in the market and trust me all of them have sustained only because of the free dvd they come out with it.

How is FOSS Guru different? I promise if you buy one copy of the magazine, you will archive it for ever.

Wow, Great news, Some suggestions : * use CC-By-SA license and reuse existing articles * Use a *subheading* too because FOSS is not a common word, a totally new persons will not buy this scary mag. Use something like FOSS guru -- Now become a computer guru or FOSS guru -- computer guru made easy

* You can get good article by rewarding authors by money * make website and add every article there too so that comment, linking , tweeting can happen * Yup make facebook, twitter account to * One of the important point you need to think that - most of the developer or coder read online articles , even though they have pirated e-books. online availability of such magazine and articles is huge. So be careful on decision that what value you are embedding in 100 page monthly magazine. Probably you can sit at some shop and take a personal interview to those who purchase Linux for you. Or give some money to shopkeeper to collect phone number of LFY buyers. * Add section on News about FOSS which cover news about LUGs and FOSS activities and workshops * Add section on "Applications of the month" on which you can take one-two application at time and give a details tutorial. * timing publish getting started on FOSS.

best wishes,, Do let me know if i can help !!

Hi Naveen,

On 04/07/2010 12:17 AM, Naveen Dhanuka wrote:

Hi all,

I registered the domain FOSS Guru some time back with the help from a friend in US. I finally want to announce that I am making it a magazine now. There have been many many a magazines in and out in the market and trust me all of them have sustained only because of the free dvd they come out with it.

Small point sideways -- This is not necessarily a bad thing. The DVDs usually contain a lot of stuff that would be too hard to obtain in this connectivity and bandwidth scarce country of ours (think students or people who do not have the resources to obtain an fast unlimited data connection in cities other than the metros -- I know, I was one of them growing up in Nasik not so long back).

How is FOSS Guru different? I promise if you buy one copy of the magazine, you will archive it for ever.

That's an excellent thing to aim for ! :).

I am targeting it at all types and calibers of users, developers, system managers and architects. My magazine will have everything for everyone. The mag might be segment specific in each issue, so a ruby developer might want to buy only the FOSS Guru – Ruby Special. I am still thinking more.

Ok. Here you'd probably want to reconsider your approach. If you are planning to bring out a periodical magazine (ie: possibly offer subscription) why should someone buy every issue including the ones focused on stuff they aren't interested in ? ...unless of course it also contains some regular features besides the monthly (/periodic) focus.

For instance, I won't buy a Ruby Special unless the magazine also offered some regular features which I am hooked on to.

However, this is not to say that bringing out a focused publication is not a good idea. I am only saying that trying to bring out a /magazine/ in that format might not be. You could for instance bring out a publication in a 'guide' format. (think Times Good Food guide, or the Lonely Planet Guides ...etc)

You can cast your votes or send suggestions on this thread or on email address neevaan@gmail.com .

One suggestion I can make is -- first off, *clearly* define for yourself your readers. Although it is good to make something that /appeals/ to everyone, you need to know who your /core/ users/readers are. Most distros do that, so do most magazines, web sites ...and foobars.

All that said, Sharninder's advice to start first with an ezine is very sound advice.

wish you the best, cheers, - steve