[TAG] how did it(the webzine) all start?

[Kat Tanaka Okopnik]

On Wed, Feb 21, 2007 at 11:49:52PM +0400, MNZ wrote:
> Dear TAG,
> I am a regular reader and wanted to first thank you for the great zine. I'll
> probably be starting my own site/zine (long story short: 'tis all to keep in 
> touch with my friends, who I have known for all my life but will have to 
> leave them soon). The zine part won't be linux related(except maybe for one
> column every now and then). 

Hi there! I remember you. I was wondering how you were doing just
recently, in fact.

Dunno that I'd call what you're doing a 'zine' as much as a journal or
blog, but I wish you much joy with it (and the changes in your life).

 
> I know I talk too much but, my question(s): When LG first started out, how did
> you get the readers? How was it publicized? How did you get your very first 
> reader? Also any tips (Kat? Ben? team?) ?

I think at this point it would be helpful for you to know more about the
history of LG. Rick Moen wrote a wrapup for it awhile back here:
http://linuxgazette.net/issue96/moen.html

I seem to recall there was another version detailing the early days, but
I don't have that one handy.

The other half of your answer is that LG doesn't really have the classic
profile of "start a 'zine'/website/blog and try to get it popular"
situation. And the person you'd really want to ask those questions isn't
actively involved anymore.

For real answers to your questions, you want to go looking at the advice
you can shake loose by doing a Google search on "popular blog", or
"creating a popular blog".

Additional factors include the tightknit nature of the FOSS community,
and the active involvement of many key members of LG staff in other
venues. LG, so far as I'm aware, doesn't (and hasn't) done much to
publicize or expand actively aside from putting out the best content we
can, month after month.

Some of our regular readers are very big advocates of LG, and I know
they do their bit to spread the word. Pramode CE often gets his students
involved.

The publicity rounds Ben and I did at SCaLE may be some of the very
first ever done for LG. I whipped up some business cards, and we passed
them out with glee, and did some active solicitation of articles and
participation. We also got interviewed by a podcaster, and collected
contact information for some upcoming features.


> One more thing: Write more POLOTMs or else I'll have to resort to violent 
> methods!

Oh, dear. You *don't* want to know about what happened to the last guy
who threatened Ben...

-- 
Kat Tanaka Okopnik
Linux Gazette Mailbag Editor
kat at linuxgazette.net