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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

11

New Advertising Lessons from the Gay Media

RAGLooking through the math on the "Annual Gay Press Report" [PDF], which samples gay publications each April, there's some really inexplicable facts. There were 24% fewer issues of gay magazines published from 2008 to 2009. The circulation of gay magazines and newspapers both plummeted by a quarter-and the seven national gay magazines lost 40% of circulation. But even while newspapers and magazines also lost ads, a massive growth in ads in "Local A&E Guides" (I believe we call those "bar rags"?), where the number of ads were up 65% year over year (fueled by liquor and retail), accompanied by an upturn in the costall publication's fewer ads, found that income from advertising in gay publications was actually up 13.6% in 2009. The gay mag press advertising market is $349.6 million a year-small, but not shabby. So basically, what have we learned? Publish less frequently, lay off a bunch of staff, cut costs, go after bigger advertisers (airlines, beer companies), and sell bigger ads. Finally, one notable item: the number of ads for "Hair Growth" products declined 100% from 2008 to 2009, falling from 35 ads to zero ads. Gays: they already have all the hair they need, thanks.

11 Comments / Post A Comment

CaptainFantastic

"massive growth"
(not pictured)

BadUncle
BadUncle (#153)

through "insertions."

sajrocks
sajrocks (#2,067)

"backdoor diplomacy"
(what are we talking about again?)

propertius
propertius (#361)

I'm too lazy to read that report, but I am curious about revenues from ads for hair *removal*, since - for all the fussing over bears and otters - the smooth look is still a prized option for a many who have *more* hair than they need.

refractor
refractor (#3,009)

As a gay and a young with more than the usual allotment of hair for one person, I can say that this is absolutely true!

DoctorDisaster
DoctorDisaster (#1,970)

Desire for the smooth look is not even limited to gays! Although I have a straight friend who wishes he didn't have totally smooth baby skin, so maybe it's like ladies' curly hair/straight hair divide?

kneetoe
kneetoe (#1,881)

"Fueled by liquor and retail" indeed.

HiredGoons
HiredGoons (#603)

I'm all gay and proud, but I'm sorry: rainbows be ugly.

Can we get a good design firm to whip us up a new flag?

DoctorDisaster
DoctorDisaster (#1,970)

I remember there was an attempt to do a contest online at one point. As with every logo contest, it was doomed to embarrassing failure.

hman
hman (#53)

I have in my hands a copy of Swerv Magazine, which caters to gay African-Americans. I count one ad for a small publisher, three ads for HIV drugs, and one for Atlanta's Gay Black Pride party.
Also there is an article entitled "HOW LONG SHOULD YOU WAIT TO SEX YOUR DATE?" but that is neither here nor there.

keisertroll
keisertroll (#1,117)

Ah, bar rags. The Tumblr of the eleven-month period between my discovering bar rags and my discovering Tumblr.

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