The obvious one is content – we are renowned for our excellent coverage of all sorts of subjects. People say there’s always loads in there of interest to them – men, women, older and younger people. Design-wise it’s made easy to read, and every little piece in it is edited for clarity.
We are the widest read publication in this area. Our 25,000 copies give us a readership of 60-70,000. And because of our great content people read every page.
We offer the personal touch, writing about our customers in an engaging way –no advertorial! We also offer free design, a clear ratecard, we’re honest and trustworthy and we’re a small local business, not a big corporate. In this way, what you are buying is TRUST. Our brand is held in deep affection and is trusted. People trust our content and our honesty and this rubs off on the advertisers.
Our mag lasts a month and reaches so many people. Our content is very different, a slow read, so readers are more likely to see and respond to ads on the page.
Unusually, men love our mag as much as women – as it caters for them too. Not just in sport, business etc, but just in the tone.
Our magazine caters for everyone of any age, gender, religion or politics.
We have a unique ‘Dorset’ voice, while bringing gentle humour – it’s a totally different style of publication, our hybrid news magazine, than any other local publication. It’s a cuddle in printed form.
We are more flexible than most other publications, because we use design software, not templates. So if an advertiser wants an upright half rather than landscape, we can do it. If they want the centre pages
we can do it. Same with our website – we’re not a big corporate and we are in control of what appears on our website and how it looks. The only thing we won’t do is pop-ups. Our website is clean, clear and does what it needs to.
Our cartoon fronts have not only won us a national award (runner up in the Political Cartoon of the Year awards, beating The Times, The Telegraph, Private Eye etc) but they are a muchloved brand. People look forward to seeing what the cartoon is each time. The striking nature of our fronts, with their bold colours, has ensured we are instantly recognisable.
Attention to detail: One of the things often remarked on is our exceptionally low number of typos and errors. We do things the old-fashioned way, with several people proofreading the magazine before it goes to print. We take care.
All this, and a magazine that lasts a month and goes to 6070,000 people! Can you afford not to advertise?
n 25,000 copies distributed to 150 stockists (No door to door, all actively picked up by readers)
n Every town and village in West Dorset covered, as well as Weymouth, Portland and Yeovil
n Well over 40% penetration
n Widest read publication in West Dorset
n A month’s advertising for a fraction of the price of advertising in a daily paper
n Trusted, well-written hyperlocal content
For a few days recently, I had been feeling quite low for all sorts of reasons, then this morning I picked up your magazine and read it thoroughly. After I had finished, I felt refreshed and uplifted as so many of your stories had a good feel factor. I am therefore recommending your magazine as an antidote to mental health issues!
Thank you so much – long may you continue.
I haven’t bothered with print advertising for a long time as I just wasn’t getting anywhere with it. But I like this magazine, so I gave it a go and I noticed an immediate uptick in trade.
We advertised our new business in a couple of newspapers. We got nothing from the other ad, but people would come in clutching our ad in the West Dorset Magazine!
Our order book was empty before we advertised
with the West Dorset Magazine. After two adverts we had 28 orders!
I have had quite a few calls from my small ad in the magazine. People say, ‘It is a very informative magazine, we love it’ and ‘I found you in the magazine’. It is being well received.
I am pleased with the response so far to my advert. People always mention the magazine – they really love it.
Dorset to Doorstep has been advertising with you on a negotiated rate for the last couple of months as a new business. We are delighted that several of our new contacts have come from around the region through our advertisement with you.
I have just picked up a copy and seen our little advert this week. Brill. Thank you. The adverts are working. We are so pleased.
We want to say a huge thank you... We had so many people attending the show and when we asked how they knew about the show, so many said the West Dorset Magazine article and the advertisement.
As a Fleet Street veteran in semi-retirement, I must commend your excellent magazine. It is rare indeed to find a local publication with such robust editorial values and a willingness to report without undue inhibition. Your information service is of course vital but I particularly enjoy your quirky but spirited columns and features. The piece on the Black Death was superb, and superbly presented.
( 01305 566336
Full page (250mm x 185mm) £600
Deadlines and publication dates for 2024:
May 10 (deadline May 3)
June 7 (deadline May 31)
July 5 (deadline June 26)
August 9 (deadline August 2)
September 6 (deadline August 30)
October 11 (deadline October 4)
November 8 (deadline November 1)
December 6 (deadline November 29)
Why not sponsor a section? A strap this size doesn’t cost the earth. Email advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk for
Save money, time and hassle with an eight-page silk leaflet
stitched into the middle of The West Dorset Magazine, reaching 60,000-70,000 people for less than door-to-door
n Finely targeted advertising – people decide to pick up our magazine, so they are more likely to read your marketing materials
n Eight pages to fill – so you can display your wares to the fullest
n No hassle and no printing and distribution costs – we do everything for you
n Perfect alternative to door to door leaflet drops that often just go straight in the bin
n Just send us your artwork (three weeks’ notice required) and we’ll do the rest!
Call 01305 566336 #2
We are Bird Media – two experienced journalists who launched their own news publication, The West Dorset Magazine, in February 2022. We believe we are the only all-female newspaper publishers in the UK! Since our launch we have won multiple awards, including Business of the Year for West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, runner up in the national Political Cartoon of the Year and most recently, we were shortlisted for the Hyperlocal Newspaper of the Year – a massive achievement for such a young publication.
Key to our popularity is our determination to provide high-quality content, free of charge, to tens of thousands of people in this area. Our news and features are much looked forward to, and all 25,000 copies are eagerly snapped up
Contact us: 01305 566336 |
when they go out to our 150 stockists. Every little bit of it is fiercely hyperlocal and meticulously curated to give people a warm hug of information that’s all about West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland. Editor Miranda Robertson has worked for a number of local papers, including the Dorset Echo, Salisbury Journal and The New Blackmore Vale.
Karen Bate has worked for the Salisbury Journal, Wiltshire Living Magazine, Bournemouth Echo and The New Blackmore Vale. They have formed a small but brilliant team of regional journalists with over a century of experience between them, to bring people the type of magazine everyone enjoys. It’s fun, engaging and very, very Dorset. Reach the widest possible audience for your business – advertise today!