Arriving in bookshops, newsagents and kiosks just in time for, er, the end of the season, Discover Skopelos is a new 160-page glossy ‘magazine’ about getting the most out of a visit to Skopelos. Borrowing its format from in-flight publications, the magazine was produced by Entos guides and magazines of Volos, which published earlier Discover guides to Skiathos, Arachova and elsewhere. While the municipality supplied images and information, it had no other involvement in the magazine production. It covers island history and culture, hotels, restaurants, beaches, natural attractions and cultural and sporting events. It also includes profiles of various island individuals, and you can get a taste of it online here. It’s written in Greek and English, although the translations from the first into the second have produced some bizarre results: mayor Christos Vasiloudis may be surprised to find himself being translated into English saying “Flexibility, innovation and specialization, flagship requests in a period where state interventionism retreats, obtain their effective content when they truly become a property of collectivities that participate in this attempt.” (Or, in Earth-speak: being adaptable around others can help in a crisis.)
We ourselves are a little surprised at the odd choice of featured restaurants: no Agnanti, Flisvos, Ta Kymata, Koralli, Molos, Pavlos, Perivoli or a number of others we could mention, although the editors promise more in the next edition. But it certainly looks mouthwatering, and at a mere €4 is a snip.
Only way I seem to be able to contact. How is H? Best wishes. s
As with most independent projects of this type, the potential advertiser is contacted directly, either face to face or by telephone. The concept is explained (probably) and a pitch for inclusion is made. A full page costs so much, half page less than that etc.
The inclusion of a statement from the mayor is probably intended to lend the enterprise some legitimacy.
As I mentioned before, this popular business model is also used by Sky Maps and other free publications as well as CosmopolisTV. You pay to play.
The catch is distribution or, how many pairs of eyes will actually see the publication or video and actually read or comprehend your ad.
The only free ‘promotion’ comes from SkopelosNews and other such electronic media, unless your ferryboat is grounded on a sandbar and the newspapers print pictures of the unfortunate vessel with your logo plastered on the side. etc.
There’s an echo in here…
Who did they make the sales pitch to?? if at all ?. I cannot believe that Skopelos municipality being involved in any concepts or conceptual planning. It appears to have been a collection of photographs thrown together and dressed up—oh yes it happens to be Skopelos
You can actually read jt online at: http://issuu.com/entosvolos/docs/online________________discover_____
I would have liked to been privy to the sales pitch. – what was promised vs what was delivered.
Good printing though.
difficult to know what benefit for instance taki’s petrol station in glossa will see from advertising . its not easy for mama/pappa business to have any understanding of how to deal with promotion/advertising themselves. its a shame the EOT don’t give support and training.
i think it has achieved what it set out to do though Neil which is make a profit.(if it wasn’t in profit they wouldnt have published it) . if i had paid to be in it though i think i would be asking some questions about its distribution date..
A well photographed publication that appears to have happened without planning or focus consequently it will achieve little.
Strangely Elios is top heavy with restaurant appraisals and sweeping photography!!! whilst other celebrated restaurants have been ignored—-lack of planning !!!
No doubt the Production company will make a reasonable profit, but who is it aimed at —tourists who are already here—or disgruntled locals who see their island being run down and in desperate need of preventative maintenance—- The photography is excellent but the reality is a case of of whited sepulchre !!!
Here in glossa we need significant investment investment in a practical results orientated tourism , we have long gone past believing with our eyes when our imagination and reality is out of focus
I didn’t realize from the text “at a mere €4 is a snip” meant the publishers are selling the magazine. I imagine that many copies will be given out for free as ad revenue depends on circulation – if nobody sees your ad then money spent is all for naught.
Apparently, at least some of those who contributed ‘neutral’ text [as opposed to ad. stuff] did so, voluntarily and were paid nothing at all … and, equally, did not pay anyone for the privilege. A funny old set-up. Pretty, though.
As with many and probably most publications, people pay to advertise.
If your favorite restaurant isn’t highlighted on “Sky Maps”, it simply means that the restaurant didn’t pay “Sky Maps” a fee to be highlighted. The same with “Discover Skopelos”, you pay to play. If it is a free magazine, they have to make money somehow and selling space is the only way to do it. So reliable information is secondary.
Sales people traipse the island looking for business, be it a CosmopolisTV spot, a listing in a publication or a location highlight on a map. You pay to play. Apparently some restaurants felt that contributing to “Discover Skopelos”, however nicely designed and printed, was not worth the expense. Some did.