Bind-in cards
Bind-in cards are cards bound into magazines. Publishers may sell these cards to advertisers or use them to advertise their own magazine. Many magazines find bind-in and blow-in cards the most cost-effective method of gaining new subscribers. Publishers may bind in a single card or a page of cards which may be separated along perforated edges. Publishers which have several magazines often advertise related magazines on bind-in cards inserted in magazines whose audiences are similar. Cards may be bound into magazines with saddle-stitch binding or perfect binding. Bind-in card samples that are featured in this section are: multiple magazine cards, single magazine cards, and combined magazine/advertiser cards.Blow-in cards
Blow-in cards are inserted in magazines either by hand or by a machine which "blows" them into the magazines. Publishers may sell these cards to advertisers or use them to advertise their own magazine. Many magazines find bind-in and blow-in cards the most cost-effective method of gaining new subscribers.Direct mail subscription solicitation
Many magazines have traditionally relied on direct mail solicitations as a primary means of building circulation. Here are samples in the following categories: new subscriber solicitation letter packages, new subscriber solicitation postcards, gift subscription solicitations, and Christmas gift subscription solicitations.Issue wraps
An issue wrap is a second cover on a magazine. Issue wraps are not usually put on magazines to be displayed for single-copy sale, since it is important for potential buyers to see the actual cover of the magazine. However, they are sometimes used on magazines mailed to subscribers. They provide extra protection for the cover of the magazine and serve a valuable function as a tool to advertise special offers to subscribers, to welcome new subscribers, or to announce subscription expiration. Package inserts
A package insert is a card or brochure enclosed in a package sent to potential customers. Often, package inserts are enclosed in packages mailed by book publishers. Normally, the package insert publisher pays the package mailer on a cost per thousand basis. Single-magazine package insert samples and multi-magazine package insert samples are shown in this section.Promotional source analysis worksheet
It costs money to acquire new subscribers. So, magazine publishers want to know which type of promotions are the most cost-effective. Here is an example of a promotion source analysis worksheet prepared for Discipleship Journal in which the cost effectiveness of a direct mail campaign is analyzed.Subscription invoices
Magazines often offer new subscribers the option of ordering the magazine now and paying for it later. Included in this section are some samples of entire billing series and some of invoices used with a variety of covering letters. This category includes billing series and computer-generated invoices.Subscription renewal notices
Most magazines send letters to subscribers to inform them that their subscriptions will expire and to convince them to renew their subscriptions. In some countries, subscriptions renew automatically if the subscriber does not specifically write to cancel the subscription before the end of the term. The following samples are from countries where renewal is not automatic, but must be diligently sought by the magazine. Most magazines send more than one renewal notice. Magazines normally compare the cost of sending renewals with the result of each renewal mailing in order to determine how many renewal mailings (called "efforts") to send. Some magazines have found it profitable to send as many as 10 or 11 notices. Most magazines send fewer. Included in this section are samples of: renewal series, regular gift subscription renewal, Christmas gift subscription renewal, issue wraps with special renewal offers, and early renewal offers.