What is a back-issue sample?

Question

According to what I've read, in considering placing advertisements in a magazine, the main thing you should get is the magazine's current advertising rate card with readership numbers and back-issue orders from the advertising director. 'Readership numbers' is easy enough to understand, but what are back-issue orders? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

A back-issue sample is simply an old issue of the publication. For example, they may send you a copy of the January 2008 issue.

Magazines will send you a back-issue so you can see what the publication looks like, what types of ads are placed, etc.

By the way, if at all possible it's better to go to your local library to read several back issues at once. See what ads have been run in the past.

Better yet, see how long those ads were run. Was it a one shot deal, or do you see the same ads over and over again? Are the ad's promoting a similar type of product as the one you want to advertise? Although that doesn't automatically assure success, it's probably safe to say that the advertiser is probably turning a profit if they're consistently running the same advertisement.