Comments on: Our Next Book Giveaway: Museums in the 21st Century

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:10:00 +0000

Somehow I missed this post. Has anyone mentioned being a part of airline magazines? Almost every airline has one, and how many thousands of people sit on a plane bored out of their minds every day?

Perhaps an article, or even a sponsored quiz/trivia section.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Here’s an idea…

Continue the “Name X in Y minutes” contest, but, since you obviously couldn’t give away that many free books, just give away free back issues of mental_floss. This way winners can pass them onto our friends, who will obviously love the magazine, and eventually sign up for a subscription!

…oh …you’re already doing that? Well, then nevermind.

(For the record, I’m only joking around. I think it’s great that you’re going to continue the “Name X in Y minutes” contest. It’s a fun game to play & is a great way to include us readers as contributing members of your site. Thanks!)

By: Jason!

Jason! — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Maybe a publicity stunt wouldn’t hurt. Lots of companies are doing that, like giant beach balls or closing down streets for a water slide… maybe Mangesh and Will should dust off their pudding truck idea…

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:50:00 +0000

I’m not sure if its been mentioned already but you could have bar trivia contests on the tv monitors made by MentalFloss. Kinda like they have a BW3’s, but much smarter.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Do a series of projects with TheOnion.com – they specialize in fake news, you specialize in interesting facts- so if you ran a series of contests where readers have to guess if it’s real or made up you’d keep us on our toes and make some friends!

By: NateJ

NateJ — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:03:00 +0000

Well I’ve already gotten you two more subscribers. One when I was on a plane the passenger next to me saw my mental_floss and was curious so I lent it to him for the flight and before we landed he tore out the subscription mailer in the magazine, plus I turned a corworker in my office onto your website as well)…but if that’s not good enough to get a free book then I would have to say…

Sponsor pub trivia nights in major cities with prizes like with old magazines, t-shirts, or any other things you have laying around the office, like old books!

By: joe

joe — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:26:00 +0000

it would b a good idea 2 glue or staple the mag 2 hightimes magazines

By: HP

HP — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Best way to increase the subscription would be to get Corporate Subscribers. This was one of the ways ‘USA Today’ and ‘Wall Street Journal’ became nationally known brand-names. All of us have lived in a hotel at some point, and they always have one of these newspapers and other periodicals, namely ‘Time’ or ‘Newsweek’ in their lobby. If mental_floss were to get Hilton or Sheridan to subscribe to their magazines and have a few copies in their lobby, the magazine should get a wide recognition. Also those individuals who loved the magazines would subscribe for themselves, further increasing the subscription number.

Also, increasing the frequency of the magazine to monthly would increase more interest. When I go through the entire magazine in a week, I hate waiting seven more weeks for a new copy to come.

Oh and I would love to have some podcasts. Like many of the readers and potential subscribers, I tend to have a busy schedule and would love to listen to some articles while driving to school/work or exercising. Although a luxury, this feature might get more people to consider buying a subscription.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:12:00 +0000

Two suggestions:

Nude Blogging. Advertise the hell out of it, build it up for weeks. “Starting next monday NUDE BLOGGING” Then when the time rolls around write your blogs in the nude, of course there is no need to actually post pictures. In fact, please don’t.

Fraggle Rock week!!!!!!!!!

By: Missy

Missy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:56:00 +0000

Since you have such a huge reader base on-line, why not offer print and digital subscriptions. Print subscribers will get the magazine sent to them (duh), digital subscribers can have the magazine emailed in .pdf form. As a bonus for people subscribing they can have access to a SUBSCRIBER ONLY FORUM where they can discuss flossy things or get sneak previews of articles that are being worked on or maybe they can pitch ideas to the writers. Something extra fun, ya know? The forum could be this super hip place that everyone wants to get into.