Please Help - Need writers advice on website

We recently launched a new magazine.

The problem is we've been contacting people to write articles for the magazine. Whenever we speak with someone about it, we usually tell them a bit about the mag and ask them if they'd be interested in writing articles for us. For example, most recently we contacted an athlete to write about their training for us. Well, at the beginning they always say they're really interested and would love to do it.

But then for some reason I cannot understand. Every single time we follow up with the potential athlete/writer to make sure they're still interested, and finalize things, they always blow us off. We never get another response back.

I'm starting to think that maybe the website is scaring them off, but usually they've already seen the website and know a bit of what we're about before their first reply to our proposal. So I'm just puzzled .

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on here??

 

yes...people want money to do anything at all these days...other sites get around this by interviewing as opposed to soliciting articles...anyone that is noteworthy is likely too busy to do free stuff...

 

You might be right. I know 2 people declined because they wanted money. But with the others money never even made it into the conversation. Perhaps I need to start addressing the money issue up front?

 

If you started a plumbing or carpentry business, would you ask plumbers and carpenters to work for free?

 

yeah, good luck finding anyone who'll help you sell magazines for free. Just use your own money until your mag is reputable enough draw talent and pay for itself with sponsors.

 

People will write for free. I've done articles for large magazines in exchange for subscriptions, but you need to be able to offer them something... like "This magazine will be read by X number of people, it'll be good for your writing career."

I'd also stop approaching people directly, put out a call for submissions. The people you're asking are mostly doing you a favour, and people are lazy with favours. If you put out an ad, the people that respond will more likely be people that want to write for you.