IT could very well be the biggest promotional exercise for a newspaper in the history of Scotland.
This Saturday, ahead of the launch of our brand new Sunday edition, more than 50 Yes Groups up and down the country will be taking to the streets with 17,000 free copies of Saturday’s paper to distribute into the hands of potential new readers.
We’ve always known we have the best readers in the world – from making sure The National has a prominent position in your local shop, to buying extra copies and leaving them on buses and trains so they’re read by more people, we know how much you already do for us. But we didn’t expect our latest plan to gather so much support!
We were spurred into action by loyal reader Chic McGregor, who for the past 20 days had been buying extra copies and delivering them into the letter boxes of his neighbours.
We took his email, and checked out the postcodes in our distribution system.
It turns out Chic’s efforts were responsible for an increase of around 10 sales (over and above the extra ones he was buying).
We thought: there’s something in this. What if we could replicate this in towns all across Scotland?
So our editor Callum Baird sent an email out asking if Yes groups would like to get involved in helping make the Sunday National success. We would send them free copies this Saturday September 8 to deliver to their area, or to give out at a stall – and hopefully we would increase awareness of the fantastic brand new Sunday National coming the next day.
We thought we might have to send out a few hundred. But over the following few days we were amazed at just how many people got in touch wanting to do their bit to help us out.
There are now more than 17,000 free copies going out to groups on Saturday – from Arran to Islay, Orkney to Dumfries, our team of National Ambassadors will be spreading the message around Scotland. It really is something else.
Our editor Callum Baird said: “Thank you to everybody who has been in touch – many of whom we’ve met up and down the country on our National Roadshows.
“It’s clear that our readers recognise the fact that Scotland needs a pro-independence newspaper. We need to make sure The National can provide a strong voice on the newsstands every morning – including Sunday.
“Is there an appetite for a second referendum in Scotland? Judging by the enthusiasm of our movement, the answer can only be Yes!”
Want to get involved? Contact your local Yes group to find out if papers are heading your way.
Sunday National editor, Richard Walker
Don't miss out on social media sneak peaks
ALL week, the editor of the new Sunday National, Richard Walker, will be giving sneak peaks of the new title via our Facebook and Twitter pages, and also on our website.
Yesterday, Richard talked our followers through a dummy edition of the fantastic new Scottish Life magazine, featuring top food critic Joanna Blythman and the all new Scottish weekly Hit List. It’s a brand new magazine packed with features, culture, travel, food, music, theatre and film – it’s certainly not to be missed.
Look out for many more announcements on our social media channels all week, as we build up to the big launch!
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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