Advertising magazines and journals are an excellent resource for business people to improve their knowledge on making an advertising campaign successful and cost effective. Investing in advertising magazines, and learning the hows and the whys is a lot cheaper than letting your media company throw the ideas while putting you on the clock for billing.

Instead, review advertising magazines and journals before you come up with your next major campaign, and have a few general ideas of what you are interested in before speaking to your reps. Back up your ideas with research, trends and information. It will save you money in the end, and give a greater sense of accomplishment to have a bigger hand in your overall campaign.

To learn more about advertising magazines and journals for beginners:

1. Start with advertising journals to find out the fundamentals of campaigns and why they work (or don't).

2. Check out advertising magazines if you are visual person. Learn how colors and images and text all work together, as well as keep up with the latest news and trends in the industry.

3. Go beyond advertising industry magazines and the advertising journal, and see what other industry publications and options are available.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Jump into advertising journals for research and background information

Advertising basics have to be learned as the first stepping stone to becoming adept in the industry, and ad journals give you the opportunity to see the fundamentals behind the glossy, high edge world of advertising. There is a method behind the madness, and the journals cover the basics and the whys behind what motivates a campaign as opposed to dissecting the colors and images of an ad structure.

I recommend: Check out the Journal of Advertising Research, published by the World Advertising Research Center. Find a wealth of advertising industry journal resources from The Center for Interactive Advertising at the University of Texas Austin. There you can find academic journals on advertising, marketing and consumer research.

See how the bar is set by reading the latest in advertising magazines

Subscribe to ad magazines to find out the hottest info on trends in the industry. Learn from the best, and keep up with competitors.

I recommend: Read the print version or online version of Advertising Age. Take advantage of the many hot topics covered in the publication such as the latest news, digital advertising, global news, Hispanic marketing as well as their wide variety of blogs. Subscribe to Adweek to find out the latest in advertising news and information on advertising, media and marketing.

Find other publications for advertising magazines and journals for beginners

Those searching for advertising magazines and journals for beginners should also look at sites that offer other advertising industry publications. From critic sites to online newsletter sites to blog postings, there is a wealth of news, information as well as opinions on the topic of the advertising industry.

I recommend: Check out the list of publications posted by MediaPost Communications. They also cover top stories news and information. Use Yahoo! Directory to help you find trade publications on the advertising industry.

Advertising is a fast-paced competitive business that requires its players to possess a true edge to be successful. One of the easiest and most accessible ways to get that edge is by regularly reading advertising magazines and journals. Advertising magazines, ad journals and other industry periodicals are mandatory reading for the industry's elite.

You can use advertising industry publications to find the latest advertising trends, look up market statistics, or get your creative juices flowing with ad examples. When choosing which publications to add to your research arsenal, consider the following:

1. Advertising magazines offer blanket industry information in a timely manner on a regular basis throughout the year.
2. Ad magazines can help you research multiple markets in the country for breaking news and industry information.
3. Regularly updated reference journals filled with the latest industry statistics and market research are invaluable references to keep on hand.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out advertising magazines that thoroughly cover every aspect of the industry

Many useful articles can be found in a number of ad magazines. Each ad magazine is a great source of the latest industry news as well as a useful resource for repeat reference while on the job.

I recommend: Advertising Age is a top-notch ad industry magazines that's a good source of advertising industry news. Or, subscribe to Creativity, which publishes "AdCritic," a recap of good advertising examples.

Research advertising journals for breaking news

A number of advertising journals report multiple threads of information based on the advertising sector, which is helpful when you're trying to target your advertising industry information search.

I recommend: AdWeek publishes newsletters that feature breaking news, as well as information for specific sectors of the advertising industry. The Online Advertising Playbook is a publication of the Advertising Research Foundation that offers up good business practices for online advertising.

Check out invaluable ad journals full of market research and statistics

There are a number of flagship advertising magazines and journals that serve as great go-to references all year long. Make sure to add these advertising industry magazines to your advertising industry reference collection.

I recommend: Plunket Research, Ltd. is an ad journal that publishes advertising and branding industry data and statistics, as well as annual "almanac" publications. Advertising and Society Review is an academic publication that offers insights from college professors who formerly worked in the advertising industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Internet advertising is the newest frontier in the industry, so be sure to peruse the publications listed above for insights into how to beat others at the Internet ad game.

In such a trend-heavy industry as advertising, it's vital for advertising journal and magazine businesses to know their market. What is popular one day can be a bust the next. If there is any industry that must know the audience's fluctuating highs and lows, then it is the advertising business.

Along those lines, ad journal and magazine businesses need to know the best sources for current changes. It's essential to find reputable informative sites, whether online or in print format. Utilize several of these places to make the most out of all the information available. Consider the following when investigating advertising magazines and journals news and trends:

1. Look for blogs or forums where those in the ad journal business discuss industry-related news.

2. Subscribe to advertising industry magazines to keep abreast of changes.

3. Attend seminars or conferences hosted by those in the ad magazine industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search online for information regarding ad journals

Use technology to your advantage by checking out blogs or online forums. Online you can locate up-to-the-minute changes in the ad journal business. Most of the time, these sites provide an honest approach from other like-minded professionals such as yourself. Search for a blog or website that provides trustworthy information on advertising industry publications.

I recommend: For information close to home, check out the Local Advertising Journal blog. Search through its categories list to find detailed information about topics of interest. Look to Plunkett Research for trends in the advertising magazine industry.

Subscribe to advertising industry magazines

When you need information about the ad industry, there's no better place than the ad magazines themselves. Publications boast about changes to their audiences. If you secure a subscription, then you have immediate access. You can also check out the magazines' websites and subscribe to e-mail newsletters. These newsletters can tide you over between issues.

I recommend: Obtain a subscription to Adweek, which is an industry-leading publication from Nielsen Business Media. Another popular magazine is Advertising Age from Crain Communications. Sign up for its free e-mail newsletter that is delivered right to your inbox.

Listen to speakers at conferences hosted by those in the advertising journals industry

Leaders in the advertising journal industry can be an effective source for trends in ad journals and magazines. Many of these associations and organizations host conferences or seminars throughout the year; check out schedules and calendars to see what speakers will be discussing.

I recommend: The American Association of Advertising Agencies hosts several events scattered throughout the year. Check out its upcoming events to see what interests you. The International Advertising Association can keep you up-to-date on events occurring globally as well as locally.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sign up for advertising classes through a university or college. Oftentimes these institutions provide current information in their coursework, allowing for their students to know the most recent trends to the ad magazine industry.