I had written a little of the history of Walker Talk in Volume 25. With this column it seems a good time to answer a few questions people ask us about Walker Talk.
1: How do you get on the subscription list? Subscriptions are given (free) by request. Use the tear-out card included with each magazine, or request by phone, letter, e-mail or the Walker web site.
Another common question is, “I used to get Walker Talk in the mail, but now I don’t. Why?” The answer is that the subscription is not perpetual for a lifetime, and the request for a subscription needs to be renewed every two or three years. From time to time, we have sent a renewal notice with the publication, but some folks don’t get this mailed back, so a few of the oldest names are dropped off the list to make room for new subscriptions for the mailing of each issue. The way to prevent your name from being dropped is to renew your request—that is the only way we know that a reader wants to continue receiving the publication and it is not being wasted.
2: How do you pick the profile stories? We give preference to customers we have met face-to-face who seem to have an interesting story. We also look at letters of introduction from customers. These customers are all volunteers, and we prefer people who are not looking for promotion (“you need to do a story on me”). We look at keeping a good variety of locations, backgrounds, types and sizes of companies using the Walker Mower in their operation. We maintain a running list of prospective stories that reaches back 5 or 10 years to today.
3: Do you pay or compensate for profile stories? No, we never have. It is all voluntary. This approach is all about truth telling which I wrote about in Volume 29.
4: Is this publication worthwhile? The comments we get from our readers say that it is worthwhile. I have been particularly pleased to meet customers and have them quote back to me something from an article in Walker Talk—that means the publication is being read and remembered and is helpful.
We don’t know for sure, but we think the Walker Talk helps us sell more lawnmowers. But regardless, that is not the main purpose of the publication. It is more of a community effort, supporting lawn maintenance activity, building the Walker Mower family and encouraging people in their opportunities—in that purpose Walker Talk has proven powerful.
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