How to choose the right digital magazine platform: PageTurnPro

 

It's thrilling to launch a digital magazine, but the choice of platform can be the difference between a successful, impactful magazine and a flop. The right digital magazine platform molds all things: how content looks, how readers experience it, how easy it is to grow. This write-up will take you through what you should expect to see and give you all the information you need to make an educated and informed decision.

How to determine the "right" digital magazine platform?

It's a good idea to first have an understanding of what you want before you start reading about features and pricing. Is your magazine a niche hobby magazine or a professional trade magazine? Would you like readers to experience your site on their phone, tablet or desktop? Do you make money with subscriptions, ads or both?

Each of your responses to these questions will help inform all decision-making that follows. What works well for a large media company may not be suitable for an indie just breaking into the market. Don't overlook the details of what is important for you.

When selecting a digital magazine platform, there are several key factors to consider. There are a number of important things to keep in mind when choosing a digital magazine platform.

Is it a good reader?

Readers are expecting a lot from you. Whether they're on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, they expect smooth page turns, crisp graphics, and fast-loading content. Check for sites that provide:

Responsive design: Your magazine should be looking great straight out of the box on a mobile device, tablet and desktop.

The interactive possibilities: Videos can be integrated into the publication, links can be activated and animated elements can make a flat publication into an immersive experience.

Offline access: Some readers are able to download issues and read them offline—this is a tremendous benefit for readers on the move.

Your readers will feel the same way if your reading experience is clunky during your trial period.

Is it easy to make your designs and publish your content?

It is not necessary to be a programmer to publish a beautiful magazine! The top platforms feature user-friendly tools, drag-and-drop editors, and templates to make it easy (and fun) to design a layout. Ask yourself:

·         Do you want to create new layouts from scratch or import PDF files?

·         Do you have enough templates that are in line with your brand aesthetic?

·         What is the learning curve of a team member who is not tech savvy?

Easy to use platforms such as PageTurnPro digital magazine platform is popular due to their user-friendly interfaces. Others, such as Adobe InDesign and a digital publishing suite, give more control, but with a higher learning curve.

Which monetization options the platform has?

If you're looking to make money with your site, which for most publishers is the case, your platform should enable you to do so. Look for:

·         Subscription management: Is it easy for readers to subscribe for monthly or yearly newsletters?

·         Some audiences like to purchase single issues instead of subscribing to the magazine.

·         Ad integration: If you are looking to sell advertising space, look for a platform with embedded ads or sponsored content.

·         Paywalls: flexible paywall options allow you to provide a mix of free and paid content, a strategy that has been proven to help grow your subscriber base.

What is the strength of the analytics and audience insights?

In the magazine business, you need good data to grow a magazine, and that means understanding your readers. The platform should provide you with details of which articles are receiving the highest engagement, the average amount of time that visitors spend on every page, where they drop off and where your traffic is coming from.

These are priceless pieces of information. They'll let you know what's working, what's in need of some attention, and where to put your next oar. If you're going ahead with a platform, check what type of analytics information it provides and not just page views.

For how much does it cost, and what is the benefit of that cost?

The pricing structure of digital magazines is highly diversified. Some charge a monthly fee, some a percentage of the subscription income, and some have a free version with limited functionality. Consider factors beyond the price tag when you're comparing costs:

Are there hosting fees included in the plan, or does it require additional payment?

• Are there limits on the number of issues you can publish?

• What will happen if you cease subscription?

But it's a good idea to conduct a proper cost benefit analysis. You may be able to save money over using different, cheaper tools by using a slightly more expensive platform to handle distribution, monetization and analytics all in the same place.

What is the distribution of the platform?

Creating great content is just half the story; getting it back to the readers is the other half. Certain platforms have integrated distribution networks or app marketplaces which may reach more readers for your magazine. Some allow you to insert your magazine into your site, or email it.

Consider asking the following questions about the platform:

·         Direct to reader e-mail delivery supported

·         Integrates with social media for easy sharing

·         Provides mobile app with a brand name for both iOS and Android

This is where capabilities to deliver content can be a game-changer, particularly for those seeking to expand the reach of their audience from ground zero.

Conclusion

Deciding on a digital magazine platform doesn't need to be daunting! First, compile a list of the 2 or 3 platforms that meet your criteria, then use the free trials. Print a test issue, test the design features and play through the entire reader experience from start to finish.

Focus on what it feels like to use and not on its features. The platform you choose should be the one that your team loves to work on, your readers enjoy engaging with, and grows as your audience increases.

Be patient, ask the questions right and believe that the right person is there for you. Your digital magazine should stand out!

5 checkboxes to tick while choosing digital magazine software: PageTurnPro

 

Choosing the wrong digital magazine software can lead to months of rebuilding, migration, and you will have to explain to stakeholders why the platform you support just doesn't work. The payoffs are much greater than the average individual knows.

If you're looking to launch a brand-new magazine or take an established print title online, the platform you select will impact your reader experience, your production process and your income. There are several dozen options available, so a demo and a price page comparison is not enough to make the right decision.

This write-up will explain the 5 most critical factors to consider when making a commitment to a digital magazine software. Go through them, and you'll come out with a much better understanding of which one is really suitable for your needs.

1. Can the software accommodate your content format and design requirements?

Digital magazine software isn't one-size-fits-all. Some make it especially for PDF based flipbooks, and others will have totally responsive HTML5 based flipbooks, which will adjust to whatever screen size you're viewing in. First, make sure you know what type of content you're creating.

So, is your magazine going to be very text dependent, or will design and imagery be the main components? Need integrating video, audio or clickable ads, surveys, etc.? A site that does great work with clean, text-heavy designs may not be so hot when it comes to including a video of a product or an animated infographic.

Do not forget the editor interface either! Some platforms have a drag-and-drop builder that provides your design team complete creative control. Some use the import feature to import an existing InDesign or PDF file, which is great if you have a production workflow established within your team. The secret is alignment – your software should fit your current process, not you into your current process.

2. Does software work well for mobile and across devices?

More than 55% of global Web traffic is generated by mobile devices, and digital mag readers are no different. If your site is not mobile-friendly and provides a clunky or inconsistent mobile experience, you will lose readers before they get past the first page.

Try to find platforms that actually have responsive design (not just a scaled down version, but true to reading on a smaller screen). Test mobile preview yourself in course of trial period. Navigate through an article, click on a link and compare the images on a tablet and on a phone.

Check if there is an app for this platform, or if they have Progressive Web App (PWA) support. Both of these give readers the ability to read your magazine without using a browser, which will usually make it faster and more engaging. If your audience is mobile-first, then this box must be checked.

3. What monetization and subscription options does the platform have?

Creating a digital magazine when there is no clear method of monetisation is a quick way to burnout. The right software should enable you to monetize your business in one of three ways: paid subscription, single issue sales, and advertising, or a mix of all three.

Review platform's inbuilt subscription management features. Are readers able to register and handle their subscription from the platform? Does it allow for recurring billing, trial periods and tiered access? If it is using third party integrations for these features, understand which ones it is using and how well they work.

Another aspect to consider is advertising. Some platforms offer the ability to sell and place interactive ads right into the magazine design. Some only have a static banner feature. If you're relying on ads for your business model, you should not be on a platform with limited ad functionality.

4. Does the platform offer valuable analytics?

Forget publishing without analytics – it's akin to running a campaign without any reporting. To really grasp the content that's working for your readers, and what they're ignoring, you must have data.

However, the most effective digital magazine platforms offer fine-grained analytics — stats by page, average reading time, click-throughs on embedded links and subscriber trends over time. Other sites, such as Joomag, take it a step further and provide heatmaps that let you know where readers are hanging out on every page.

Prior to selecting a platform, request a live demonstration of the platform's analytics dashboard with the sales team. Take note of ease of extraction and sharing of reports (particularly if producing sponsored content and need to be able to show reach to advertisers. If you haven't got strong analytics on your platform, your growth strategy is going to be limited.

Conclusion

Digital magazine software is a lifetime decision. Whether you're evaluating a platform before you sign up, the above five checkboxes offer you a structured evaluation of any platform before you sign in.

Begin by narrowing down your choices to 2 or 3 platforms that fit the most criteria for you. Utilize free trials, test out your content in the editor and involve your production team in the testing process. The platform that feels right in demo doesn't always feel right in real use.

Some up-front work will pay off later during the painful migration.

A fine digital magazine software program you can trust is PageTurnPro digital magazine software.

5 factors to choosing a digital magazine software: PageTurnPro

 

For selecting the best digital magazine software, you should consider 5 key points:

1. Mobile-friendly design for reading on cell phones

2. An easy-to-use, drag & drop editor for creating the magazine

3. Interactive multimedia capabilities (videos, etc.)

4. An integrated reader analytics tool for viewing the magazine's performance

5. A transparent pricing structure that is easy to afford.

I recall the first time I attempted to publish a digital magazine on-line. It was a very frustrating experience! I was generating static pdfs that were really difficult to read on a cell phone, and my readers were always reporting that they needed to zoom in and out to read the text. The question I asked myself was “why is this so difficult?”

Then I stumbled upon these special digital publishing websites. It revolutionized my content sharing! With a great Digital Magazine Software, your stunning layout designs convert to interactive, readable experiences your audience will love. There are so few things that are more satisfying than watching your hard work come to life.

However, there are so many options available, which one is the best?

These are the precise things you ought to watch for to make your subsequent digital factor a bonanza.

So, what are the top 5 considerations for selecting digitalmagazine software?

Selecting the appropriate tool is similar to selecting the freshest ingredients of a recipe. Beginning with the best base will end up in a delicious product! Here's what you should be considering.

Is the software mobile friendly?

Ever read a regular A4 page on a small cell phone screen? It is a nightmare! Mobile devices are responsible for more than 50% of global web traffic, based on data from web traffic reports. This means that most readers will be holding your magazine in their hand.

It is a must that you select digital magazine software that will automatically format your content for mobile devices. Search for responsive elements that will stack text and resize images without a hitch. They will click the tab and exit if they need to zoom. Mobile layout helps them enjoy flipping the pages!

Is the content creation editor user friendly?

Don't use software which you should know a complex language of coding! This will only retard you and put you needlessly under stress. You want to write awesome articles and choose gorgeous photos, don't want to deal with the layout.

I highly recommend looking for a drag-and-drop editor. Just click on a picture, drag it to your page and watch it fit! Try out free trial to determine whether interface is user friendly. If you can come up with a way to add a text box and background color in the first five minutes, you've found a winner.

Are there any multimedia and interactive components?

Static pages are a thing of the past! Our online magazines need to come to life. One of the best things about publishing online is that you can have material in your magazine that a print magazine can't manage.

Find digital magazine software which will allow you to add YouTube or Vimeo videos quickly onto the web page. Are you able to incorporate audio clips such as a quick podcast voice recording? What about any shopping links that can be clicked on, or interactive pop-ups? The features are really intriguing and can soak the readers up in your site for longer time.

Does it include inbuilt analytics and tracking tools?

Let's now discuss how to measure your progress. It's essential to ensure that you understand the readers' favourite! I didn't realize when I began that anyone would be reading my articles or just paying attention to the cover.

A strong analytics dashboard will be provided by great software. You ought to be able to watch precisely how many people opened your magazine and what they read and what links they clicked. This information is gold dust! It assists you to know your audience and create your next issue even better.

Are the prices within your budget?

Last but not least, there has to be a price. Digital magazine software pricing can be quite tricky. Some have a monthly fee, others are based on the number of magazines published or number of readers.

Be sure to read the fine print! Search for clear pricing that works within your existing budget, and can expand. I suggest beginning with the baseline package that contains all of the things you require at this time. Upgrading can always be done later if your publication gets a huge following!

Conclusion

Making a digital magazine is an incredible experience! With the following five considerations in mind—mobile responsive design, user-friendly, interactive, analytics, pricing—you will be sure to select a platform that makes publishing easy.

Collect the best articles, select some great images and be ready to speak up for your voice. You'll be great!

It would be helpful to have some frequently asked questions about digital magazine software, which will be provided below.

What is the average price of digital magazine software?

The cost is different from platform to platform and depend on your requirements. Basic plans for beginners will begin at $15 to $30 monthly. There are enterprise-level solutions available with a higher level of team collaboration and custom branding – these tend to run a few hundred dollars per month. Be sure to search for a platform that provides a free trial to see what they have to offer before signing up for a paid subscription.

So, what is the best alternative to PDF magazines?

HTML5 digital magazine software is the most convenient solution to PDFs. While PDFs are a static format that may need to be zoomed to read on phones, HTML5 platforms can be fully responsive and web-based, which means that publications can be read on a phone without the need to zoom. These layouts fit seamlessly on any screen size and can accommodate interactive features such as embedded videos and audio.

To whom are dedicated digital publishing platforms appropriate?

Digital Publishing Platforms are ideal for content creators, small business owners, and corporate communication teams. It's a great piece of software for anyone who creates catalogs, newsletters, lookbooks or digital zines regularly and wants a professional and interactive experience with analytics that shows customer engagement.

If you are looking for a great magazine software program, look no further than PageTurnPro digital magazine software.