Flipping through a magazine used to be a ritual many people looked forward to after a long day. Whether they were about fashion, gaming, or travel, those glossy pages were the pinnacle of informative content.
But the world has changed a lot since then. These days, it’s hard to imagine going even 24 hours without some form of digital connectivity. And like any industry, publishing is moving with the times. Many top magazines now include digital content within their business strategy.
But what are some of the advantages of digital magazine subscriptions? Let’s take a look!
Reduced Costs
The US printing press was revolutionary when it was born almost 400 years ago. But the physical magazines that it gave rise to had to through the process of printing, distribution, and sales. All this incurs a range of costs and involves various third parties. What’s more, unsold copies mean losses for the publisher.
In contrast, a digital magazine format allows publishers to distribute on the web without having to pay suppliers and sellers. This isn’t to say that a digital subscription model doesn’t call for an investment in software, PDF to HTML services, and staff formation. But it’s an investment that will soon pay off.
More Interactive Content
There’s a lot more scope for the content and advertising space in a digital magazine to be dynamic and engaging. Like printed magazines, digital formats can include photos and other images. But you’ll also be able to feature videos – one of the top publishing trends for 2023.
Videos make it possible to deliver news in an interactive and user-focused way. Live streaming options also mean that publishers can communicate with their readers in a more direct and immediate way. What’s more, video content opens up the possibility of tutorials. These lend themselves to all kinds of magazine subjects, from baking to photography.
Wider Distribution
Not paying distributors to get their magazines out there saves publishers money. But digital magazines help them reach a bigger audience while doing so.
Online there are no geographical barriers, export fees, or delivery delays. Everyone across the world has the potential to buy every issue of a magazine. This is then likely to increase sales and bring more income to the company.
As well as a smart financial move, reaching out to a global audience brings no end of marketing opportunities and a better public image. A digital magazine with loyal readers all over the world is a strong basis for a successful and authoritative brand. This then encourages word-of-mouth marketing, online shares, and reader recommendation links passed with the touch of a button!
Increased Sharing
The distribution possibilities of digital magazines also make connecting and sharing on social networks far easier. Opportunities for publications are huge these days. And there are many ways for brands to reach their target audience and increase their popularity.
To be successful, social media must play a role in a publisher’s strategy. Depending on your target audience, all social platforms from Twitter to TikTok can be useful for finding and connecting with readers. A strong social media presence can also increase the shareability of your articles.
Working from a digital basis allows online magazine models an easier way into the world of digital marketing and sharing. And that combined with a quality product means that word will spread further and faster than ever before.
Better Analytics
It can be difficult and complicated for traditional printed magazines to gauge who their readers are, let alone what they want. Sales can reveal readership numbers, but reader behavior long remained a mystery.
Digital analytics for an online subscription model, though, are much easier to get a hold of. It’s a simple process to check who is clicking on pages, reading content, and liking, commenting on, and sharing articles via social networks. All this gives publishers a clearer picture of who their readers are and what they think, enjoy, and share.
Reader Convenience
While there are many benefits to reading magazines in any form, digital magazines are far more convenient than print versions. Readers sign up for a subscription anytime, anywhere. Plus, they can also consume the content they’ve bought whenever or wherever they want.
The constant presence of internet connections in our modern world makes quick, easy, and constant access a must. And should a reader want to refer to a previous issue, they won’t have to spend ages flipping through stacks of printed magazines trying to find out where they saw it. And then there’s also the possibility to search, zoom, screenshot, and more. All this makes digital magazines an even better reference source than their print equivalents.
And for publishers, taking advantage of these digital technologies is essential for increasing customer satisfaction and profit margins at the same time.
Sustainability
Digital magazines have an unlimited lifespan since they won’t rip or fade like print can. This makes them far more sustainable as a reference material for new generations.
A digital subscription also avoids causing environmental harm through deforestation, manufacturing, and transportation. And in a world facing a major resources crisis, every effort to reduce wastefulness counts.
The Benefits of Digital Magazine Subscriptions
As this rundown of benefits shows, digital magazine subscriptions are the future of publishing.
There may still be collectors who prefer to have physical copies of print magazines. Yet it’s not unreasonable to assume that all magazines and other print publications will move to digital in the coming years.
Rather than oppose this progress and risk getting left behind, it’s better to be proactive. And that means including a digital magazine format in your business plan with the help of MagLoft. Feel free to contact us for more information!
