Why Your Magazine Needs a Digital Edition

In some ways, a magazine is limited. For example, all the articles have to come out simultaneously, and the reader cannot easily access external resources, like past issues or additional information. There are still many benefits to printed magazines, but we will get to those later. Right now, let’s consider the many reasons to why to consider a digital version starting with accessibility.

The internet is constantly in our pockets: we can get the latest copy of any digital magazine whenever we have the time for it. A massive benefit to digital editions of publications is getting to use video and links to augment the content your subscribers have come to expect in your printed magazine. Another great way to capitalize on the benefits of digital is using the online data you receive to improve your product and your process. With this data, you can determine which articles are the most engaging, what links get clicked and discover when you should be posting based on when your customers are looking at your content. With a digital site, you can also to see what performs better. This has helped many companies drive engagement and can help your writers better understand which headlines engage your customers. You can subsequently use the higher-performing headlines in your print materials.

Why Your Digital Edition Needs a Printed Magazine

Top among the many reasons why you need a physical, printed magazine is people still prefer them. from 2019 showed 74% of people preferred printed over digital. While this info is pre-pandemic, few would be surprised to see this trend continue, especially with the past year giving many people digital fatigue.

There are a host of reasons why digital editions should never be the only version, but perhaps the biggest is the psychological effect physical, printed objects have on the reader. Were you aware many studies have shown people recall words they read on physical objects much better than on digital? The for this are: paper makes content more intuitively navigable, it facilitates better mental mapping of info and drains fewer cognitive resources, so retention is better. Additionally, with a physical object like a magazine, it is much easier to form a connection. When you feel like you own something, you place more value on, and have more attachment to, the “owned” content. You touch it, pick it up, lose it, and then wonder where it went. Those things cannot happen with digital editions.

There are many other reasons you should continue printing your magazine. We will go in-depth in an upcoming blog post but for now we will give you some of the broad strokes. Print is still trusted much more than digital. With questions regarding the trustworthiness of online content, people are falling back on the medium they have always trusted: print. Throughout this pandemic, we have also seen many people getting digital fatigue. There is an intergenerational feeling of the need to unplug, to turn to other content avenues, like magazines. Finally, print magazines are more intuitive. Once you see them, you immediately know how to access them. With print, there is no challenge of which link to click on or how to get to what article like there may be with a digital version.

How Digital Editions AND Printed Versions of Your Magazine Work Together

As we mentioned earlier, using data from your digital editions can make your printed magazine better by using headline and content testing. Also, providing an online option will open an avenue to draw in more people and result in new readers finding your publication. Making your magazine more accessible can be a good thing for both print and digital editions. Once you have your digital version established, it will be easier for people to read your articles as soon as they are released. You may also decide to leave some articles exclusively for the printed version and just preview them on your digital edition to entice people to buy a physical copy. The opposite can be done with your printed copy driving more traffic to your digital version to check out video content or recently updated articles. Many people love the nostalgia of old copies of magazines but cannot access them easily. With a digital edition, you can upload files of your previous publications so your subscribers have access to older articles or just the one they missed a few months ago.

Now you are ready to take advantage of both print and digital. Do not fall behind and miss out on this opportunity to grow your readership. Talk to your sales representative today about digital publishing and app development options. See what we have to offer here.

The post How Digital Editions and Print Magazine Can Benefit Each Other appeared first on �������Ƶ.

We are honored to work with these award-winning publications, who choose to print projects that allow �������Ƶ to show off our of printing capabilities.

Winners

Congratulations to ! Their Spring Preview 2020 issue won a Silver Award in the “Best of Kansas/Missouri” division. This is a fashion magazine featuring a scuff-free matte laminated cover with spot UV. It was produced with an eight-color Heidelberg perfector on 100lb Endurance Gloss cover and 70lb Sterling Ultra Gloss text.

Congratulations to magazine! The Cabo Living Spring 2020 issue received a Division III Bronze Award. This booklet features a scuff-free matte laminated cover produced on an eight-color Heidelberg perfector. It includes a 16-page tip-in. The cover is 10 pt Kallima C2S FSC Mix, 70lb White Influence Gloss text for text, and 80lb White Anthem Plus Gloss text tip-in.

We’re honored to be the printer behind the , which won Best of Category for Division III directories and source books (offset, four or more colors). Additionally, three �������Ƶ-printed yearbooks won Best of Category awards. The Stoney Creek High School 2019 Yearbook won for Division III Yearbooks (offset/digital combo), the Providence Day School 2019 Yearbook won for Division III Yearbooks (offset), and the Phillips Exeter Academy 2019 Yearbook won for Division III Binding (Smyth sewn).

Congratulations goes to three �������Ƶ-printed publications for receiving an Award of Recognition. The received an Award of Recognition in Division III Magazines, periodicals, and publications (sheetfed). received an Award of Recognition for Division III Books, hard cover (offset). also received an Award of Recognition for Division III Books, hard cover (offset).

Categories

The printing industry is comprised of diverse companies and publications, and the GraphEx Award categories and divisions reflect that. The category reflects the product, and the division is determined by the size of the firm. Division III is for large firms with 101 or more employees.

Win awards with �������Ƶ

Our extensive printing capabilities and knowledgeable, friendly employees are the perfect combination that will allow you to create a product that looks amazing. Reach out to us today to talk about how we can meet your needs.

The post �������Ƶ Products Shine at PIA MidAmerica GraphEx Awards appeared first on �������Ƶ.

The EXCEL Awards are open to both nonprofit and for-profit associations, as well as industry service partners who submit on behalf of their association clients, like �������Ƶ. The awards “recognize excellence and leadership in association media, publishing, marketing and communications,” according to .

2020 �������Ƶ Winners

�������Ƶ had three Engage Mobile apps place in the 2020 Digital Media – Mobile Applications category. The NEMA ei mobile app won a Silver award for its entry in the Mobile Applications (Magazine) category (ei is short for electroindustry – the name of their association magazine). The Washington Realtors mobile app for the won a Bronze award for its entry in the Mobile Application (Magazine) category. The NWFA Hardwood Floors mobile app for the won a Bronze award for its entry in the Mobile Application (Other) category.

2019 �������Ƶ Winners

One Engage Mobile app and two printed journals placed in the 2019 EXCEL awards. The app won a Silver award in the Digital Media – Mobile Application (Other) category. The National Science Teaching Association’s won a Silver award in the Journals – General Excellence category. The American Journal of Clinical Pathology, from the , won a Bronze award in the Journals – General Excellence category.

Extend Your Reach

Mobile apps are a crucial part of day-to-day life and a key part of reaching your association audience. Our Engage platform was designed with associations in mind and provides them a comprehensive view of their membership. They can be used for education, eCommerce and engagement – for everything from publication content, to event management, to access to membership benefits, to news and information pertinent to association members.

If you’d like to know more, please reach out to us.

The post Engage Mobile Apps Shine at EXCEL Awards appeared first on �������Ƶ.

Pontin continued, “For traditional publishers, the scheme was alluring. Because they were once again delivering a discrete product, analogous to a newspaper or magazine, they could charge readers for single-copy sales and subscriptions.”

Unfortunately, he argued, it all went terribly wrong. “The real problem with apps was that when people read on electronic media, they expect the stories to possess the linky-ness of the Web—but stories in apps didn’t really link.”

Now it’s a new day, but . Still, a lot has changed, if you’re to believe much of the internet chatter. But what does it all mean? Are apps the answer? Are magazines on websites going away? What about print?

It’s back to the future for print

For a while it looked like print magazines were a dying breed. . Specialty magazines, in particular, have .

Additionally, print magazines seem to be offering readers a viable alternative to newspapers. Here’s how:

• The daily paper depends on “breaking news.” With a 24-hour news cycle, people can get their hot news immediately online or on cable TV. They don’t have to wait for the morning paper. Magazines don’t depend on breaking news. So newspapers have lost one of their most important advantages.
• Newspaper stories, which tend to be rather short, don’t offer the more in-depth treatment magazine articles can provide.
• Magazines, especially niche publications, focus on a particular subject. Newspapers contain more general information without the level of expertise offered by magazine writers.

As newspapers become thinner and thinner and fewer and fewer, cable news and the internet will continue to provide news in bits and bites. Print magazines stand to pick up the ink-on-paper crowd looking for more meaty coverage, even at a premium price.

Website magazines are here to stay

Publishing a magazine on a website is a relatively simple and inexpensive proposition. HTML5 allows optimization of websites for all devices, including phones and tablets. Also, sites written in HTML5 can offer the kinds of features apps provide.

Mobile websites give magazines with a tight budget the chance to get their editorial and advertising in front of readers who prefer a read-it-anywhere digital solution. , “[T]he best part about [a mobile website] is that you can easily create an online magazine on your own. . . . And when you are done, the sharing possibilities are endless. You can embed it directly on your website or download is as HTML5. Or share it with our social media following.”

The mobile app insurgency continues

The truth is that magazine apps are popular. And there appear to be , one of which is the aforementioned “linky-ness.” For example, presspadapp.com claims that .

“Online publishing gives readers great opportunities to explore digital magazines,” pressadapp.com avers. By using hyperlinks within the content, readers can connect not only to other information inside and outside the magazine but also to websites operated by advertisers. Convincing advertisers of the value of links to their website helps sell digital ads.

So which mobile magazine app is best?

Of course, it depends on whom you ask, so more exploration is a good idea. But here are :

• �������Ƶ works with BlueToad to offer economical and versatile digital editions of your publication. You can . We can convert your print pdf files into enhanced digital publications, and even help with video, music and other fun enhancements! to learn more!
• Amazon Kindle Unlimited exposes magazines to millions of readers. The risk is that any individual magazine might get buried in the pile of competing publications.
• Zinio’s pricing is a bit murky, but the app offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to creating and distributing content.
• Issuu also provides a high level of exposure with its risk of burial. It also allows for sharing stories on Instagram and Facebook Stories.
• Joomag offers full online publishing on one platform that has the additional benefit being easy to use. It works for publishers of any size.
• Mag+ lets publishers create content apps which allows them to make apps from their digital magazines.
• Yudu gives publishers the opportunity to open previously untapped channels of distribution by developing communication apps.
• Zmags offers fast publication of interactive content that can improve engagement times by more than 400%.
• �������Ƶ can create custom apps to compliment printed products. Learn more about the apps here.

Why not go for the whole package?

Yes, it complicates things when you have to think about print, website and app, , you have to go where they go. And, while print is still alive and doing well, there are opportunities among the many digital devotees.

You want to tap every market and remember that there’s a lot of crossover. Print lovers like their tablets and their phones, and tablet and phone users like to sit down with a print magazine. Don’t forget laptop and desktop users, either.

Apparently, publishers are finding strength in diversity—taking a diverse approach to distribution, that is. Adapting to the disruption that has come with the digital revolution isn’t easy, but it can work out. The key is not to reject new ways of doing business but to find what functions best in both the digital and print worlds and using it to succeed.

The post Magazine Publishers Win When Print, Mobile Website and Mobile App Coexist appeared first on �������Ƶ.

However, there are some people who don’t want the digital side of things. It turns out, people are worried about their online privacy. That doesn’t mean you have to lose them as readers or customers. Make that hesitant attitude work for your organization. Use printed products to get your message in front of your tech-wary readers without compromising their desire to avoid digital tracking.

How many people worry about digital privacy?

According to , a lot. Roughly 81% of the public believes the potential risks they face from data collection by companies outweigh the benefits. They feel like they don’t have control over how their personal information is used and most people don’t understand what the data is used for.

Keep your audience’s concerns in mind.

But I need some data.

Obviously, the key pieces of data you’ll need for a mailer are name and address. However, it’s still possible to provide hesitant recipients with a sense of comfort and control. If you’re mailing directly to them, make it clear how you obtained that information. are good places to get industry-specific mailing lists. If you’re transparent about getting their address from something they remember opting in to, it will come across as less invasive. Plus, it helps when it’s a topic they actually have an interest in.

Give them the opportunity to opt in.

Give your readers a break.

One of the beautiful things about print – whether it’s a magazine, catalog or book – is that you can just relax and thumb through it without expectation. You don’t have to be vigilant about privacy or digital threats, you can take a break and just enjoy. In addition to concerns about privacy, many people – especially millennials – suffer from , making direct mail a particularly refreshing alternative.

Create an oasis for your readers.

But how do I get my numbers?

Good point! One of the reasons we love digital so much is that it’s easy to keep tabs on how many people are actually interacting with your content. Unfortunately, there’s not good way to get those precise analytics from print.

Find a way to tie in a digital aspect with value. Many catalogs use digital points systems that allow people to opt in. Consider using a code or specific URL that lets you track how many people came there from your printed piece. The key to this strategy is providing a high-value incentive to jump from print to digital.

Provide your audience a place where they can go for more information or personalization if they want it.

People like personalization, right?

Generally, yes. Personalized marketing, also known as one-to-one marketing, has been shown to result in higher when utilized in emails. That’s awesome, just be wary of the creepy factor that happens when personalization is or .

People trust print.

People still trust print more than any other medium. Their trust in print advertisements exceeds every other type of ad, especially those . People find traditional print media than social media platforms and digital news outlets. Use this innate trust to put your readers/customers’ minds at ease.

The post Appeal to Readers’ Desire for Privacy with Print appeared first on �������Ƶ.

Magazine apps have waned, in large part, because the computer that once fit well on top of our desks now fits quite nicely in our pockets. This media consumption device change is reflected in national research trends, which, according to Forrester Research, desktop usage dropped 46%, while mobile usage increased 70% from 2015 to 2018.

In addition to an incompatible format that makes you pinch-to-zoom in order to actually see the pages, the old magazine apps perished because of their serious limitations. Most entry- and mid-level app technology forces an exact replica of your magazine. And even those that offer an HTML “page view” are one-size-fits-all in reality. You want versioning? Not possible. Updating? Good luck with that.

Publishers can no longer expect results from these old magazine apps. For associations, apps hold tremendous power to put content in front of members in new ways.

How should I be using apps?

While magazine apps are yesterday’s answer, customized association apps are alive and thriving. Used in conjunction with your print and online content, these leading-edge apps combine ease-of-use with personalization, continuous publishing, and the inherent interactivity of smartphones to enhance efforts in member engagement, retention, and renewal.

Using mobile is an entirely different experience from print, but these very different mediums have great potential to be used together! Mobile apps appeal to an audience with a desire for both print and mobile access. However, the wants for these two mediums are different. The print experience allows readers to sink into it. Mobile app users have a shorter attention span, so your content should be adjusted to reflect that. It’s an excellent opportunity to use short bites that drive users back to print. Rather than releasing content once a month, customized association mobile apps allow you to release content in a timely, continuous manner that keeps your organization top of mind. It also provides a means for sharing content unique to the app, like a podcast or video.

Take the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry as an example of how print and mobile can work together to serve association members. AAPD members use their app to quickly look up information in The Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry when they’re working, but said they prefer the 500-page printed version for study. This is one example of the way modern mobile apps are easier to search. You couldn’t do that on the old page-flipping magazine apps.

Another way this new breed of mobile apps surpasses its predecessors is through personalized content. The �������Ƶ Engage platform, built for associations, allows for integration with AMS, enabling high levels of personalization and gated content accessible only to association members. The Engage platform allows associations to create apps that provide members a place to get all kinds of information about the association, like news, calendars, member cards, member directories, and even conference and meeting content.

Do you need an app?

Don’t underestimate the value of having your branded content on an often-used device. reports about 81% of Americans own a smartphone, and 37% of Americans primarily user their smartphone to access the internet. Put your content where they’re spending their time!

Why not just rely on a mobile-friendly website? Because mobile-friendly is not the same as designed for mobile! Apps provide easier navigation and a sleeker mobile viewing experience.

So the answer to “Do you need an app?” is “yes.” Let us put our expertise to work to design a customized mobile app that meets your organization’s needs.

Learn more at walsworth.com/apps or reach out to us for more information about what �������Ƶ can do for you!

The post Are Magazine Apps Dead? appeared first on �������Ƶ.

About the AAPD

The AAPD supplies content to three different audiences: professionals looking for on pediatric dentistry (like information on how to complete a specific oral surgery for children), a broad (like dental hygienists), and the (especially parents and educators). The AAPD provides continuing education for pediatric dental professionals while also working to inform parents, the general public and policy makers about children’s oral health. Their slogan is “THE BIG AUTHORITY on little teeth.”

Working with �������Ƶ

�������Ƶ provides the print manufacturing for many of the AAPD’s publications, including professional journals, PDT magazine, their membership directory, annual conference program book, and brochures and reports.

The AAPD also uses multiple websites, eCommerce, certification programs, a podcast and a mobile app to keep their audience engaged. They have more than 10,000 members and a strong retention rate. Their retention rate was 92 percent for fiscal year 2018. Membership is nearly evenly divided by gender, with more than half of members between the ages of 30 and 49. The bulk of their membership is made up of those actively working in the field, but they also have a strong showing from retired professionals and postdoctoral students.

AAPD engaged �������Ƶ to create a mobile app version of The Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry, a vital reference book for pediatric dentistry professionals. A complete and enhanced digital representation of the 500-page, six-pound book is included in the mobile app. Hansen shared that the digital edition makes the content convenient for professionals to quickly reference during interactions with patients.

The searchable format allows them to quickly find information. However, the print version is still in demand, as professionals have said they prefer print for study.  �������Ƶ also developed a way to enable sales of the app through the AAPD’s eCommerce site, avoiding the commission fees often associated with traditional app stores.

“App building was easy for AAPD,” Hansen said. Their goal was to create something that is “updatable, portable and searchable.” The app serves to help connect their website, eCommerce and journals. The push notifications provide an added tool for member engagement.

�������Ƶ also helped design and implement the AAPD’s eCommerce solutions. The online storefront is integrated with the AAPD’s association member management system and �������Ƶ’s fulfillment center. This means that orders can be expediently processed, packed and shipped. It also provides the AAPD with activity reporting, visibility to inventory levels and obsolescence monitoring, among other benefits.

Benefits for the AAPD

The AAPD offers their mobile app and print versions with a bundle discount, but they can also be purchased separately. Hansen reports that thousands of app downloads means “the app has paid for itself many times over.”

“We have been working with �������Ƶ 20 years and look forward to continuing our partnership,” Hansen said.

Learn More

Check out �������Ƶ’s work with the AAPD and the solutions we provide by downloading our case study.

The post Our Work with The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry appeared first on �������Ƶ.

But we’ve come to understand how print and mobile complement each other.

Whether our story has been about creating award winning mobile apps, or how associations can use mobile apps to engage their members, our articles have focused on utilizing mobile technology to help organizations improve results with the content they’ve worked so hard to create for their audience.

So, it’s pretty satisfying to see the success story of mobile apps for magazine publishers and associations expand to other markets – in this case, catalog publishers.

is the largest manufacturer and distributor of 1955, 1956 and 1957 classic Chevrolet restoration and performance parts in the world. Often referred to as the Tri-Five, the 1955-56-57 models include the Chevy 150, 210, Bel Air, and Nomad.

These cars have inspired a number of enthusiast clubs, websites and businesses that cater to collectors and restorers. Their popularity also inspired the creation of Danchuk.

At its inception in 1976, Danchuk manufactured a single 1957 parking lens. Today, Danchuk manufactures such a wide variety of parts that they require a 750-page catalog to contain the inventory. And, to keep up with their ever-growing product line of products, Danchuk’s in-house art and photography department produces a new catalog each year.

The printed catalog is an invaluable sales tool for Danchuk. As we’ve written before, print catalogs are popular and powerful because they don’t require power or internet, and they are always on. But, because it isn’t always convenient to carry around a 750-page catalog, a mobile app makes perfect sense as a companion.

Because Danchuk wanted to offer a mobile app experience that would feel similar to paging through their print catalog, �������Ƶ creates a new version of Danchuk’s mobile app each time they publish a new catalog edition. The app even includes page references so users can refer from the app to the printed page.

The mobile app enables:

• Mobile access to Danchuk’s entire product offering
• Searching by part name or part number
• In-app ordering, with integration to Danchuk’s eCommerce system
• Inclusion of event promotion videos
• Inclusion of tech articles and instruction sheets
• In-app access to Danchuk’s newsletter and blog
• Push notifications
• App-exclusive offers

The best news? Danchuk has determined that their mobile app is paying for itself by increased product sales. This makes the app a business-savvy companion for their print catalog.

You can read our case study reviewing Danchuk’s app success here.

To learn more about how �������Ƶ’s mobile apps team can help you, contact us online or request a demonstration. We’re excited to identify ways mobile publishing apps can help you improve results with your audience.

The post Danchuk’s App is a Case Study of Mobile Success appeared first on �������Ƶ.

If your organization is like many we’ve spoken with, chances are good that you aren’t yet taking full advantage of what mobile can accomplish.

Engage, �������Ƶ’s newest app platform, can help.

Powered by a platform built with associations in mind, �������Ƶ’s Engage apps are stacked with functionality associations need to increase member engagement and provide an easy and affordable way to leverage mobile to extend the reach and engagement of the content you print with us.

The apps don’t stop there. In addition to handling content, the apps are designed to manage all aspects of association events, eCommerce, notifications, sponsorship and analytics.

In short, Engage apps provide associations a 360-degree view of their membership.

Grant Fritch, �������Ƶ’s App Architect, said, “We’ve been creating award-winning apps for associations for a while. But, because of the wide range of association needs, we’ve been working to create a holistic app solution at a more affordable price.”

The new app platform focuses on the three E’s of associations: Education, eCommerce and Engagement. And its SaaS-like scalability enables associations to manage member access at the individual level, even if they have a large membership.

Engage apps provide a single source of information for association membership, including:

• Publication content
• Event management for meetings and conferences
• Membership renewal and access to benefits
• News, blog, education and certification content

Publication content is formatted for mobile device readability with quick navigation and potential for continuous publishing in real time. Member retention functionality is included, and targeted messaging and notifications are supported. And sponsorship functionality provides associations the opportunity to increase advertising revenue with in-app promotions.

By integrating with association AMS systems, the app’s role-oriented structure enables management of gated content, and provides a high level of personalization. This is especially beneficial during association events, when members can receive notifications of the sessions they have planned to attend during a conference. There is even geo-fencing capability to send personalized welcome messages when they’ve arrived at the association’s event space.

Are you ready to see how �������Ƶ’s Engage app can meet your association’s needs and increase member engagement without a huge investment of time or money?

Request a demo today and speak with our apps team.

The post Announcing Engage – A Mobile App for Associations appeared first on �������Ƶ.

Our apps are no longer just publishing apps. They’re tools that can add variety to your publishing strategy. The right app will serve as an interactive companion to your printed publication. It can be used to inform, entertain or connect with your audience.

We’d love to help you build an app that accomplishes your goals. We’ve demonstrated just a few of the possibilities below.

Examples

The members of the American Health Information Management Association () work in a field where having the right information can sometimes mean life or death.

When AHIMA wanted to expand sales of their bi-annual print catalog, so they created an easy-to-use app their members can use to order the Educator’s Catalog. The app provides a direct link to their eCommerce site. It’s easy to navigate and search and allows members to preview pages to ensure they’re ordering the correct item.

manufactures parts for Chevy vehicles produced in 1955 through 1957. When their customers need to make an order, they typically have a very specific part in mind. The Danchuk app makes it easy for customers to search and order, even from the shop floor.

The app links directly to their eCommerce site, which represents the full print catalog. Users can also find instruction sheets, technical information and industry information within the app.

Life in the Finger Lakes is for the upstate New York area near Rochester and Syracuse. Their app is an excellent example of a digital companion to print. Their app content is updated weekly and includes videos and events. It is also used to publish spotlight articles that are only available within the app.

Planning for your app

We want your app to be an effective engagement tool. We’ve shared examples above; now we’d like to help you build your app.

Check out our resource, Successful App Engagement for Associations, which explains the why and how of how associations can utilize the possibilities apps provide. It provides more real-world examples of the work we’ve done with customers, and offers a plan to help you improve your publishing strategy.

Once you’ve read that, let’s talk! You can learn more about our app department, or go ahead and request a demonstration.

The post App Evolution. App revolution. appeared first on �������Ƶ.