Digital Magazine?

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Permalink Reply by Rafter Jump On on May 20, 2009 at 2:51pm

Call out to all writers, photographers, fashion critics, gossip queens, political activists, or just anyone with an opinion! This is an open audition. River Jump In is a hot new media channel ready to launch. We are looking for rafters (trendsetters looking to spend time in an interactive setting that encourages the inspirational exchange of ideas.) Talented rafters who are chosen to become correspondents get paid! For more information, visit rafterjumpon.com

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Permalink Reply by Kaolin Fire on May 20, 2009 at 2:54pm

How does that relate to the poster's question?

Rafter Jump On said:

Call out to all writers, photographers, fashion critics, gossip queens, political activists, or just anyone with an opinion! This is an open audition. River Jump In is a hot new media channel ready to launch. We are looking for rafters (trendsetters looking to spend time in an interactive setting that encourages the inspirational exchange of ideas.) Talented rafters who are chosen to become correspondents get paid!

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Permalink Reply by Damion on May 21, 2009 at 10:22am

Well thats not a problem at all, to create an online magazine. I have over 10 years experience in magazine design and artwork, so I could offer my services, if you'd like? I can send you some of my work samples and take it from there :)

Anyway, I'm always here to help ;)

All the best,

Damion.

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Permalink Reply by Cake on May 24, 2009 at 2:22am

I think I am one of the only ones who is against the reproduction of a print magazine digitally.

I think you are better off making a website from scratch and formatting the magazine's content online. I don't understand how a digtial magazine (ie where the pages just come up online) would make any reader want to pay extra when you can go to the newsagent and get it like that.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Patmore on May 24, 2009 at 6:02am

I agree with you to a certain extent. I don't understand how (not necessarily why) established print magazines can charge the same cover price for their digital versions as for their newsstand version. The advantage of digital mags, especially for small independent publishers like us, is there are almost no overhead costs of print and distribution (not to mention being environmentally friendly). Ideally, publishers would charge a token amount to read a digital version of their magazine, i.e. the cover price minus print and distribution costs, which would work out to about 20% (or less) of the said cover price. However, as most publishers are part of larger media corporations they are driven by profits and not ideals, which does sort of answer my question.

By the same measure, I don't understand why readers feel that they don't have to pay for content that is on the web, such as digital mags, but happily pay a premium price for the print version of the same content. It is all about the content, for which the content creators should be paid. If it is worth reading it is worth paying for in whatever format it comes.

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Permalink Reply by Cake on May 24, 2009 at 9:46am

I can see the merit in your logic of a publisher charging a price minus the distribution cost but the real point here is whether the reader will pay. If the OP's reader's demographic are willing to pay (ie the publisher has conducted surveys and proven this), then by all means. I would love to see paid content online work - I think it is very important. But I do think publishers have to be careful in how they go about saying they are going to create a print looking digital magazine.

Without doing adequate research, it could bellyflop into the Atlantic.

I think the original poster is missing the point by wanting to create a digital magazine to be 'eco-friendly'. This is naive in my opinion because you do HAVE to make money if you are planning to continue publishing. A digital magazine has to make money - it should not be a vanity ego trip just because the OP wants to be a 'green publisher'.

--Cake

Chris Patmore said:

I agree with you to a certain extent. I don't understand how (not necessarily why) established print magazines can charge the same cover price for their digital versions as for their newsstand version. The advantage of digital mags, especially for small independent publishers like us, is there are almost no overhead costs of print and distribution (not to mention being environmentally friendly). Ideally, publishers would charge a token amount to read a digital version of their magazine, i.e. the cover price minus print and distribution costs, which would work out to about 20% (or less) of the said cover price. However, as most publishers are part of larger media corporations they are driven by profits and not ideals, which does sort of answer my question.

By the same measure, I don't understand why readers feel that they don't have to pay for content that is on the web, such as digital mags, but happily pay a premium price for the print version of the same content. It is all about the content, for which the content creators should be paid. If it is worth reading it is worth paying for in whatever format it comes.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Barkley on May 26, 2009 at 12:44pm

Here is a series of articles on the pros and cons using a digital PDF solution. We are seeing a trend more towards a content-managed website to allow for more flexibility to update content. Creating an Online Magazine, Digital Publishing – PDF Converters, Digital Publishing – Content Managed Sites

If you are looking for PDF solutions Zmags, NxtBook, Yudu Pro, and Texterity are the more popular companies.

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Permalink Reply by Marcus Coleman on May 27, 2009 at 8:26am

Wow, that wasn't very nice. But I won't take it personal. It is a flash application that can be viewed over the web. www.kainosmagazine.com/kainosfall2008.html

I've already researched Zmags and the other publication companies and they charge an arm and a leg. Instead of per page, I have a fixed flat rate. I joined this community and started my business to give people an affordable means of having all of their creative needs met.

Hopefully we can connect.

Very Respectfully,

Baruch Design & Company
Kaolin Fire said:

Magcloud looks interesting but I wouldn't necessarily call them economical. You're set to a fixed width/height, and $0.20/page is a bit much, imo, depending on what you're publishing. And they don't offer any digital distribution at the moment (though a birdie tells me that's a popular request that they might be considering). That said, $0.20/page is nice in that they handle subscriptions and all _that_ jazz. But still, just print.
crissy--any more details on what the magazine is going to cover, what you want the production level to be, what your skillset is ...? :)

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Permalink Reply by Kaolin Fire on May 27, 2009 at 8:54am

What part of what I said are you saying wasn't "nice"? *confused*

Or did you not mean to quote me for your response?

Marcus Coleman said:

Wow, that wasn't very nice. But I won't take it personal. It is a flash application that can be viewed over the web. www.kainosmagazine.com/kainosfall2008.html

I've already researched Zmags and the other publication companies and they charge an arm and a leg. Instead of per page, I have a fixed flat rate. I joined this community and started my business to give people an affordable means of having all of their creative needs met.

Hopefully we can connect.

Very Respectfully,

Baruch Design & Company
Kaolin Fire said:

Magcloud looks interesting but I wouldn't necessarily call them economical. You're set to a fixed width/height, and $0.20/page is a bit much, imo, depending on what you're publishing. And they don't offer any digital distribution at the moment (though a birdie tells me that's a popular request that they might be considering). That said, $0.20/page is nice in that they handle subscriptions and all _that_ jazz. But still, just print.
crissy--any more details on what the magazine is going to cover, what you want the production level to be, what your skillset is ...? :)

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