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Digital Publishing Trends Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Fresh Website Design and a New Subscription Website Offering

Time Inc. adds to its subscription website offering; SNEWS and Smore launch new sites

A brand can enhance its value through its subscription website offering, in addition to the overall design of its website. Today we’re looking at three websites with new content and designs to share.

We begin today with Time Inc., which has upped its subscription value with a new partnership. MediaPost reports, “Shop Your Way, a business unit of Sears Holdings, has teamed with Time Inc. and its Synapse Group division. The goal is to give members of the Shop Your Way rewards program redeemable points for every magazine subscription they purchase through the partnership.”

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“Members of the Shop Your Way program will be able to buy more than 300 magazine subscriptions on Sears.com and ShopYourWay.com. In return, they will get the full cost of the magazines back in Shop Your Way points, usable on purchases at Sears and Kmart.”

“Shop Your Way will also use its data analytics and marketing engines to create personalized magazine recommendations based on members’ preferences, interests and purchase behavior.”

Our next story looks at the new website and rebranding effort from SNEWS. Publishers Daily reports, “Outdoor trade news site SNEWS, owned by Active Interest Media, debuted an updated Web site, new columns and video series. It has also and tapped a PR agency to assist in its rebrand this week.”

“Editor-in-chief of SNEWS Kristin Hostetter stated the new site is easier to read, faster and mobile-friendly. Eric Henderson, national sales and marketing director, hopes the changes will continue to “fuel tremendous digital growth.””

The article continued with a look at some of the changes to the website. “The redesigned site features a new, short-form video series called “The Innovation Project,” made in partnership with Marmot and Mountain Hardwear. Each episode spotlights an interview with a top independent specialty outdoor retailer.”

The goal of the website is to continue the growth experienced between the last quarter of 2016 and quarter one 2017. “According to SNEWS, from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017, sessions on the site increased by 120%, users increased by 135% and page views increased by 98%.”

Our last story focuses on the launch of a new magazine and subscription website aimed at girls who love science. MediaPost reports, “The latest entry in this brand new publishing category is Smore, targeting girls ages 7-12 with a range of fun, age-appropriate comic-style content about science, math and engineering. “

“Smore will publish both print and digital issues on a bimonthly schedule with six issues per year. Each issue is 40 pages long and totally ad-free. It also includes a pull-out poster explaining a special topic with eye-catching graphics. A print subscription costs $50 per year for six issues, and digital subs are available for $30 per year.”

This industry is growing. “Smore isn’t the first new science magazine for girls. Another title launched in April 2016, Kazoo, is a quarterly print title for girls ages 5-10 which includes science experiments, comics, art projects, interviews with inspiring women, and activities like decoding messages, mazes and jokes.”

Are you launching a subscription website in the future and need assistance?  If so, please schedule a time to chat with us. Mequoda has comprehensive experience building successful subscription websites that can help you increase your audience, revenue and profits.

By Don Nicholas

Founder & Executive Publisher

Don Nicholas serves as Executive Publisher for Food Gardening Network and GreenPrints. He is responsible for all creative, technical, and financial aspects of these multiplatform brands. As senior member of the editorial team, he provides structural guidance, sets standards, and coordinates activities with the technology and business teams. Don is an active gardener whose favorite crops include tomatoes, basil, blueberries, and corn. He and his wife Gail live and work in southern Massachusetts surrounded by forests, family farms, cranberry bogs, and nearby beaches. Don is also the Founder of Mequoda Systems, LLC, which operates and supports numerous online communities including I Like Crochet, I Like Knitting, and We Like Sewing.

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