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- SODP Dispatch - 25 August 2023
SODP Dispatch - 25 August 2023
How publishers can benefit from user-generated content, 8 WordPress best practices and more tips and news for digital publishers
State of Digital Publishing
August 25, 2023
Happy Friday!
Today, let’s talk about print media and its role in the digital era.
Our managing editor, Andrew Kemp, discusses this subject his weekly Editor’s Note column:
Echo chambers, though widely acknowledged, often remain unnoticed in our personal lives.
Take, for example, the notion that digital media’s rise is ushering in print’s inevitable end. Perhaps not dead, but it’s certainly on life support.
It’s a perception that tends to be reinforced by stories such as The Guardian’s coverage of the closure of one of the UK’s two large-scale printers.
Stop the Press
German-backed Prinovis’ closure, first reported in November, leaves London-based rival Walstead printing nine of the UK’s top 10 magazines.
Reading such stories makes me question whether I’m right in arguing that print still has a place in the wider media landscape.
Still, looking into Prinovis’ closure reveals a slightly more interesting narrative than the “print is dying” trope.
It seems Prinovis used rotogravure printers, compared with the far more widespread web offset printers used by Walstead. I won’t pretend I understand much about the mechanical details of each, my office printer is nightmare enough, but there does seem to be a noticeable cost difference between the two technologies.
FROM STATE OF DIGITAL PUBLISHING
CONTENT STRATEGY
HOW PUBLISHERS CAN BENEFIT FROM USER-GENERATED CONTENT
Thanks to the growing momentum of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the digital publishing ecosystem is undergoing a seismic shift. These tools have the potential to upend how content creators work entirely.
At the same time, as more and more AI content is published, there’s a genuine concern that stories could become more vanilla and less personal. However, this should create an opportunity for publishers looking to stand out to create a emotional connection with their audience.
User-generated content (UGC) is one way to offer that personal touch. Moreover, search engines may place higher value on UGC as the flow of AI-generated content picks up pace. One can’t deny that AI-driven technologies will influence the digital publishing trends of the future, but it’s essential not to overlook the power of a human connection.
TOP TOOLS
6 BEST MAGAZINE APPS FOR PUBLICATIONS ON MOBILE DEVICES IN 2023
Digital magazine apps can transform static pages into interactive and engaging formats, significantly improving the reading experience on smartphones and tablets.
Mobile device use now dominates how people access the internet, with 91% of those aged 16-64% relying on a mobile device compared with less than 60% who use a personal laptop or desktop. At the same time, demand for unlimited reading access to digital publications is growing strongly.
The global news and magazine app market was valued at $1.18 billion in 2021 and is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% between 2022 and 2028.
For publishers, selecting the right digital magazine app can be the difference between effectively reaching their target audience or falling behind the competition. These apps’ features, usability and quality play an essential role in delivering content to readers and keeping them engaged.
Let’s explore the six best magazine apps for publications on mobile devices in 2023, shedding light on what to look for and how each app can tailor the digital reading experience to different needs and preferences.
WORDPRESS
WORDPRESS BEST PRACTICES FOR PUBLISHERS – LEARNINGS FROM WPPS
The WordPress Publishers Performance Summit 2023 (WPPS) was held on July 27, 2023. A completely online event, it featured 11 panelists from brands like Forbes, The Boston Globe, Google Multidots, NBCU Local, and others who shared their expertise on WordPress best practices over three hours.
Following the event and based on the learnings, we have put together an ebook that summarizes how publishers can use WordPress to secure and scale their digital property, enhance monetization efforts, and evaluate performance.
Access the ebook (PDF)
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