How You Can Use Online Magazines for Successful Content Marketing

1. What is an online magazine?
2. What types of online magazines are there?
3. What types of content does online magazines have?
4. With an online product, printing and distribution costs can be saved. In some points, a digital implementation is much more sustainable than a print edition. The transport route is eliminated and no packaging material is needed. This significantly reduces the CO2 footprint.
5. When creating your online magazine, you should proceed in a structured manner. The following steps can help you with the approach:
6. Online magazines offer publishers and authors the opportunity to make their content accessible to a global audience and to use the advantages of the digital world for publications. Some successful examples:
7. An online magazine offers a very good opportunity to draw attention to your service or your product and increase your brand awareness. Provide your readers with high-quality content, market it and ensure a constant quality of your online magazine. In this way, you will achieve long-term customer loyalty and a deepening of trust in your brand. Good luck!

Print or online? In recent years, the media world has changed dramatically. Printed media is no longer the only available medium, but competes with ePapers, digital newspapers and magazines. Sometimes cross-media media even replace printed publications entirely, but in most cases readers are offered a mix of digital and print articles. The marketing goal remains the same for both variants: it's about providing customers with real added value through information and entertainment, in order to build long-term customer loyalty.

What is an online magazine?

An online magazine is a medium that is exclusively available online. Various types of content are made available online for customers. Many companies make the mistake of simply posting an existing print magazine 1:1 on the website. However, other factors determine the success of an online magazine.

What types of online magazines are there?

There are various ways to create an online magazine. A distinction is made between digital newspapers and magazines, ePapers and flipbook magazines. Newspapers, magazines and ePapers are mainly used in the genres of news and entertainment. An ePaper is usually characterized by the fact that the content 1:1 corresponds to the content of the print medium, while digital newspapers and magazines are geared to the needs of an online readership and the content can be updated at any time.

Flipbooks are also found in various areas and types of media. These could be, for example, business reports, advice or service topics or the digital presentation of image brochures. Even students use flipbooks to create senior magazines. In a broader sense, eBooks also fall under digital magazines, which can also be created in self-publishing, for example with the tool ePubli.

The technical implementation of magazines can be done in different ways:

1. PDF: Some magazines are provided as pure PDFs. Thanks to a large selection of suitable graphic tools (e.g. Adobe InDesign), the implementation is very simple even for beginners. The created magazine is uploaded as a PDF document in the Digital Asset Management (DAM) of your Content Management Systeme (CMS) and then published.

2. HTML: If you want to create a more extensive online magazine, you should opt for an HTML-based variant. Here too, there are some tool providers that specialize in the implementation of digital magazines and make them available for users. However, larger companies that want to create a more extensive magazine often develop their own HTML templates and CSS.

3. App: Many companies and publishers have developed apps for their magazines. Readers can download the app from the store and consume the content on their smartphone or tablet. In contrast to websites, apps usually have a more comfortable and user-friendly interface. It's also easier to implement interactive elements, such as videos or animations. Here, you can rely on software programs like FlipHTML5, which can be used without programming knowledge.

Regardless of the choice of publication form, it is important these days to offer users a good reading experience on all devices, i.e. laptop, iPad and smartphone. So your online magazine should always be mobile-optimized.

What types of content does online magazines have?

With online magazines, you have the opportunity to use a wide variety of content elements. To offer users a high-quality customer experience, it is advisable to make use of the various possibilities. Here is an overview:

Text:The text-based preparation of content is still the most used element. It doesn't matter whether it's news reports, advice texts or factual information. True to the motto "Who writes, stays" an online magazine cannot do without text.

Pictures:Text and image are closely linked. Visual contents loosen up a purely written page. An interesting, thematically appropriate photo attracts user attention. Picture galleries are also very suitable to make content attractive for the readership. If they are interestingly prepared, info graphics are also a suitable element to present content in an appealing way. A variety of digital magazine software provides tools for creating professional Graphic Design for pictures and graphics. A digital magazine including pictures and info graphics can also be realized in.Adobe InDesign Videos:

Videos and moving images play an increasingly important role in content marketing. Especially explanatory videos are fully on trend. There are no limits to creativity, both in terms of presentation, style and topic selection.Audio Elements

: Audio content has also increased significantly in recent years. In 2022, 43% of a surveyed group in Germany listened to podcasts at least occasionally.Interactive Elements:

Surveys, quizzes, video games or animations – interactive elements involve customers and loosen up textual content. Also downloads of content like eBooks or white papers call users to conscious action. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are also increasingly being used to offer users a special user experience.Social Media and Newsletter:

In order for your online magazine to be successful, a high level of awareness must be reached, i.e.: Your magazine must arouse the interest of as many people as possible. Link to your profiles on social networks to share content, discuss with potential customers and involve them in your content. If you have a newsletter, include the link. In this way, you can regularly inform readers about the appearance of a new online magazine.As a rule, it makes sense to combine several of the elements mentioned. However, this is only advisable if each integrated element offers the readers real added value.

What advantages does an online magazine offer as a marketing tool?

With an online product, printing and distribution costs can be saved. In some points, a digital implementation is much more sustainable than a print edition. The transport route is eliminated and no packaging material is needed. This significantly reduces the CO2 footprint.

An online magazine also has some advantages as a marketing tool. Compared to print publications, the reach is significantly higher, i.e. the medium reaches a larger audience. Some online magazines are already embedded on an existing website and incorporated into the

, so readers become aware of the magazine there - without an additional page having to be communicated or marketed. A high-quality online magazine generates a very good user experience, additional SEO opportunities and, as a result, a higher Webdesign and rising traffic.Lead GenerationOnline magazines with-content value can also contribute to attracting new customers and building long-term customer loyalty. Ultimately, you can also increase the CRO on your online shop with a magazine - and thus also increase the sale (for example by placing a certain product in the magazine).

It is important to define the goals and purpose of the online magazine in advance. Depending on the target group and industry, these can vary. However, it is certain that with an online magazine characterized by high-quality content, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field in the long term and thus build strong brand awareness.

Step-by-step - How to create an online magazine

When creating your online magazine, you should proceed in a structured manner. The following steps can help you with the approach:

Goal Definition:

1. In the first step, it is important to define what goal or goals you want to achieve with your online magazine? Who is your target audience? The clearer you answer these questions, the more successful you will be with your magazine.Choosing the Editorial Software:

2. The second step is to choose which platform your online magazine should be integrated. Here you should answer the following questions for yourself:Should the magazine be integrated on the website?

• Will there be an app?
• Does it get its own landing page?
• Should the tool have the option to be offered in different languages?
• Can the magazine be published worldwide?
• Is an update in real time possible?
• Does the tool consider
• ?SEOAgain, the target audience and the desired goals should be taken into consideration. It is also essential that you consider that your magazine is optimized for all devices (PC, tablets and smartphones). When it comes to choosing a suitable tool, there are numerous providers to choose from. Under

you can get information about various possibilities.Content MarketingContent Creation:

1. In the third step, it's about the content. How often should the web magazine appear? What topics should be covered? Which content formats, from text to image or video, should be used? Also consider the topic of search engine optimization and the possibility of commenting or sharing articles. Also, you should answer the questions about a content search and an update of the content in real time. For the creation of content, there are now numerous - partly free tools - that can help you. Well-known programs are, for example, , Vismeyumpu or novomag. With these providers you will find free templates, also for the implementation of a magazine cover, which you can use. An overview of many other tools can be found in the area .Content CreationMarketing:

2. In the fourth step, you should start marketing. If you want to make money with the magazine, for example, run campaigns or offer paid subscriptions.Analysis

3. : Once your magazine has gone live, it's time for controlling. Regularly check how many people access your magazine or your advertising measures. Only in this way can you check how successful your magazine is and make changes if needed.Successful examples of online magazines

Online magazines offer publishers and authors the opportunity to make their content accessible to a global audience and to use the advantages of the digital world for publications. Some successful examples:

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Douglas Beauty Card Magazine-

Forbes: A business magazine focusing on finance, technology, business, and investing.-

Wired: A technology and lifestyle magazine focusing on the impact of new technologies on culture, business, and politics.-

National Geographic: A magazine focusing on science, exploration, and photography.-

Mashable: An online magazine focusing on technology, entertainment, science, and social media.-

1890 Allianz: The insurance magazine of Allianz insurance was initially a print edition and is now relaunched in digital format.Conclusion

An online magazine offers a very good opportunity to draw attention to your service or your product and increase your brand awareness. Provide your readers with high-quality content, market it and ensure a constant quality of your online magazine. In this way, you will achieve long-term customer loyalty and a deepening of trust in your brand. Good luck!

Ein Onlinemagazin bietet eine sehr gute Möglichkeit, um auf deine Dienstleistung oder dein Produkt aufmerksam zu machen und deine Brand Awareness zu steigern. Biete deinen Leser*innen hochwertige Inhalte an, vermarkte sie und sorge für eine gleichbleibende Qualität deines Onlinemagazins. So erreichst du eine langfristige Kundenbindung und eine Vertiefung des Vertrauens in deiner Marke. Viel Erfolg!