A magazine subscription is a great way to keep up with your favorite topics or learn new information. It can also help you pass the time during long commutes or on a flight.
Digital online magazines eliminate printing and shipping costs, which can make them less expensive. However, they still face challenges in the competitive app and newsstand markets.
Choose a Subscription Based on Your Interests
Magazines cover a wide variety of topics and can appeal to readers of many interests. Choosing a subscription that is a good fit for you will ensure that you enjoy reading the publication and will not find it a waste of time or money. Many online magazine sellers provide information on what each publication covers and its editorial focus so that you can make a better choice.
You can also read magazine reviews before making a purchase to learn more about the quality of content and the level of reader engagement. Customer reviews can tell you a lot about the magazine and its contents, including how interesting the articles are, whether they are well-written, how many ad pages are included in each issue (a major complaint among some readers), and any special features or extras that the publication offers.
Most magazine publishers are aware of the difficulty in gaining and keeping subscribers, so they are constantly attempting to improve their offerings. They can do this by offering a range of options, such as a free trial period or introductory subscription price, in addition to running regular email campaigns enticing subscribers with bonuses and incentives, such as branded swag, discounts on additional subscriptions, tickets to special events, or cash prizes.
A successful digital magazine marketing strategy will also involve partnering with organizations that can help promote the publication and its content. This can include partnering with companies offering tablet subscription services, such as Magazine Jukebox and Hoopla, which place digital magazines on tablets in doctor’s offices, schools, hospitals, airports, and other public spaces where people wait long.
Another way to increase digital magazine sales is by distributing the publication through social media and other popular websites. Many of these sites allow users to post links to the magazine’s website, where they can sign up for a free trial or purchase a subscription.
Aside from these promotional tactics, a magazine publisher can also attract new subscribers by advertising in a number of other digital channels. These channels include app store ads and social media campaigns that target audiences likely to enjoy digital-first content.
Consider Your Reading Style
Whether you prefer to skim through the headlines or read every word, your reading style can help you determine what kind of magazine subscription is right for you. Many online magazine subscription sellers have a quick overview of each publication, which can give you an idea of the content and style. You can also find reviews and articles on specific magazines to see what others think about them before you subscribe.
Another thing to consider when choosing a magazine subscription is how often you plan on reading it. If you want to read it quickly, you might prefer a digital version that is updated frequently or a print edition with more pictures and information. If you want to read it more leisurely, you might prefer a traditional paper copy that can be savored over several sittings.
When selecting a magazine subscription, it’s also important to consider your budget. Some publications can cost a lot of money, especially if you subscribe to several at once. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you may need to scale back your subscriptions or even let them lapse for a few months while trying to get out of debt.
Once you’ve narrowed your options, you can usually find a magazine subscription that fits your needs at a price that suits your budget. Some magazines will offer introductory rates for new subscribers, which can save you money in the long run. Other publishers will give discounts to existing subscribers when they order a second magazine subscription. For example, a subscription to Vogue can often be combined with one for Marie Claire at a discounted rate.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on magazine subscriptions, you can also share them with friends or coworkers. This is a great way to keep up with current events and stay informed without spending too much money. You can even start a magazine swap at work, where everyone brings in their old issues to trade with each other. This can also be a fun way to spend time in the break room instead of checking your phone while you’re at work.
Check the Subscription Fees
Many magazines are expensive, but there are ways to save on your subscription costs. One way is to check if the magazine you want is available in digital form. Most of the time, magazines that are released in digital format are significantly cheaper than their physical counterparts. This is because there are no printing and mailing costs involved with publishing a magazine’s digital edition. Therefore, the publishers can pass these savings on to the customers.
You can also try to get a better deal by checking the magazine’s website for discounts and special offers. Some of them offer a discount on their subscription fees when you sign up for more than one year. This is a good option if you know you’ll continue reading the magazine for over a few years. Another way to save on your subscription is to contact the publisher directly and ask them for a better rate. If you are a long-term subscriber, they will likely give you a lower rate than what is advertised on the website.
Some of the best deals are offered by the discount site ValueMags. They have a whole page on their site dedicated to offering free subscriptions to magazines that cost up to a year in full. In most cases, these are for the digital version of a magazine, but occasionally there will be a special offer to get a print copy as well.
If you are a current subscriber of a magazine and the prices have gone up, you can call them and threaten to cancel the subscription unless they reinstate your old rates. This can work because they would rather lose you as a subscriber than risk losing a potential future reader. You can usually find these phone numbers on the magazine’s website or on their little subscription cards tucked in each issue.
It’s also a good idea to find out when your magazine subscription is set to expire. This way, you’ll know when to renew your subscription and not be caught off guard by a surprise bill in the mail.
Look for Special Offers
In addition to the traditional subscription offers, many magazine publishers run special deals on their products from time to time. This can be a great way to save money on a magazine that you know you will want to keep reading for a while. Just be sure to check the fine print and avoid the pitfalls of subscription scams.
A good place to start looking for magazine deals is with daily deal websites. Many of these offer magazine subscriptions at very low rates, often as much as 90% off the regular price. These are great deals, but they are usually available for a limited time only. So be sure to act quickly when you see them!
You can also look for magazine deals by visiting sites that compare the prices of various magazine sellers. You can find a site like this by doing an online search for “magazine price search.” This will provide you with a list of the most popular magazine sellers and their subscription prices. You can then use this information to decide which magazine to buy a subscription from.
It’s also a good idea to read customer reviews of magazines that you are considering purchasing a subscription to. These can give you a glimpse into how the magazine is edited and the quality of the content that will be included in each issue. They can also help you determine if the magazine is worth the price or is more of a disposable read.
When it comes to choosing a subscription, be sure to consider your lifestyle and reading style. You should also consider the cost of the magazine and any other perks that may come along with it. For example, some magazines have little gift cards tucked in with each issue that can be used for additional discounts on future subscriptions. Just be sure to check the terms and conditions of these gift cards carefully before using them.
Another important factor to consider is how much you value your privacy. Many subscription providers collect personal data as part of the subscription process. While this is necessary to deliver the content, it should be done in a transparent and actively consented exchange. Fortunately, there is now a new alternative to traditional subscriptions and other online subscription services: Invisibly. By providing a more secure, easy-to-use platform for reading, Invisibly empowers readers to enter into a value exchange that’s free of both credit card traps and unwanted stipulations.