In a severe global downturn, the pressure to reduce costs and retain margins is huge. E-publishing offers a solution to recessionary woes with industry specialists estimating that they can cut publishing costs by up to 82%. In this whitepaper we provide a checklist that contains the six most important questions you must ask any e-publishing services provider. We have listed them here along with an explanation as to why each question is so crucial.
Zmags Ltd, Green Dragon House, 64/70 High Street, Croydon, CR0 9XN, United KingdomPublished December 2008 - all rights reserved.For any questions regarding this document please contact Joakim Ditlev - joakim@zmags.comWhy Companies are Turning to Digital Publishing during the Global Downturn and How You Can Too
Why Companies are Turning to Digital Publishing during the Global Downturn
A report released by the UK's Association of On- in of? ine publishing, raw pulp in? ation (up 24% line Publishers found what many people already in two years), coated magazine paper in? ation suspected - namely that online newspapers, maga- (8% in 2008), ink prices rises (up to 40% in? ation) zines and catalogues are easier to access, faster and increased transport costs have all contributed for locating desired content and more convenient to a very unstable publishing environment.than their print equivalent. E-publishing therefore offers a considerable num-But it's not just the technical and functional ad- ber of advantages to the extent that numerous vantages of online publishing that make digital publishing houses and brand owners are either publications so compelling. going completely digital (Christian Science Moni-tor, and Spin Magazine most recently) and testing In a severe global downturn, the pressure to it for practical application or at least investigating. reduce costs and retain margins is huge. E-pub- The big question, and the prime focus for this lishing offers a solution to recessionary woes with report, is how do you get started? After all, any industry specialists estimating that they can cut Google search will list dozens of e-publishing pro-publishing costs by up to 82%. viders and with no prior knowledge it is dif? culty to gauge which ones How are these cost are worth shortlisting savings achieved? Things to ask your e-publishing provider: as a possible solution. Putting a publication online eliminates pa- #1 - Is the digital publication easy to read and load? Here we provide a per, ink, postage and checklist that contains #2 - Has the e-publishing solution been industry transport as well as the six most impor-tested by thousands of customers and end-users?distribution extras. tant questions you #3 - Can you customize the e-publishing solution? must ask any e-pub-Online publishing lishing services pro-also allows for total #4 - How good is the provider's reputation and vider. We have listed cost stabilization customer references? them here along with which is an important an explanation as to #5 - Does the solution provider have local and consideration in to- why each question is global knowledge of your industry?day's economic envi- so crucial:ronment. By contrast #6 - Does the solution provider have adequate support capabilities?
3Question 1: Is the digital publication easy to read and load?
This is a vital question to ask and it is imperative Indeed, the most cost-effective solution in the that you try the software out as if you were an short term is often not the most cost-effective ordinary consumer. This involves testing out the in the long term and low start-up fees can be functionality of the software and deciding wheth- misleading. Remember that poor technical per-er the interface is user-friendly. It also involves formance will cost time and money to repair on loading the magazine and seeing whether the an ongoing basis - adding to your costs at a time whole process from loading, viewing and closing when you are actively seeking to save money.the publication is smooth and seamless...and quick. Free trials also allow you to test an e-publishing solution to its limit and examine each aspect of In short, when using an e-publishing provider, the solution before purchasing. This is important is the online publication as easy and enjoyable because many solutions fall short in one or two to read as the of? ine equivalent? Is the online key areas - for example, 1.5% of internet users magazine easy to browse, turn the pages, zoom in, can only read HTML (and not Flash) and there-zoom out and download content? fore it's important to see whether these users can still use the e-publishing software. It's vital that When the Association of Online Publishers in the no readers get left behind!UK researched these questions, they found that half their respondents 'rated the print version as more satisfying than the website from a point of user-sati... [download for more]
