Digital-Only Magazine Covers Are Bringing Media Brands Into The Digital Age

It’s no secret that the magazine world is in what can kindly be described as a state of flux, with publishers constantly being tasked with finding ways to adapt to the shifts in consumer behavior on both print and digital properties. In the face of declining ad revenues and drops in circulation, some titles have decreased frequencies, now repositioning as premium, luxury products with higher-quality paper stock and larger page sizes. But magazines are also keen on boosting audience engagement by generating daily clicks on their websites in an effort to both win over the existing print consumers as well as reach new audiences. Many publications still dedicate real estate in its print products to its respective websites, mostly one or two pages highlighting online-only stories and videos in the hopes of integrating the reader across all platforms. However, as magazine publishers continue to evolve its business models beyond the core print medium, one media strategy, in particular, stands out: the digital-only magazine cover. So much of today’s industry talk revolves around synergies across social platforms, or pivots-to-video, or mobile optimization — but producing a full-on digital cover is notable in that it looks to capture the print magazine’s tangible essence. While not all media companies utilize this all-digital strategy, there are several brands that have, including Nylon, Complex and DuJour, each to varying frequency and effect. Read more at Fashionista.