nextstepsmarketing.com

     May 14th, 2010

ONLINE

Popular Science iPad Edition Pricing Feedback

There’s all sorts of good news on the online publishing front. Zinio leapt forward to become the #1 app for reading magazines on the iPad, and one of the top 10 iPad apps of all—congratulations, Zinio!

The other good news: the iPad is shifting how people think about reading digital content online. For the first time in 20 years, people will be PAYING for digital content.

If Popular Science is any indication, however, pricing an issue at the same price as the print product ($4.99/single copy) is either going to take some serious training on the part of the digital magazine sellers, or is going to have to come down. A few sample quotes:

“Come guys, help us help you. You can't charge $5 per issue. This is the future of magazines."

“It breaks my heart to write a 3 star review for my favorite magazine. But the 5 dollar price tag is a bit much. Also I have had my new issue of Popsci for a couple of weeks but this app still hasn't populated with that issue. Please lower the price or add it to my yearly subscription and get the issues out when they hit newsstands.”

PRINT

It's beginning to look a lot like "Winter Holiday Gift-Giving Season"

Yes, it’s true, though Summer has barely arrived (well at least the un-official start of it) it’s the ideal time to get your donor and cold donor Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza gift campaigns in order.

Barbara Besser, Group Circulation Director at Active Interest Media graciously shares her 10 perennial tips for getting the most out of your holiday campaigns with Next Steps Marketing.

Here’s 2: Add gift email blasts; Upsell gifts in customer service call.

RETAIL

Books-a-Million Support Magazines Printed on Recycled Paper

Next Steps Marketing and The Better Paper Project are excited to announce a "Green Paper for People and Planet Promotion" in Books-a-Million for the month of September. This promotion will take place in all 200 Books-a-Million stores and will feature unique signage for each magazine highlighting, "This Magazine is Printed on Recycled Paper."  The positioning of the promotion will be front shelf position on the mainline. The cost of the promotion is $500 for signage and administration, 75% discount, normal price $2,000.

There is still space available in the Barnes and Noble Better Paper Project promotion in September. Located in 240 of the biggest Barnes & Noble Stores, the promotion costs $1,500 and is for a four-week period (September 1 - September 30). Unique signage will highlight all magazines are printed on recycled paper.

Requirements for Participation in Promotions

• Member of the Better Paper Project. Not a member? Sign up here.
• Once the promotion is complete each publisher must make sales information available so we can monitor effectiveness (this can be general % increase in draw and sale)
• On-sale corresponding with promotion start date