6 Benefits of a Digital Magazine

Author: Jhon Watson

Digital magazine, also known as online magazine or e-magazine, is a magazine publication that is distributed exclusively through digital channels rather than print. They differ from traditional print magazines in that they are published and accessed digitally on the internet, through websites, mobile apps, digital newsstands, and e-readers.

The first digital magazines emerged in the late 1990s as traditional print publications started to explore digital publishing and new forms of media. Early digital magazines were essentially digital versions of print magazines, replicating the content in a digital format. But over the years, digital magazines have evolved into their own medium with unique capabilities that go beyond print, like embedded multimedia, interactive features, digital analytics, and instant delivery upon publication.

Today's digital magazine landscape includes:

  • Web-based magazines: Digital magazines hosted on websites, allowing instant access from any internet-connected device.
  • Mobile apps: Native mobile apps that deliver magazines on smartphones and tablets, optimized for mobile reading.
  • Digital newsstands: Aggregator apps and services like Apple Newsstand and Google Play Newsstand where consumers can access magazine subscriptions.
  • E-reader editions: Digital editions of magazines formatted for e-readers like Kindle and Nook.
  • PDF editions: Downloadable PDF versions of print magazines.
  • Flipbook editions: Can be read online or downloaded. The pages of these magazines can be flipped creating a great reading experience.

Popular digital magazines span nearly every interest and genre, from fashion and lifestyle to news, business, and technology. Leading digital magazine publications include Wired, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, ESPN The Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, and more. The digital magazine market continues to grow as more publishers transition their print magazines to engaging, interactive digital editions or launch new digital-only magazine brands.

What are the benefits of a digital magazine?

Digital magazines offer numerous benefits over their print counterparts. Here are some of the key advantages of reading magazines digitally:

  1. Convenience

One of the biggest perks of digital mags is convenience. You can instantly download digital issues to your phone, tablet, or e-reader at any time. This makes it easy to read your favorite magazines anywhere, without having to visit a newsstand or wait for a print issue to arrive in the mail. Digital mags also give you instant access to back issues and archives.

  1. Interactivity

Digital magazines allow for interactive features not possible with print mags. This includes things like embedded video and audio, hyperlinks, zooming in on images, sharing excerpts, and interactive quizzes or puzzles. The multimedia capabilities make digital magazines a more engaging, dynamic reading experience.

  1. Accessibility

Digital formats provide increased accessibility to readers with disabilities. Readers can increase font sizes, use text-to-speech functions, and take advantage of other assistive features. Digital mags also provide accessibility benefits related to portability and storage.

  1. Cost Savings

Individual issues of digital magazines often cost less than print. Digital subscriptions can offer even greater savings, with monthly or yearly rates typically lower than print. Going digital also saves money on storage space and mailing/shipping costs. And it reduces paper and printing resources being used.

  1. Portability

Tablets, phones, and e-readers allow you to carry an entire library of digital magazines in your bag or pocket. This makes digital super portable and convenient for reading on planes, trains, buses, etc. Digital mags also take up very little physical storage space. You can declutter while still maintaining access to years of back issues.

  1. Shareability

Digital magazines enable the easy sharing of articles or excerpts via email, social media, or messaging apps. This allows readers to instantly recommend content to friends and family. Some digital magazine software also facilitates sharing comments and highlights.

You can create your digital magazine today using a digital magazine maker!