Digital Publishing and Digital Editions With Pageturnpro

Digital Publishing Solutions were created to enable publishers to meet their audiences online. Whether it is for newspapers, magazines, tabloids, catalogues, newsletters, marketing materials or some other type of publication, digital publishing solutions can do it all.

So how do you pick among digital publishing solutions?
There are many ways to evaluate different vendors but there are three distinct categories you should always consider.

First, which digital publishing solutions are easy to use? As you try them, are they intuitive or do you need a degree in applied mathematics to figure them out? Are there help screens or live support when you call or do you fall into a black hole?

Second, consider features. Some digital publishing solutions offer no features other than a simple page turning effect. Do you want to create links to sections of your digital edition or would you like to link from your digital edition to other URLs? Would you like to add video or animated ads inside or around your digital edition? Would you like to embed your digital edition or mask the URL? Is security important or is it OK if the whole world has access to your publication? There are just some of the feature-related questions you may want to ask a prospective vendor.

Digital Publishing, Digital Catalog, Digital Magazine, Flash Magazine

Digital Publishing With PDF to Flash Software

Digital publication (digital edition) defined

Think of a digital publication, also known as a digital edition, as an online version of your print publication with a web address or URL, complete resemblance to the print version and a realistic page flipping effect. Add features such as search, print, share, PDF download, and ad serving, viewer tracking & reporting and you have a value added digital version of your print publication.

Print publications have character

Digital Publications/Digital Editions may be the future but the print magazines have a certain endearing quality about them. A print magazine is finite, i.e., you can read it “cover to cover”. The vibrant colors are, in most cases, better than the screen resolution of a laptop or a PC monitor. In fact there is an entire set of reader behaviors such as tearing out articles, dog-ears to mark pages, flipping the pages to scan the pictures and headlines etc. that continue to define the strong if dwindling relationship between the print publication and its readers. Flipping pages, for example, can be much quicker than going to multiple web pages on a site, not to mention that can read a print publication anywhere.

Compelling advantages of the digital publication/digital edition

On the other hand, the advantages of digital publications/digital editions are also well understood. Let’s begin with the fact that readers are spending an increasing number daily hours online with or without having access to the digital version of your publication. Digital publications/digital editions are inexpensive and can be distributed at the speed of the Internet. The potential print and postage savings can change the entire economics of a publication. If it’s available online then a link or even a preview with table of contents can be emailed within minutes, and the readers are just a click away from your digital publication/digital edition. Add to that a slew of benefits that were unthinkable prior to the availability to digital publications/digital editions:

• Embedding video and interstitial ads

• Tracking the number of readers – unique and repeat

• Growing your online ad inventory by serving IAB standard ads within and outside the digital publication pages

• Capturing user view and interaction data such as page views, clicks – unique and repeat visitors

• The ability to instantly share the magazine with friends or colleagues

• Reader interactivity such as ratings, sharing, and comments

• Administrative features such as login requirement, preview of selected content, data capture, instant polls; and

• Enabling ecommerce

The phenomenally low cost and high value of publishing a digital magazine makes it a clear direction for all print publishers and in some cases it may even replace the need for certain print publications/digital editions.

So how can you create a digital version of your print publication?

This is probably the simplest part. In fact, creating a trial version of your print publication/digital edition to actually see and test the features and benefits of having a digital publication/digital edition should be a part of your decision making process. All you need is a PDF of your print publication. You can set up a free trial account (no obligations) at PageTurnPro (www.pageturnpro.com). Once you have an account all it takes is to follow 3 easy steps: Upload the PDF; Configure your digital publication i.e., provide a short description and select features you would like to enable; Click CONVERT. It takes just minutes and you will have a URL for your digital publication which you can forward to your friends, colleagues or just embed in your emails or website. It is that simple.