21 Tips for Magazine Websites

Web clutter not only occurs when a publisher tries to put too many elements on the page, it’s magnified by the differences in design presentation from one page element to the next.  Two ads positioned side by side with busy call to action text and inconsistent typography create a high level of clutter while two low/no text image based ad units side by side may contain no clutter effect at all. Clutter is that extra module or block of information that isn’t critical to the visit experience (ie. Facebook social feed…)

Captive audiences reading print material might understand the context of a simple cache article title but online the search indexes and story titles must contain proper content title description.  Articles must also deliver on any promise made to the reader based on an implied phrase.  Go on to tease the reader’s interest and summarize value in the intro ‘teaser text.’

Quality guidelines help publishers and your web editors to understand when their are adjusting content to seek unfair advantage.  The Google algorithm can easily identify where content is being adjusted for reasons other than improved user experience.

The content organization of the site should be visible within the information architecture and navigation.  The scope of the core editorial spectrum should receive emphasis on main navigation for top level entrance users.

Navigation allows the user to choose a logical path to taxonomy channels, utility resource/brand extension, and administrative objectives. Print magazine departments don’t make great content array headings or categories.

A common mistake is to include administrative navigation in the navigational focus structure that ongoing audiences will be presented.  ‘Advertising’ and ‘Contact’ as well as ‘About’ pages don’t support a content continuum and imprint typical corporate style (one-time) visit experience upon the user. ‘Advertising’ is critical, but it’s not a main navigation item.

Positioned as a content region and utility navigation engagement aspect of the website experience, the primary conversion should connect and grow your audience as the base funnel experience. Marketing funnel process within conversion or thereafter provide your paid upgrade paths.

For the targeted audience you seek to convert, a first time visit to your website where an interest connection is established, you want to be sure that you have started the storytelling experience to engage and entertain.

The digital strategy for the brand defines how the aspects of print, digital edition, and website content compliment each other to maximize the value for your specific publishing business model. Each of these aspects should be clearly distinguishable based on design structure to a new visitor based on any landing position of your website.

Not the first sentence, but a unique description of the article with both seo strategy and reader enticement in mind.  Traditional CMS platforms truncate teasers for content posts but these should always be treated as excerpts logically written for the preview of the content.

Brand connect is an ancillary function and expected to be located in a administration header footer location.  Brand connect links the user to your branded social platform page and is distinctly different than social media buttons placed at article lead position for content share. Over emphasis of your social share buttons will reduce share action.

Banner ads aren’t the top revenue tool for magazine publisher websites. Adjust your perspective to your 5 biggest advertisers that compliment your brand and clearly designate ad units and sponsorship regions where you provide these partners exposure to your audience.  The proper balance and array of key ad partners is as important as the content.  Tier two advertisers fill the unlimited and lower cost ad positions of the site and are not a focus until you’ve filled the top placements.

Analytics will always highlight something you didn’t know.  Set alerts for events that help you confirm when large traffic spikes based on events generating traffic to the site and note causation conversions. Add also a recorded sessions analytic tool and watch behavior on your new site.

Your site can easily be tested to determine if it’s a mobile friendly site. Modern website CMS themes that utilize responsive page structure to adapt to a full array of mobile devices will provide a foundation, but other aspects of accessibility and customization can improve the mobile experience.

Don’t use 5 year old SEO advice to optimize your website today. Today your focus is on valuable content that is published in a logical and organized format. If you don’t know the specific factors that can help or hurt your SEO effort you need to seek consultation

When you post a link to a social media site, you want a beautiful preview of the page link to be generated by the platform based on your OG Meta especially for the key image to be utilized.

Mobile visitors will soon (and already are for many sites) make up the majority of your website visitors.  The AMP project speeds up the access to pages optimized for this project.  They are also ranked higher in search results for mobile users.  See the lightening bolt and AMP designation next time you search for a popular news item on your phone.

Publication startups will attract the interest of journalists covering the niche industry segment and perhaps even catch the attention of general or broad magazine media coverage.  The ability to quickly find the facts and press announcement for the new startup will help other media companies cover your launch and brand potential readers to the website.  Highlight the launch announcement on your homepage for launch.

Does your publishing business model leverage the quality and connotation of the magazine brand. There are many websites in this world; A niche publication that demonstrates value as periodic digital deliverable can leverage mediums for brand extensions in resources, events, and community functions.

Find out what’s most important to your top targeted advertisers and sell in advance the plan that confirms your new or redesigned site highlights their partnership with you for growth. Include thanks to their ideas in your launch publicity and have those advertiser cheering for your win.

A publication website is the business portal for the brand. The deliverable is the digital publication periodical.  Make the magazine deliverable amazing.  See VERTIQUL by Advontemedia now!

You found the pot of gold, yes we also have a digital top 10 list.

Next, review your digital publication strategy:

Are you also maximizing the digital publication?  Is your organization and publishing team focusing on a digital first approach? Visit VERTIQUL and enter your email at page top to receive this checklist and view live examples of premium digital publications:  Get the 10 Key Considerations for Modern Digital Publication