Digital Archives - The New King of Content

Mario

When I was young my peer group and I were avid collectors of sports trading cards. At the time, well before athletes could be followed on Twitter or read about on the web,  athletes were humanized  via trading cards. For that reason, twenty five years have passed and that collection of cards still reside within their appropriate shoe boxes in the ‘spare’ room of our home. During each spring cleanout I am questioned, by my unassuming wife, why I continue to house them. My obvious response is that they hold ‘value’. Some of it emotionally vested value and some of it actual monetary value (ie. the pictured Mario Lemieux rookie card). In my wife’s eyes those cards hold no ‘value’ unless I convert them into cash (my usual reply is that her wedding dress occupies quite a bit of space in the same room as those cards). Stalemate.

What if this same concept is applied to magazines?  A print magazine requires an enormous amount of energy, resources and expense in order to design, write, edit, promote, and distribute. A magazine offsets these expenses by offering subscriptions, newsstand sales as well as revenues generated through advertising and sponsorships.   Once a magazine has run its course from newsstand or home delivery to bathroom magazine rack where does it go? In some cases it may be sitting in an adult sized shoebox in the ‘spare’ room of a home. In most cases it has likely has become fodder for an elementary school collage.  The inner ‘hoarder’ in us is often outranked by the outer perception of tidiness. So how does a loyal reader, without hoarder tendencies, access the timeless content of their favorite magazine? Digital archives!Digital archives are a virtual shoebox of content. They don’t occupy any physical space but still offer the graphical and textual appeal of the print version.  A reader can browse through every issue that has ever been released on their PC or laptop browser or they can be downloaded for an offline read via a custom branded native App on mobile. Each archived issue can be indexed within the browser’s digital edition as well as within the App for easy navigation. For research purposes, or practical use, content or articles within the archives can be searched by current issue or by ‘all issues’ available. Of course, there are some other interesting possibilities with back issues. For example, an author could provide current commentary on an article that was written in years past.  As another example, an image depicting a location could be retaken from the current perspective to show change over time. I could likely come up with a hundred suggestions but the picture is hopefully clear – there are incredible opportunities available. There are definitely some avid collectors who already have every print issue of their favorite magazine tucked away in a closet in their home. We can assume that is the minority. But...

Would a faithful print reader be persuaded to ante up some extra dollars for access to digital back issues of a magazine?

Could unlimited access to archives be the impetus that pushes a fence sitter to subscribe rather than purchase single issues?

Does content that was created years ago not offer another low cost opportunity for a publisher to drive added revenue?

It has been said that ‘Content is King’. If so, it may be argued that digitally archived content is Emperor.

Very Pinteresting!

Valued Flip Page Clients,  

We are pleased to announce a new dashboard social share option for Flip Page editions - Pinterest. Publishers and readers now have the ability to share a direct link to a page or publication by selecting Pinterest from the Share with a Friend toolbar button. To enable this option, simply click Edit Issue Settings from the dashboard, navigate to Social Networks, and click the "Manage social network settings for this issue" button. In the dialog box that pops-up, uncheck Pinterest and click Save. Lastly, click Save once more on the Edit Issue Settings page -- Pinterest in now enabled for that issue!

Please contact your account representative with any questions.  

How many miles are on your Print Media?

‘I got a 79 Chevy Malibu with 774,000 original miles on ‘er. Bought it 2 weeks before it was released to the public. First person in my state to drive one off the lot. Pushes 454 horse out of its big block V8...’

We all have one. A great uncle, friend of a friend, or a no-shirted neighbour who extols the unbelievable feats of their beloved ‘classic’ car. Automobile marketers use ‘mileage’ as a crutch with Honda recently promoting their CRV’s engine reaching 600,000 kilometres in a recent ad. Volkswagen has built a brand on product longevity. But you can’t argue with the thought process. As consumers, we want to know our product is going to go ‘the distance’. What about marketers? Are they any different or would they want to know that their product is going ‘the distance’ as well?

Let’s take a quick look at what’s under the hood of marketing’s longest tenured product  – print media. The ignition of a print media campaign is a concept. It is mapped out, conceptualized, visualized and ‘test driven’ multiple times before it hits the production floor. The digital production and physical production usually occur in separate facilities, and in most cases, by different entities. In order for this transition to remain seamless a working knowledge of the inner sanctities of print’s engine are necessary. The print production team puts the final touches on the print chassis, using their experience to ensure that print ably slaloms through a number of tight corners (and deadlines) before reaching its destination. The print producer or manufacturer may also serve as a pitstop, where the product will be packaged and warehoused, until it is finally distributed.  

Once complete, the printed medium rolls of the lot in spectacular fashion - high gloss exterior, variable data transmission, on-board URL and in some cases loaded with optional QR coding. It has been known to turn heads and gape mouths. It builds a lasting impression. The print engine can churn out coast to coast adventures just as easily as it can taxi a short trip across town. It can pile on miles. But like any vehicle it eventually succumbs to wear or breakdown. In some cases it will be lost to accident, in others it will get tossed to a  ‘recycler’, some will be left stranded on the roadside, and others will simply be ‘put on blocks’ indefinitely. So when the end does come how do we prolong the life of this marketing mobile?

Twitterville 500x500

How do we get more miles out of our print media?

Drive it online.

‘Information Highway’ is a 1TB expressway that started construction in the early 1970’s and has since expanded production to all corners of North America and the world. It blends the speed of the Autobahn with the range of the Trans-Canada highway. The I-HWY offers redline fast, continent to continent travel, via its global transfer stations. It also offers ample exits and rest areas along the way. Examples of common stops along the I-HWY are ‘World Wide Webs’, Twitterville, and Zuckerberg’s which can all be reached by exiting at LinkedIn Park and heading north. The Information Highway is virtually toll free which helps eliminate many of the costs associated with traditional routes. The I-HWY is also open 24/7 which means commuters can ‘test drive’ anytime. Due to the relative ‘newness’ of the I-HWY, print vehicles are subjected to less wear and tear, and seldom require maintenance. The print vehicle can be left for days on the I-HWY without the fear of auto-theft.

The I-HWY is a great destination for all print. It offers cost effective travel with lightning quick acceleration. So the next time you start up your print engine, consider how many miles you want it to travel, and get on the I-HWY with Flip Page.

HTML5 vs. Native Apps

HTML5 vs. The Native App

Remember Gary Coleman’s character ‘Arnold’ from the 80’s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. His success could largely be attributed to a single snappy quip ‘What you talkin’ bout Willis?’  When it comes to how your content is mobilized onto smartphones, tablets and the like, it is certainly worth asking ‘What you talkin’ bout Willis?’

So let’s get down to business and figure out what Willis is talking about.

HTML5 (Web App)

HTML5 is a programming language. In laymen terms, it allows a developer to layout and present content via the web. HTML5 is often referred to as the ‘savior’ for mobile web browsing since it offers a number of advantages over current HTML4 framework. HTML5 tends to be a little less bulky than HTML4 and operates a little smoother on limited capability web devices such as smartphones and tablets. A core goal of HTML5 technology is to eliminate the need for third party plug-ins (programs) in order to provide a multi-media experience complete with video and audio.

 Native App

A Native App is a program or application that is intended to operate on the specific device for which it was constructed - hence the term ‘native’. Although Native Apps can be built for any device or platform they are typically associated with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Also, native Apps have the ability to be stored directly on the device meaning that ‘web connectivity’ is not a necessity. Native Apps are commonly found in the platform specific App markets for which they were built - for example, Apple’s App Store or Google Play for Android devices.

So where should my content be? That’s a difficult question to answer. Let’s delve a little deeper.

	HTML5	Native Apps
Development	-use the tools and framework available in the language. HTML5 is a language under development.	-use the tools, rules and framework provided by the platform
	-universal build across many browsers	-requires different build for each platform
Marketing	-reliant upon publisher marketing to drive traffic to content	-exposed to the store traffic in each App store (Apple statistics)
		-publisher marketing increases product exposure
Revenues	-revenues generated require own paywall or transactional system	-App platform provides paywall and transaction system
	-publisher receives full remuneration of sale	-publisher is subjected to terms of App platform*
Content Delivery	-via mobile web browser	-downloaded to mobile device
	-requires ‘connectivity’	-can operate without ‘connectivity’
Strengths	-automatically updates	-App markets drive traffic
	-does not require platform‘approval’	-affluent consumers accustomed to paying for App content
		-better performance
	-browser build provides universal access	-designed specifically for device
		-‘Newsstand’ from Apple and Amazon provide marketplace specifically for publications/periodicals
Weaknesses	-not a complete language, still under development	-subjected to platforms rules, standards and policies
	-difficult to support all web browsers due to proliferation of devices	-native apps require manual updates for revisions

*A point of clarification with regards to the monetization of Apps via the Apple App Store – it is possible to offer a paid publication in the App store without relinquishing a percentage of that sale to Apple. Apple’s policy is outlined here. In summary, Apple only receives a percentage of the sale of content on sales made through their App store. If the subscription and concurrent transactions are made through a publisher’s own means (website, with print subscription, etc) Apple does not receive remuneration.

        This brief article has hopefully alleviated some of the unanswered questions and misguided information encountered with regards to HTML5 and Native Apps. Whatever path(s) you choose – know that Flip Page will be there to provide the solution.

For Flip Page Native App Features -click here

For Flip Page HTML5 Features - click here

My Name is URL

‘My Name is URL’

A Flip Page Feature Highlight

It may not generate the same hearty laughter as the Jason Lee comedy but let’s not underestimate the other ‘URL’. URL is the lazy linguists acronym for Universal Resource Locator but it is more commonly referred to as ‘web address’. A ‘URL’ consists of a couple of fixed bits of information such as a protocol name (usually the ‘http’ part) as well as a server name (‘www’ for example) and typically concludes with a domain name (ie. domain.com).

Flip Page Publishing provides a number of URL strings with which you can publish your digital print media. As an example, our dashboard offers white labelled direct URL’s such as ‘www.flippubs.com’ and ‘www.flippubs.net’. But there are a number of additional options available that you may not be aware of. If you are looking for alternatives to the above continue reading.

1. Direct URL – Located in the Flip Page Publishing dashboard, the Direct URL is the web address that is used to actively link to a specific publication or more accurately an issue of that publication. Each publication or issue of a publication has its own unique URL that is generated each time a new project is converted. The Direct URL can be accessed in the dashboard by clicking on the ‘Flipping Code’ button in the dashboard.

Sample Direct URL - http://flippubs.com/publication/?i=85813

2. Auto-updating URL – An auto-updating URL offers an added capability in comparison to the Direct URL. An auto-updating URL feeds the most recently activated issue of a publication. This type of URL is commonly used by publishers whose content updates frequently. It prevents a publisher from having to manually update their website on a frequent basis since the newest content is always delivered via the auto-updated URL. The Auto-updating URL can be found in the dashboard by clicking on the ‘Flipping Code’ button in the dashboard.

Sample Auto-updating URL -

3. Clean URL’s – Unlike the comedy series character, Flip Page URL’s can be cleaned up from their native or standard format. From above you are likely familiar with the common string of ‘http://flippubs.com/publication/?i=85813’. However you have the option of using a Clean URL to replace the Direct URL string. A Clean URL has a more traditional look than our standard Direct URL. Notice in the samples below that the Clean URL offers the same content despite the varied appearance of the URL.

Sample Direct URL – http://flippubs.com/publication/?i=85813

Sample Clean URL - http://flippubs.com/view/flippage+test+account/flip+page+publishing/features+brochure

4. Shortened URL’s – There are a number of different URL shortening services available on the web. Examples are https://bitly.com/, http://goo.gl/, http://tinyurl.com/, and http://ow.ly/url/shorten-url. These third party sites not only provide the option of rendering your Flip Page URL into a simple short string of characters but some also provide added capabilities. Some of these added functions include sharing, organizing, and tracking the shortened URL. These technologies are not part of the Flip Page dashboard but can be accessed from the links above.

Sample Shortened URL - http://tinyurl.com/9f32b3q

5. Masked Domains – a masked domain involves hiding the true or intended URL of a website or page from the user’s URL bar in the web browser. This is an ideal method for clients who are looking to maintain brand continuity among their web based media while still harnessing the benefits of our digital print media.

Sample ‘unmasked domain’ - http://www.flippubs.com/publication?i=107307

Sample ‘masked domain’ - http://emags.oraclefantasysports.com/publication?i=107307

Domain masking does require access to the DNS records of your domain as well as some modification in the Flip Page dashboard.

6. Inline Frame or i-Frame – An i-Frame is a technique that allows you to wrap the content of a web page within another page. It is supported on all major web browsers. Some additional information can be found here http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_iframe.asp  It involves adding a small snippet of code to a page to ‘wrap’ the content. Here is an example of a client who has used an i-Frame to embed their digital publication into a page on their website. Notice that the actual URL of the publication is not displayed since the content has been embedded in a page on their website using an i-Frame.

Sample Direct URL - http://www.flippubs.com/publication?i=80757

Sample i-Framed URL - http://www.thecurlingnews.com/online_issue/index.html

7. Shadowbox – a shadowbox is a web based media viewer which provides the publisher the ability to link to additional web content without the end user navigating to another page or site. This application also hides the URL of the Flip Page edition since it is not opening a new browser window. Once again, the shadowbox application is supported on all major web browsers. Shadowbox is a third party application that does require a small licensing fee to use within a publishers website. More information can be found here - http://www.shadowbox-js.com/

Sample Shadowbox - http://flippagepublishing.com/demo/ (click on the Colonel Littleton Catalogue)

8. Branded Domain – Flip Page Publishing offers the ability to publish all of your content to your own domain with your own branded Admin Dashboard. However, there is a related cost to this feature. Please consult with your account representative for more information.

                The message here is quite simple. When it comes to URL’s, whether the intention is to protect brand identity or hide the host domain, the options are endless.

New App Feature - The App Banner

Valued Flip Page Clients, We are pleased to announce a new dashboard feature for Flip Page Apps - App Banner. Publishers now have the ability to add a banner in the Publication Management section of the dashboard, which will populate in the App Cover Gallery. The banner can include a URL link or trigger a login display (URL page cannot contain a link that substitutes in-App purchases). Recommended banner specs in pixels are 710 wide x 140 height (gif, png, or jpeg).

An example of this feature in use can be seen in the screenshot below.

Set up is easy, and we'll provide some tools to help you get started. This should include everything needed to take advantage of this great new feature; however, should you have remaining questions, please feel free to contact your account representative.

Policy Revision for Conversions

Valued Flip Page clients,

In order to facilitate a seamless billing/invoicing process we have made a revision to our conversion policy...

Moving forward:

- We request that we are notified through your account representative if there is any concern related the the conversion process or a publication before uploading a revision. For example, an incorrect version being uploaded or an issue that did not meet PDF specifications.

- Please alert your account representative if an issue is to be comped before the last week of the billing period.

- If there are any issues that are uploaded and need to be comped within the last week of the billing period,  notify your account representative of this on the same day.

- The request to comp an issue is handled on a "per case" basis. If an issue is uploaded to the incorrect dashboard or the incorrect file is uploaded a full comp may not be issued. 

Following the above guidelines will ensure that billing/invoice will be accurate and publications are charged accordingly.

Please do not hesitate to contact your account representative with any further questions.

Optimizing Print Media for Digital Display (part 3 of a series)

“Preparation A through G”

The first 2 segments (Part 1 and Part 2) of this series have covered the limitations of traditional print media when converted to a digital format and have also focused on a couple of the unique tools which provide for a quality reading experience despite those limitations. This segment will provide ample suggestions on how to manage and prepare for output to digital from ‘A’ to ‘G’.

Data has shown that an optimized digital edition (different layout and content) yields an average of 20% deeper engagement (as measured by publication specific data) than a print replicated version. Here are some hints and tips to consider when designing for digital print media.

Analyze – find out where your readers are going to be coming from and plan for the masses. Don’t assume the mobile tablet is your starting point since current data suggests the ratio of web readers to mobile web readers is 10:1.

Build – questionnaires, polls, call back cards, business reply cards, or customized forms that create an interaction between the reader and the publication or advertisers.

Creativity – Keep in mind that you are designing for digital. As an example, rather than providing textual footnotes or end notes within the layout provide them in the link ‘hover’ tip and link directly to the reference on the web. Or provide a simple question to your readers within the content, provide a clue in the ‘hover’ tip, and provide the answer as a link. Click here for sample.

Consistency – Once you have established how a reader interacts with your publication maintain that trend. For example, if a ‘play’ button represents embedded multi-media, don’t stray. Determine interactive elements, buttons, icons and stick with them. Also, as a general rule ‘If it looks like it should click, it should click’.

Design – focus on publication layout but also consider the interface. Toolbars and backgrounds are customizable and should be a consideration for the project. Click here for sample.

Dimensions –Tablets allow the user to rotate from landscape to portrait view with ease. This is not the case for PC and laptop users. Since PC and laptop displays are typically wide and short (especially HD) consider a layout that meets those requirements (opt for ‘letter’ over ‘tabloid’).

Educate – inform your reader of the tools that are at their disposal, how to navigate, special features, buttons etc. The reality is that the reading experience is intuitive (flipping or swiping pages) but the extra features may not be. Use a presentation page or plan for some additional content in the layout of your publication. Click here for sample.

Engage – Leverage additional content in the form of audio, video, slide shows, animations. Use the tools that are at your disposal.

 Expand – Do not restrict valid or quality content to page counts when designing or crafting the layout of a digital publication.

Fonts – It is well established that print media has typically preferred ‘serif’ fonts for newspaper and magazine layout. There is a general tendency to conform to ‘sans serif’ options for online reading. Consider both viable options but adjust the font size to prevent a reader from having to zoom – use a minimum size 12 with a preference for size 14.

Gauge –Interactive elements within a publication are tracked by analytics. The more interactive the publication the more data that can be compiled. As an example, if an advertiser  embeds a 40 second video into their spread ad, and the average time spent on that page is 72 seconds, it is safe to assume that the video content was relevant to the reader and the ad impression was significant.

New assets needed for Apple Apps!

Valued Flip Page clients, Our Apps Team has been working diligently to service your apps in Apple's app store. Specifically, we have invested time and energy in 3 initiatives that support your app:

- Preparing for the 3.1 release upgrade - Renewing your push notification licenses with Apple (this is a behind the scenes service we perform for each of your apps annually) - Preparing the app program for iOS6 - Apple's soon-to-be-released system upgrade

In order to fulfill the app upgrade and push notification license renewals, Apple is requiring some additional assets for each app for iPad and iPhone. The required assets are listed below. Please email the assets to support@flippubs.com by Friday, August 17th. Upgrades to version 3.1 will occur in the order that assets are received. Apps for which we do not have these assets will continue to be offered in App Store, however, the app will no longer support push notifications and will not receive the 3.1 upgrade.

New specifications - Large Application Icon:  - required for all Apple apps. Only one new icon is required if your app publishes to both iPad and iPhone. The specifications for this icon are now 1024x1024 pixels JPEG or PNG. Do not scale up smaller artwork as it will appear pixelated and blurry.

Apple Newsstand Participants(Only):  New Specifications - Default Cover Art The specifications for this icon are now at least 1024 pixels on its longest side. See below for complete details.

Asset requirements : PNG Format A reasonable facsimile of the cover without representing a specific issue or App icons in use. Asset Size: 1024 pixels or greater on its longest side (iPhone, iPad) Aspect Ratio: Between 1:2 and 2:1

For additional information contact your sales representative!

Got Variable Data? Announcing a new service - On Demand Editions

Valued Flip Page clients, Flip Page is pleased to announce our newest service - On Demand Editions. On Demand Editions utilize the same flip book technology used to deliver magazines and catalogues - but reflect customized content designed for an individual. We take a custom pdf - compiled from your variable data system - and convert it to a flip book that you can then email to the recipient or embed in a PURL.

On Demand Editions are useful for a variety of customized content:

• Request for Proposals (RFPs)
• Insurance Benefits Documents
• Travel itineraries
• Other types of custom publications

For more information, contact your sales representative!

Optimizing Print Media for Digital Display (part 2 of a series)

“Let’s Get Prigital” Using the Right Tools to Accommodate Digital Print Media

Thank-you Olivia Newton-John for the inspiration.

The reference to ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ used in Part 1 of our series on optimizing for digital (click here to read Part 1) may be a little antiquated but hopefully the concept was conveyed – something that is designed for print doesn’t always render well in digital. So does that mean that all print publications must be redesigned for digital display? Not at all. Understandably, not every publisher or business has the resources to ‘go back to the drawing board’ with their digital layout. For that reason, we offer a plethora of tools that allow the publisher to adapt their print version for their online readership. Some of these tools are outlined below.

400% Vector Zoom – Vector zoom provides a scalable representation of your content without losing any data. In laymen’s terms that means when a reader ‘zooms’ they are getting the exact same quality of image or text with no degradation even when viewing it at 400%. Even better, once a reader has selected the preferred zoom level  (from 100% to 400%) our software remembers that information and maintains the same zoom level for future usage. Vector Zoom is particularly suitable for newspapers and other large formats. The legibilty of pages and fonts will be remarkably improved using Vector Zoom. When in zoom mode the reader is able to use familiar ‘push and pull’ navigation across the entire page or spread.

Article Links – An article link provides the reader with an alternative to zoom functioning when reading smaller fonts. An article link usually manifests as a ‘button’ (in the sample below a ‘magnifying glass’ icon was used) on the page of the digital edition which when clicked will provide a ‘text only’ representation of the article inside our media deck. The text based version can be translated using ‘Google Translate Tool’, shared via social media and email, printed, and even offers three type sizes for optimal reading. Article links also populate the ‘Contents’ button in the toolbar. The ‘Contents’ button provides a dropdown of all article titles in the issue and provides a ‘page-jump’ directly to that content. Article links open to our media deck which means the reader is not opening a new browser tab or window which keeps them focused on the content in the publication.

Full Screen View – Full screen view allows the reader to maximize the dimensions of the publication within their display. It is our version of ‘biggie sizing’. The publication will envelope as much of the display as possible (while maintaining proportions) aside from the space required for the toolbar and perimeter buffer. In some cases, this small adjustment is all that is needed in order to relieve legibility concerns.

Slide Shows – Sometimes layout and design restrictions leave artwork and photos on the floor beside the editing table. A slide show provides an opportunity to provide a larger version of an image, or multiple larger versions of an image or multiple different images to complement the image content within the publication. See for yourself in the video below.

These four tools will help ease the transition from print to digital when layout changes are not options. Part 3 of this series will focus on the uniqueness of tablet device layout in comparison to traditional display monitors. See you next month!

Flip Page 2D Feature Update

Valued Flip Page Customers,

In April of 2012, The Association of Magazine Media (MPA) released an article that outlined a set of voluntary guidelines to help publishers promote advertising on tablet devices. Also released was a set of recommended tablet metrics and data-released time frames.

We are pleased to announce that Flip Page has now included these MPA recommended tablet metrics in our analytics suite.  Each report contains a complete historic account of activity and can be accessed by selecting the Reader Profile tab under each account and selecting the subcategory, MPA-Suggested Tablet Metrics.

MPA Suggested Tablet Metrics included in Thermostats™:

1. Total Number of Readers: The total number of visits by a visitor who had not previously visited this issue during the calendar month.
2. Total Number of Sessions: The total number of times a user views any page of an issue for the first time in this session. A session begins on the first page view within a given domain and ends after 4 hours of idle time or when another issue is viewed or when cookies are cleared (or blocked).
3. Total Amount of Seconds Spent Per Reader:  The average number of seconds spent by a Reader per Session. This metric is calculated by summing the difference in time between two consecutive page views so long as that time does not exceed 1 hour. No time is recorded on the last page viewed because there is no subsequent page to measure against. Consequently, if only one page was viewed in a publication, there will be no time recorded for that view.
4. Average Number of Sessions Per Reader: The 'Total Number of Sessions' divided by the 'Total Number of Readers.'

A sample screen capture can be found below...

Please contact your account representative for more information.