Despite the increasing prevalence of digital content, the print magazine continues to be a popular format for professionals across the creative industry. The secret to its enduring success? Its capacity to be whatever you need or want it to be.
Magazine Ideas:
Portfolio
Give your next pitch or job interview an edge with a portable showcase of your best work—one that can be easily left behind with potential clients or employers. Rather than sending over a link to your online portfolio (which may or may not be lost in their inbox) leave them with something tangible that they can pore over right then and there.
Business tool
As well as showcasing your range of products and services, a magazine can strengthen your brand, establish your expertise in your chosen field, and help you build a more personal connection with your customers. Fun staff interviews, behind the scenes snapshots, case studies, and industry news are just some of the features you could include.
How-to guide
From knitting patterns to recipes, magazines provide the perfect layout for step-by-step instructions. You might already be blogging about your hobby or side-hustle, which means you have content ready to turn into collectable printed editions.
Travel guide
Hitting the road? Why not put your travel journal into print? Combine beautiful images with stories, reviews, top picks, and advice for people following in your footsteps. With Blurb’s print-on-demand service, you could easily create new editions of a travel-based magazine on the go—giving your subscribers real-time updates from the road with each new issue. Why not kick off the series with an edition all about your hometown?
Graphic novel or comic book
Magazine layouts are ideal for combining illustrations, graphics, and text to tell a story. And they’re not just for children! The popularity of graphic novels such as The Walking Dead and V for Vendetta prove that there’s an appetite for good storytelling in this format among people of all ages.
Unravelling story
Got lots of short story ideas? Or the first few chapters of an epic novel? Serializing your content in magazine format is a great way to monetize your content and build an engaged following.
Publishing in instalments means you’re also able to garner audience feedback and input along the way. For diehard fans of your story and characters, your magazine will become a collector’s item.
Passion project
Do you live and breathe a sport, team, place, activity, style, or genre? Whatever it is, why not base a magazine on the thing that you love, for other people who love it, too.
That’s exactly what Mac Malikowski did in 2015, when he started Mouthfeel Magazine.
I had been working in restaurants, cafes, and food media for a long time and realized how badly I wanted a food magazine that pertained pretty distinctly to my interests: a mix of food, men, music, and humor.” Read more …
Collaboration
Making a magazine demands a wide array of skills, from layout and design to writing, photography, editing, and illustration. We can’t all be good at everything, so making a magazine is a great opportunity to work with other creative professionals with the same passion but a whole different skill set.
I think we have found great people to work with, a very diverse group of people who are all passionate about what they do. We want to give each collaborator a chance to express their vision working together with our main team in Paris.”
Anniina Makela, Digital Content Editor of Eclectic Magazine
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What will your magazine be? Get started today. Or visit our blog for tips on making a magazine!
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the creative industry, particularly the dynamics of print media, I can attest to the enduring significance of print magazines in the face of the increasing prevalence of digital content. The article rightly highlights the versatility and timeless appeal of print magazines in the creative domain. Here's an in-depth breakdown of the concepts discussed in the article:
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Print Magazine as a Portfolio:
- Utilizing a print magazine as a portfolio is an ingenious idea for professionals looking to stand out in job interviews or pitches. The tangible nature of a magazine allows for a portable showcase of one's best work, leaving a lasting impression on potential clients or employers.
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Business Tool:
- Beyond being a portfolio, a magazine serves as a powerful business tool. It can showcase a company's products and services, strengthen its brand image, establish expertise in the industry, and foster a more personal connection with customers. Features like staff interviews, behind-the-scenes snapshots, case studies, and industry news contribute to building a comprehensive brand narrative.
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How-to Guide:
- Magazines are ideal for presenting step-by-step instructions, making them perfect for how-to guides. Whether it's knitting patterns or recipes, the structured layout of a magazine can transform online content into collectible printed editions.
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Travel Guide:
- Transforming a travel journal into a magazine is a creative way to share experiences, advice, and recommendations. With print-on-demand services, travelers can create real-time updates and editions, offering subscribers insights into their journeys.
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Graphic Novel or Comic Book:
- Magazine layouts are well-suited for graphic novels or comic books, catering to readers of all ages. The article rightly points out that the format isn't limited to children, as exemplified by the popularity of graphic novels like The Walking Dead and V for Vendetta.
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Unraveling Story:
- Serializing content in magazine format is a strategic move to monetize and engage an audience. By publishing in installments, creators can gather feedback, turning the magazine into a collector's item for dedicated fans.
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Passion Project:
- The article emphasizes the potential of creating a magazine based on one's passion, citing the example of Mouthfeel Magazine, which focused on a unique blend of food, men, music, and humor. This concept encourages individuals to share their deep interests with like-minded communities.
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Collaboration:
- Making a magazine necessitates diverse skills, from layout and design to writing, photography, editing, and illustration. Collaboration with other creative professionals is not just an opportunity but a necessity, allowing individuals to combine their unique skill sets and perspectives to create a well-rounded magazine.
In conclusion, the article encourages readers to embark on their magazine-making journey, underlining the diverse possibilities and creative outlets that this format offers across various fields.
