Magazine Publishing Industry Overview

Magazine publishing has become more demanding in an online world
By Sherril Steele-Carlin, Freelance Writer Magazine publishers are facing trying times as ad revenues decrease and start-up magazines fail by the dozens. To be successful as a magazine publishing company, publishers have to recognize industry and cultural trends, and gear their editorial copy accordingly. They can benefit by studying the successful publications of some of the industry's leaders, as well.

For news, trends and information on magazines for the 21st century, publishers can turn to several sources, from industry associations to news periodicals for the media. Successful publishers can consider:

1. Branching into custom magazine publishing.

2. Joining associations in the magazine publishing industry.

3. Keeping up with publishing trends and news in periodical publishing.

Discover custom magazine publishing as an avenue for revenue

Custom magazine publishing is one area of the magazine publishing business that is growing, at a time when many consumer and trade magazines are seeing revenues shrink. Custom magazine publishing can run the gamut from developing a newspaper insert for a local business, to developing a specialty family publication for a local school district or hospital, for example. If you're currently publishing a magazine, consider branching into custom magazine publishing to add dimension to your services and bottom line.
Try:  The Magazine Group, a custom publishing company, offers information on publishing custom magazines that you can use to learn more and sell your clients on custom publishing. The Custom Publishing Council, a magazine publishing group, offers insight on why custom publishing works.

Join an association of magazine publishing companies to learn more and grow your magazine business

Join an association of magazine publishing companies to learn more and grow your magazine business
Try:  The Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) is a professional organization for magazine publishers that offers news, statistics and opportunities for growth and development. The Western Publications Association (WPA) offers publishers and those who serve the publishing industry to interact and exchange ideas. For publishers and others west of the Mississippi River.

Find out industry news and trends to learn more about trade magazine publishing and periodical publi

If you want to learn more about publishing magazines and industry trends, look to publications and news sources that offer indications of where the industry is heading in the future, and what's working now. Also look to leaders in the magazine publishing industry to see the latest trends in the magazine business.
Try:  Folio: Magazine offers news, trends, marketing and other publishing magazines advice and information. Wooden Horse Publishing offers a free weekly newsletter on magazine publishing companies, including advertising and subscription statistics and much more. The Hearst Corporation publishes some of the most popular and influential magazines in America today. Keep track of what they're doing through their website.  Time Warner is the parent company of Time, Inc., one of the most respected publishing companies in the world.

• No magazine publishing industry overview would be complete without a look at digital publishing. For many publishers, it's the wave of the future, and many periodicals may bow to the pressures of the Internet and turn their publications into digital publications as the popularity of iPhones and other digital media increases. Another major trend is custom digital publications with longer shelf lives than their traditional print cousins.