View Full Version : Digital Magazines!
Do you think a hardcore digital mag would sell ?
If a hardcore digital mag was delivered via email and priced at say $4, monthly, would members subscribe?
The mags could be site specific.
I am not talking about a newsletter but a 32/64/96 mag.
The digital mags would have the attributes of a print mag.
A lot of big titles, non-adult, have digital editions and a number of adult mags
are now looking at digital delivery, and some have already done so, Playboy and Penthouse, OK not hardcore.
What do you think?
Xbiz, EON and AVN have good digital circulation but then they are trade mags.
Why don't yu think they would work Mr President(designate)?
From a personal point of view, I have come across (non adult) online mags regarding things that interest me, and I may look if they are free, but I wouldn't pay a penny for them.
However in the queue at the local co-op I will think nothing of picking up a print mag on the same subject... Even if its 5.99 I look forward to reading it...
However if that exact same mag word for word was available in online-format... I still wouldn't be in the least bit interested...
Why?
Because with a mag, I can take it from room to room... I can take it in the car. I can read it while sat on the toilet. I can show it to my friends. Its a physical attribute that holds the info in a convenient format...
But put it online... Nah... Same content... But not a mag.
Now obviously I dont buy porn anyway. But I would feel that more than likely potential porn mag buyers (online or offline) would feel the same way...
But that's just me... Be interesting to see what others think :)
dvtimes
09-22-07, 10:00 PM
I do not think I would do it via pay as reading such mags online are a pain, plus its a lot of work to produce a magazine worth $4.
After all for £3 you can buy a decent UK mag such as Front.
If your going to do it I would do it free with adverts to make you cash.
Personaly I would do a weekly/monthly mp3 magazine, this can then be downloaded and listened to at anytime. Do it free with some adverts. Basicly a radio type show. By doing a podcast people could listen to it even in the car.
I do not think I would do it via pay as reading such mags online are a pain, plus its a lot of work to produce a magazine worth $4.
After all for £3 you can buy a decent UK mag such as Front.
If your going to do it I would do it free with adverts to make you cash.
I actually agree with DVT :)
From a personal point of view, I have come across (non adult) online mags regarding things that interest me, and I may look if they are free, but I wouldn't pay a penny for them.
However in the queue at the local co-op I will think nothing of picking up a print mag on the same subject... Even if its 5.99 I look forward to reading it...
However if that exact same mag word for word was available in online-format... I still wouldn't be in the least bit interested...
Why?
Because with a mag, I can take it from room to room... I can take it in the car. I can read it while sat on the toilet. I can show it to my friends. Its a physical attribute that holds the info in a convenient format...
But put it online... Nah... Same content... But not a mag.
Now obviously I dont buy porn anyway. But I would feel that more than likely potential porn mag buyers (online or offline) would feel the same way...
But that's just me... Be interesting to see what others think :)
Good points TGITC.
Buying a mag is a personal thing and the ability to read it when and where you want is a big factor but porn is viewed in private, mostly,on the PC.
If there was a digital mag that was niche specific would that appeal to members?
The mag could only have pics and porn pics are easy to find and get online.
What about interviews with pornstars, advetising revenue?
dvtimes
09-22-07, 10:11 PM
Good points TGITC.
Buying a mag is a personal thing and the ability to read it when and where you want is a big factor but porn is viewed in private, mostly,on the PC.
If there was a digital mag that was niche specific would that appeal to members?
People can do this now. They are called websites.
And thats the point, its one thing to have a free site such as a blog or a paysite, but these electonic mags are a pain to read.
Also to do one your going to need several writers. I mean its unlikly that one person could write enough to fill a magazine.
dvtimes
09-22-07, 10:13 PM
What about interviews with pornstars, advetising revenue?
Most people are not interested with porn star interviews.
And not many people are going to pay £4 to read them.
Do not forget most models do a blog/site with such stuff free.
I do not think I would do it via pay as reading such mags online are a pain, plus its a lot of work to produce a magazine worth $4.
After all for £3 you can buy a decent UK mag such as Front.
If your going to do it I would do it free with adverts to make you cash.
Personaly I would do a weekly/monthly mp3 magazine, this can then be downloaded and listened to at anytime. Do it free with some adverts. Basicly a radio type show. By doing a podcast people could listen to it even in the car.
Have a look at Zino DVT it is not that bad reading a mag online.
If you produce a print mag it is very easy to produce a digital version but yes there is a lot of work producing a print mag.
The digital mags are an extension of the print version.
Most print mags generate the majority of their revenue from advertising and more so now premium rate and SMS services.
It is a good idea you have for the MP3 mag but a weekly mag would be a nightmare too put to bed, a quarterly may be better.
Most people are not interested with porn star interviews.
And not many people are going to pay £4 to read them.
Do not forget most models do a blog/site with such stuff free.
Agree with what you said earlier, but disagree with this bit. People are celeb obsessed, from pop stars to pornstars, sad but true. I would imagine a lot of people would buy an individual edition if it contained an interview with a favourite, and the option was available.
It's all about them feeling they are getting closer, hence why blogs work so well.
dvtimes
09-22-07, 10:28 PM
Agree with what you said earlier, but disagree with this bit. People are celeb obsessed, from pop stars to pornstars, sad but true. I would imagine a lot of people would buy an individual edition if it contained an interview with a favourite, and the option was available.
It's all about them feeling they are getting closer, hence why blogs work so well.
Porn stars are celebs in the usa, but not in the uk.
I know a few people who buy porn films, and none could name a uk model.
Are blogs, for all intents and purposes, amateur digital magazines?
dvtimes
09-22-07, 10:31 PM
Are blogs, for all intents and purposes, amateur digital magazines?
yes, i would say blogs are mico mags.
Just look at ones that cover the latest gadgets. Some of these are worth looking at. The good ones have several writers.
Strictly broadband do some sort of mag.
People can do this now. They are called websites.
And thats the point, its one thing to have a free site such as a blog or a paysite, but these electonic mags are a pain to read.
Also to do one your going to need several writers. I mean its unlikly that one person could write enough to fill a magazine.
No websites are different, you cannot save the site and view it when you like in the future, as is was when you saved it. Websites change.
Adult mags need very little copy, they are normally reader copy driven.
Iam not talking about me doing one.
dvtimes
09-22-07, 10:41 PM
No websites are different, you cannot save the site and view it when you like in the future, as is was when you saved it. Websites change.
Adult mags need very little copy, they are normally reader copy driven.
Iam not talking about me doing one.
your creating rules where rules do not need to be.
while a paper magazine cannot change, no reasonn an electronic one cannot change, also no reason to have an option on a site to have the current site saved as a pdf file or whaever. after all you can print it out if you wished.
your creating rules where rules do not need to be.
while a paper magazine cannot change, no reasonn an electronic one cannot change, also no reason to have an option on a site to have the current site saved as a pdf file or whaever. after all you can print it out if you wished.
A digital mag is an almost mirror of the print version in most cases, some however offer content not available in the print version.
Once a digital mag is signed off there can be no changes.
I thought the whole point of website was to pay your subs and go and view new content month on month,or even on weekly basis, hence the reason for content brokers.
I don't see much text, stories etc on many adult sites.
Here is concept that looks good
http://www.undercovermags.com/offer?issn=xdvdrev&of=ZH1&rf=ucmhomefeat&ns=ucma
A digital mag with 15 free xxxmovies clips and this mag is $35 for 13 issues.
its just another way of delivering the same product, unless Im missing something. But could be a nice marketing angel.
One good sponsor I use to have, did everything in a tabloid type style. The converted really well for me. But they went bust, read what you will into that?
its just another way of delivering the same product, unless Im missing something. But could be a nice marketing angel.
One good sponsor I use to have, did everything in a tablid type style. The converted really well for me. But they went bust, read what you will into that?
Yea I agree it is just another delivery method but if, like you say, it was used as marketing tool would it work?
I have been mooching around the interweb and found this
http://www.undercovermags.com/singles?issn=VOLU-001&ns=ucma
I choose this because GAV has launched his big tits site.
Would members of Gavs site buy this mag?
Bernice
09-22-07, 11:28 PM
I think it could work. In fact its how I think the web may end up going.
Long term the people like Visa and MC are going to wipe the porn business and if they dont then increasing regulation will sanitise the web in my view.
At that point delivery might well be driven by downloads like you suggest.
Interestingly in the early web days I tried to form alliances with several magazines in niche porn - they all declined because in their view the web and PCs would never deliver a satisfactory option for wank mags. One of the then leading players in spanking told me 'people wont wank in front of a compuetr - they prefer mags' his prediction was way wrong ( as I knew it would be - but these things always go in circles and with increasing regulation and potentially issues with Vis and MC it may well become impossible to deliver certain contant with online billing.
Delivery of a mag through some kind of non-online billing system ( cheques, cash etc ) but with the content delivered through a download might work. After all as already pointed out people still buy mags off the shelf - its easy, convenient etc etc - BUT if the mag isnst available off the shelf then I could well see people buying a CD version or perhaps some kind of memory stick download. No reason you cant take a laptop with you in the loo after all.
I think so, but I know fuck all. I think if you were to offer a subscription, it would sell, but I also think that if there were decent preview pics, then individual copy sales could make for good impulse buys at $5 or whatever, few people would cough over that, or even worry about it turning out being shite, they'd take the risk if there was a model they liked the look of for $5.
If they go for a single issue, you've got their details, and can then have a go at upselling.
I think it could work. In fact its how I think the web may end up going.
Long term the people like Visa and MC are going to wipe the porn business and if they dont then increasing regulation will sanitise the web in my view.
At that point delivery might well be driven by downloads like you suggest.
Interestingly in the early web days I tried to form alliances with several magazines in niche porn - they all declined because in their view the web and PCs would never deliver a satisfactory option for wank mags. One of the then leading players in spanking told me 'people wont wank in front of a compuetr - they prefer mags' his prediction was way wrong ( as I knew it would be - but these things always go in circles and with increasing regulation and potentially issues with Vis and MC it may well become impossible to deliver certain contant with online billing.
Delivery of a mag through some kind of non-online billing system ( cheques, cash etc ) but with the content delivered through a download might work. After all as already pointed out people still buy mags off the shelf - its easy, convenient etc etc - BUT if the mag isnst available off the shelf then I could well see people buying a CD version or perhaps some kind of memory stick download. No reason you cant take a laptop with you in the loo after all.
Good points. I suppose "in a moral sense" it would be acceptable to Visa and MC to accept mag subscirptions as opposed to "porn site" transactions.
There is no reason digital mags cannot have links to porn sites in the copy and / or adverts.
Non-online billing can also be achieved through PRS and SMS for single issues and upto £30 on PRS for subscriptions.
I think so, but I know fuck all. I think if you were to offer a subscription, it would sell, but I also think that if there were decent preview pics, then individual copy sales could make for good impulse buys at $5 or whatever, few people would cough over that, or even worry about it turning out being shite, they'd take the risk if there was a model they liked the look of for $5.
If they go for a single issue, you've got their details, and can then have a go at upselling.
Get the cover right, you sell the mag, thats the rule of thumb.
It's like box art for DVD's, enticement.
Why would you want to sell it when it could be far more effective as a fantastic marketing tool?
If done it would be better done in conjunction with a paysite.
The paysite updating with the full content and the mag being sent out every month with "hilights".
"join today and get a free lifetime subscription to our digital mag delivered to your email every month" (and maybe another option to just subscribe to the mag for $4 a month as well)
The lifetime sub for members may well tempt them back again and again once they've cancelled, you already know they're willing to pay, so they are worth the freebie and are even qualified traffic for advertisers.
If done it would be better done in conjunction with a paysite.
The paysite updating with the full content and the mag being sent out every month with "hilights".
"join today and get a free lifetime subscription to our digital mag delivered to your email every month"
Best business post of the year. :twocents:
dvtimes
09-23-07, 01:36 PM
If done it would be better done in conjunction with a paysite.
The paysite updating with the full content and the mag being sent out every month with "hilights".
"join today and get a free lifetime subscription to our digital mag delivered to your email every month" (and maybe another option to just subscribe to the mag for $4 a month as well)
The lifetime sub for members may well tempt them back again and again once they've cancelled, you already know they're willing to pay, so they are worth the freebie and are even qualified traffic for advertisers.
The way I would do it (for ease and content), is to do a mag with a section for different sites. You would have your affiliate link to each site and have a set of pics. This way you can easily fill a mag with content and then just give it away free in a format that people can email to each other. It would be free. In many ways affectiive, if not more affective than fhg. BUT the thing with these is the format, ie, not everyone has softwear to say look at pdf files.
I have had the idea for a while for somone to produce a paper magaxine, with diffent sites providing a set of pics (mabe even paying to have them in the mag), then having it sold in the normall manner (ie in newsagents). Thus giving sites good exposuer to people who may not otherwise know about your site.
dvtimes
09-23-07, 01:46 PM
There are two major problems with such an electronic magazine:
1. Content.
To make it worth while it needs to have lots of content and articles, not just a few pics. In deed if its just going to be pics then even if the mag was free, people will prefer to go on blogs and sites simply as they can save the pics.
So basicly you would need several writters.
I would also sugest that you would need people who can design a magazine and lay it out well, like with any other magazine, or it will come accross as naff.
2. Layout/Format
While with a paper based magazine, you have the option of paper quality and size, with an electronic mag you have a huge problem, this being what people use to read the magazine on.
An example is, you could create it to be used on portable devices such as Ipods (with screens), mobile phones, games machines. This way it can be read say on the way to work. But the problem in the small screens.
On computer screens, most people use traditional box shape. While these are ideal for websites, they are not ideal for magazines, which need widescreen to show both left and right page. Of course you can show single pages, but this defetes the magazine style as your realy left with a website.
Also the format you have the magazine on. While the ideal I would guess is a file. You have to remember that people do not always have programes to view all files. I e, many do not have softwear to view pdf files.
dvtimes
09-23-07, 01:55 PM
One though though is going to be the new ipod touch.
This is very thin and portable, but also has a large screen.
It has the ability to veiw websites, and has a wideformat screen (of sorts).
As it can view websites I presume it will be able to play/show different type of files.
This machine I suspect will sell, simply as its not that expensive.
I can see such a machine ideal for electronic magazines.
Unlike other machines which are a bit chuncky, this I suspect will be used a lot to read some electronic mags and books.
Willie_Ekkerslike
09-23-07, 02:28 PM
This mob have been providing a download mag for years and from i know its still going strong.
http://www.wetset.net/index.php?target=categories&category_id=172
Digital Magazines are widespread in the mainstream business world and tools like this will be the future of adult. Endlessly banging away with the same old same old gallerieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez and bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogs with endless moaning about conversion ratios are already dead in the water as far as new people to the business is concerened. :twocents:
Bernice
09-23-07, 05:33 PM
A thought occurred to me - the online world has done a lot f damage to mags BUT some mags syill have a huge following / sivscription. I am thinking in terms of Zig-Zag ( dating mag for fetishists ), Serious Mistress ( contact mag for SM ).
Some of these have HUGE subscription luists that would make a paysite site owners eyes boggle. It solid business cos its a years subs each time - something few pay sites can get off the punter except at ludicorously low rates. PLUS you get the ad revenue of course and the mag is self ffilling cos pro-dommes etc want to be in it and the Pro Domme world is full of ego and vanity.
The mags thing is something i have long had as an exit strategey for when the web IS sanitised - remember we all live on the whim of billing processors and Visa.
I wouldnt be surpised if a mag / website could work well as a combo in a push/pull marketing program. As I actually have access to magazine publishing I have toyed with it but never tried anything super serious - mag publishing contains the seeds of great things - but also the costs are prohibitive for experimentation - get it wrong and you have 10,000 quid down the drain in the blink of an eye and also 10,000 magazines that cant be unloaded except as paper pulp. Tpo date I havent felt confident enough to risk the cash.
..... remember we all live on the whim of billing processors and Visa.
But do we though ? Surely if the C.C. Co's pulled the plug then site owners would look to an alternative billing method such as password by phone type or SMS etc,etc.
I'm not convinced that if C.C. 's were no longer an option that this would mean the end of the paysite set up as we know it & therefore a return to printed matter as being the only financially viable approach :)
A thought occurred to me - the online world has done a lot f damage to mags BUT some mags syill have a huge following / sivscription. I am thinking in terms of Zig-Zag ( dating mag for fetishists ), Serious Mistress ( contact mag for SM ).
Some of these have HUGE subscription luists that would make a paysite site owners eyes boggle. It solid business cos its a years subs each time - something few pay sites can get off the punter except at ludicorously low rates. PLUS you get the ad revenue of course and the mag is self ffilling cos pro-dommes etc want to be in it and the Pro Domme world is full of ego and vanity.
The mags thing is something i have long had as an exit strategey for when the web IS sanitised - remember we all live on the whim of billing processors and Visa.
I wouldnt be surpised if a mag / website could work well as a combo in a push/pull marketing program. As I actually have access to magazine publishing I have toyed with it but never tried anything super serious - mag publishing contains the seeds of great things - but also the costs are prohibitive for experimentation - get it wrong and you have 10,000 quid down the drain in the blink of an eye and also 10,000 magazines that cant be unloaded except as paper pulp. Tpo date I havent felt confident enough to risk the cash.
Niche market adult mags are a nightmare to distribute.The main players, Comag, McFarlanes etc are reluctant to distribute because the main retail outlets, Smiths etc will not stick them. Distributing to the adult shops is a logostical nightmare and the main adult mag distributors want 60% discount on cover price to distribute. And of the course the points you have made Bernice are very valid "get it wrong and you loose £££££thousands".
The cost of producing a digital mag, after you have found the company that will produce an adult digital mag, is not that high, compared to a print version.
These are apporximate figures £69 per page, hyperlinks(email + www) included in the price, image links, contents page links, etc £ 8 per link, Multimedia Files (Flash, Audio, Video files) - £40 per file.
Assuming you produce a mag geared to your web site and give the mag to your members free and have a single issue subscription service and possibly an annual subscription, then a 32 page mag would cost £2,208.00 with a link on each pagecost £256 and say 5 videos from your site £200 total £2,664 + VAT.
Say you have 6 pages of ads you will also generate ad revenue.
Any ad space that doesn't sell you fill with your own PRS SMS service ads.
Factor in Rebels idea on one issue sales, charged by PRS OR SMS and CCBill for outside the UK.One off issue sales will also increase your database.
Once the mag is done it can sent to as many members as you wish.
There is one company that still does very well distributing adult mags to newsagents etc and they are always looking for adult new titles.
Of course swingers, adult contacts etc I think would benefit from having a digital mag to compliment there sites. I don't know the cost to advertise on these as an individual but lets say £10, then you could upsell them, "for £20 you can go into our digital mag sent to XXXXX number of members."
Bernice
09-24-07, 07:38 PM
To reply to SD - no - lack of CCs wouldnt mean the end of adult business but it might mean the end of it as we know it. People have been predicting an alternate billing system since the great processor wipeouts of a few years ago when processors were going bust almost every week but to date theres no real international billing system that works well without CCs - at least if there is I haven'y found it.
I wouldnt disagree with you in general - but I think the business is changing very fast. As I've said before the web is a very immature market and its bloody hard to predict where its going.
PSL - I agree with what you say about mags - and especially the distribution of them which has always been a nightmare. Profits can be very slim and some specialist mags have gone under is very short order - I am thinking of Cul'DOr - bankrupted over a dud cheque from a distributor a few years ago but there have been plenty of others. The real survivots have been the contact ad mags but I could see with CC billers getting jumpy over 'extreme' content that a mag might well provide the ONLY outlet.
Without wanting to sound like a diva I can rememeber when people like Paul M and otheres were getting nicked for hardcore distribution - I was almost in the cells once myself LOL
The mag ideas interesting and your post has prompted me to get my arse in gear and start doing something on that. For me I have logistics problems and cash problems ( billing wise ) because of the diverse associates I work with.
bernice-Print distribution is and was a nightmare, print ship to distributor and wait 90 -180 days to find out your unsolds figure and receive your payment.
Best way on 90 days your capital is in two issues in on a monthly mag, worse way on 180 days your capital is in six issues. The advertising revenue can ease cash flow.
Logistics for delivering a digital mag is not as difficult, undercovermags.com, self distribution and affiliates.
Billing wise, if your mag is priced at say $4 or $6 for a 32 page mag you can use phone payment systems and SMS for the UK and other countries if you use password by phone,allocate each affiliate a seperate PRS number and SMS shotcode, CCbill for the states and ROTW.
With undercovermags, because it is a digital mag there should be no reason why you shouldn't be paid on a monthly payment schedule.
And you will get all your advertising upfront because of the time scales from layout to distribution is so short.
Bernice I don't quite understand the diverse associates comment though.
SimonSubAms
09-24-07, 10:42 PM
If done it would be better done in conjunction with a paysite.
The paysite updating with the full content and the mag being sent out every month with "hilights".
"join today and get a free lifetime subscription to our digital mag delivered to your email every month" (and maybe another option to just subscribe to the mag for $4 a month as well)
The lifetime sub for members may well tempt them back again and again once they've cancelled, you already know they're willing to pay, so they are worth the freebie and are even qualified traffic for advertisers.
Similar setup to what I use
http://www.subams.info gives free access to 20k pics and 70 1 minute video clips that upsell to the full members sites. Access is free with a double optin e-mail that then gets used to inform of updates etc.
Subscribers rarely cancel when they're getting it for free.
vBulletin® v3.7.2, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.