The advantages of a business making the transition from print to digital media are endless; it saves time and money, it is sustainable and it allows you to reach a wider audience. With this being said, you might be wondering: How do I make the switch?

media update’s Taylor Goodman upacks how to make the transition from print to digital as smooth as possible.

1. Develop a content strategy

Content strategies are the be-all and end-all of any successful online publication. At the forefront of any strategy is defining your audience and ensuring that the content you’re putting out there is what they want to consume.
  • define your business’s mission
  • understand your target market
  • outline your business’s goals and objectives
  • conduct a content audit
  • take note consumer trends, and
  • produce high-quality content

2. Establish a publishing strategy

As a publishing house transitioning from print media to digital, it is vital for you to drive web traffic, boost audience engagement and to grow your audience. To achieve these goals, it is essential to have a publishing strategy put in place. 

According to Christopher Wink from christopherwink.com, an editorial strategy is the implementation of web-friendly content and interactivity on a platform.
An effective publishing strategy:

  • utilises consumer profiles
  • makes use of style guides
  • schedules posts with a content calendar
  • keep the brand brief in mind, and
  • monitors consumer patterns and reactions.

3. Ensure that your content is top tier

Digital media allows publishers to get creative with their content creation. Catching the consumer’s eye is the first step to leading them to consume your content, but what is even more imperative is ensuring that this content is rich in information. 

The viewer needs to feel like they are gaining something from viewing your site and your content. Putting your work out there, which is enticing to viewers, is as simple as guaranteeing that time and effort is put into every piece you write. This is bound to resonate with your readers!

4. Focus on your audience

Making the transition from print to digital can sometimes be tricky, but by focusing on keeping your audience happy, you will be doing yourself a great service in the long run. If you are providing your readers with a consistent flow of high-quality content, you are building a sense of trust with them that will have them coming back again and again.

A good example as to how you can make your viewer feel special during this transition is by creating exclusive online content. This makes the reader feel as if they are getting something online that they couldn't get anywhere else, which will spark their interest and increase their loyalty to your publishing house.

5. Consider a multi-platform approach

Nowadays, anything you could ever want to read is just a click away. This accessibility, however, comes at a cost for publishers that need to remain on the viewer’s radar in order to stay relevant. This is where a multi-platform strategy comes in. 

According to nxtbookmedia, this strategy requires you to upload related content onto multiple channels in order to reach and appeal to more people. 

Different platforms allow your business to access different markets and, thus, grow their audience. Publishing houses can make use of a multi-platform strategy by starting a newsletter, creating social media accounts for their publication or starting a blog.

Are there any tips for successfully transitioning from print to digital media that you think we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Want to know more about the print versus digital media debate? Be sure to check out Print versus digital: Print becomes ‘premium’.
*Image courtesy of Vecteezy