Digital publishing solutions provider Texterity, Inc., US, has announced the beta launch of a new magazine service, Coverleaf (http://www.coverleaf.com). The service makes companion digital magazines available free to paid print subscribers for the first time. It combines the best of companion digital magazine delivery with an interactive online newsstand shopping experience.
Coverleaf.com brings the experience of in-person leafing through and sharing magazine articles to the web by allowing readers to browse for new magazines online via search and 'look inside' technology. The service is designed to support the magazine industry by offering digital editions as a true companion to their print counterparts. In exchange for their email address, consumers can access the digital version of their paid print magazine.
The service is expected to substantially improve the economics for consumer publishers by increasing the number of subscriber email addresses on file, lowering their costs to retain subscribers, improving renewal rates and increasing engagement with advertisers. Readers will be able to easily sample titles, then clip, save, organise and share pages. The service will increase readership for all participating magazines by allowing readers to easily try new titles and develop communities around magazine topics.
Publishers including Meredith and F+W Publications have already joined the launch, significantly expanding the number of magazine subscribers accessing their magazines online and through their Apple iPhone and iPod touch. Publishers have until August 31st to sign up and qualify for charter participation terms. Future plans for coverleaf.com include expanded folder sharing, content category blogs and social networking options.
The Texterity technology that powers coverleaf.com delivers vivid digital editions of magazines using a standard web browser, with no downloaded software required. Consumers can browse and sample pages of any magazine for free. Publishers will have the ability to include sound, video and hotlinks within their digital editions, creating new custom marketing opportunities for advertisers to serve dynamic ads.
