Print Publishers Surveyed About Their Digital Editions

American Business Media recently conducted an online survey of its members on digital magazines. In this survey 71% of the respondents said they published digital and all respondents said their digital magazines were also available in print.

Three-quarters of survey respondents have been publishing digitally for more than a year, and it is not surprising that one-third of the group covers computers and computer-related businesses, with 28% of respondents reporting on fields related to manufacturing and electronics.

The number-one reason to publish a digital edition, according to the B-to-B executives who responded, is to reduce expenses, followed by a desire to respond to subscribers' desire for a digital version. Speedier delivery of information and requests from advertisers are virtually tied as the number-three reason for digital publishing.

All of the publishers here, who distribute digital editions of their magazines rather than digital-only products, have less than half of their circulation in digital form. More than half of the respondents, 57%, have total digital distribution in the 5% to 15% range. Seventy percent of these publishers include their digital editions in their guaranteed rate base.

Among respondents using subscriber metrics, the following metrics were rated most important on a scale of 1 (most important) to 6 (least important):

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Search Tactics: Keyword Phrases Perform Better

According to a recent report from Oneupweb, search engine user clicks tend to present higher conversion rates the longer the keyword phrase.

Looking at data from high-traffic keyword phrases for sites that were optimized by Oneupweb, the search engine optimization firm found that conversion rates grew the longer the keyword string, peaking at four words. The results were the same in all three months studied.

The results in the above chart do not include any searches conducted with corporate names, as these searches tend to imply a higher conversion rate, meaning the searcher is more likely to already be looking to purchase something from the company in question.

Oneupweb President Lisa Wehr notes, "this study reveals the opportunity in optimizing for longer keyword phrases...our recommendation to marketers has always been, 'don't invest all your resources and efforts in single-word or two-word phrases. Optimize for longer keyword phrases in addition to the shorter terms.'"

A recent study from DoubleClick and comScore Networks found that the vast majority of clicks on searches did not result from searches that included merchants' brand names, but rather generic searches. Data was based on search results and online purchases made at 30 online retailers in four major categories apparel, computer hardware, sports/fitness and travel.

eMarketer, February 22, 2005

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Adam Curry Wants to Make You an iPod Radio Star
Wired, March 2005

"People think I'm this poseur guy from MTV, but I don't care," says Adam Curry, the former VJ whose long blond locks once mesmerized teenyboppers across the globe. "I've always had this total dual life as a geek and a celebrity." He pauses for a moment and flashes the signature Curry smile. He's trimmed his mane and become an Internet entrepreneur, but he's still got that swoon-inducing grin. - Read the whole story...

Web users with an interest in current events increasingly turn to the Internet for news, at the expense of watching television and reading newspapers and magazines, according to a recent Washingtonpost.com study.

For the study, Washingtonpost.com, in conjunction with Nielsen//NetRatings, surveyed about 2,000 respondents who had gone online for news or information at least once in the last 90 days. Sixty percent of that group reported daily visits to online news sources, compared to 47 percent who watch television news daily, 41 percent who listen to the radio, and 30 percent who read a local newspaper.

Almost half of the respondents--47 percent--said they spent more time on the Internet now than one year ago, while one out of five--20 percent--reported spending less time watching television.

Respondents reported spending an average of 21.2 hours a week on the Internet--excluding time spent with e-mail--compared to 15.8 hours watching television, 9 hours listening to the radio, 2.9 hours reading newspapers, and 2.2 hours reading news magazines.

The results appear to be consistent with a broader study of Web users released last September by the Online Publishers Association, which found that Internet users prefer the Web to more traditional media, including television. When participants in that study were asked which media they'd choose to use if they could pick only two, the majority chose the Internet (45.6 percent) and television (34.6 percent) as their first choices.

Washingtonpost.com survey respondents did more on the Web than just surf for news. More than one out of five--21 percent--reported that in the last six months, they paid or subscribed for paid content. Additionally, 69 percent said they viewed online video, 34 percent downloaded music or movies, and 29 percent reported reading blogs.

(Reported by Wendy Davis in Online Media Daily, February 25, 2005)

In This Issue

Print Publishers Surveyed About Their Digital Editions

Search Tactics: Keyword Phrases Perform Better

Adam Curry Wants to Make You an iPod Radio Star

Study: Web Users Turn Away From Broadcast News

Fatham Online Keyword Price Index (KPI)