The Worst Publishing Advice You’ll Ever Hear

You might think we’re crazy, but the horrible advice we’re about to give you actually serves a purpose: it will help you succeed at digital publishing. Yup, with the power of some good ol’ fashioned reverse psychology, you’ll know exactly what not to do when publishing your content.Today we’ll delve into the mind of a truly terrible digital publisher, explore some common practices they engage in, and sift through the motivations, lies, and delusions they cling to. So let’s start with number one…

1. Indifference Towards Publishing Quality

Actually, don’t even care at all if you don’t have to. The important thing here is that you spend the least amount of time on the hard parts and focus more on the easier things (like slapping a ridiculously high price on the content you barely worked on). It’s the money, not the passion, that matters, so don’t jeopardize your mission by spending too much time on the end product (i.e a beautifully made, engaging digital publication– yuck!)

Wrong! Do this instead:

Dedicate enough time and energy to create great content that provides value to readers. You can still make money; all you need is a solid monetization strategy that lets you profit from your free or paid content.

2. Overwhelming Your Audience with Emails

The truth is that nearly every person on this planet doesn’t have much to do on a daily basis. They’re not busy with their jobs, families, or errands and they’re pretty much open to anything new at any given moment. That’s exactly why you need to liven up their day by bombarding them with multiple promo emails.It’s pretty obvious: if people are subscribed to your email list, it means they want more stuff from you. Yup– they WANT you to fill up their inboxes with two or three promotional emails daily.

Wrong! Do this instead:

Less is more! Countless research studies have shown that emails sent once a week get the best engagement. Sending multiple emails in a single day is a sure-fire way to annoy and lose your subscribers.

3. Neglecting the Power of Print

It makes sense. Go anywhere and you’ll see everyone fixated on his or her cellphone, right? Smartphones are popular for a reason. They’re just so darn cute, mobile, and easy to use.Print publications, on the other hand, are an absolute pain. You work up a sweat just by lugging them around and flipping through their pages (not to mention looking like an old-timer stuck in the past). You don’t want to be that guy, do you?

Wrong! Do this instead:

Sell hard copy versions of your online content; it’s beneficial in many ways. It can, for example, translate to an increase in revenue. Also, it turns out that print is still more popular than digital, at least in the United States. People still love getting their hands on those physical copies.

4. Ignore any help, do everything yourself, and don’t use a quality platform

There are a ton of digital publishing platforms out there. And a lot of people say that using one, like Joomag, is the smart thing to do. Why? Because they can allegedly help you create top-tier content with super accessible online tools.

But don’t be tempted. Do everything yourself (for bragging rights, of course). You’re too proud and too darn cool to be like the 500,000+ other professionals (including Century 21, Warner Bros, and Ernst & Young) who use Joomag today. Also, keep in mind that these platforms usually cost money to use. You don’t want to spend cash, you want to make it!

Wrong! Do this instead:

Solutions like Joomag are for publishers who take their craft seriously and care about providing real value. It really is an all-in-one platform that lets you create, distribute, track, and monetize your content from a central online hub.

Our cheapest plan, Starter, only amounts to $9/month. It’s one of the most affordable starting plans out there, but it’s still packed with valuable features such as selling and access to the Crater™ Editor. The ROI of all our plans is extremely high, so it’s money well spent if you have the passion.

It’s the sad truth, but becoming the worst digital publisher on the planet is a lot easier than becoming the best. And there’s no shortage of terrible publishers out there. So heed our advice above and you’ll be just fine.

FAQ

Should I focus on quantity over quality in digital publishing?

Answer: Absolutely not! Successful digital publishing hinges on creating high-quality content that provides real value to your readers. While it might seem tempting to cut corners and prioritize profit, investing time in crafting engaging, well-made publications is key. A strong monetization strategy doesn't sacrifice content quality but enhances it.

Is bombarding my audience with daily promotional emails effective?

Answer: No, this approach is likely to irritate your audience and could lead to unsubscribes. Research suggests that a weekly email frequency strikes the right balance, keeping your audience engaged without overwhelming them. Quality over quantity applies to email marketing as much as it does to content creation.

Can print publications complement my digital content strategy?

Answer: Yes, despite the digital age, print is not dead. Offering hard copies of your digital content can diversify your revenue streams and cater to readers who prefer physical copies. In fact, integrating print into your digital strategy can broaden your audience reach and enhance your publication’s perceived value.