Task 5 Distribution Methods

Distribution of magazine methods

Sale or Return

This distribution method Is used in most shops. The distributor Is given a set number of magazines to retail outlets. If less than the given amount are sold, the rest of the magazines are sent back. This is expensive for the distributor because many copies go to waste without profit made. There are also environmental issues caused by this process, all the paper used for the unsold magazine is thrown away.

Online publishing

A modern form of magazine distribution is online publishing. Readers usually participate in a subscription, which can be paid or for free. One method of online publishing methods is reading the articles on a website. Another one is a virtual magazine, which you turn the pages and read the magazine as you would with a paper magazine. The non subscripted magazines do not include everything in the magazine that a paying customer would access. Most recently smart phone apps have introduced apps which give customers quick updates and promote the magazines. Also with online publishing no paper costs, placement, distribution costs, , - pay people to get the magazine to the shops. Online publishing eliminates cost such as those mentioned also magazines can be interactive.

Postal subscriptions

postal subscriptions benefit the publishers since they are generated sales and no copies go to waste. Postal subscriptions benefit the customer because the magazines are directly delivered to their houses. Also it is often cheaper buying every issue separate and they often include gifts for subscriptions.

publisher

Publishers are the institutions that produce the magazine. In the UK there are four large publishers, and a number of smaller institutions. The main four are EMAP Bauer, NatMag, Conde Nast and IPC. Each publisher uses a network of distributors, who manage the flow of magazines from the printer to the final news-stand, where the magazine is sold. Magazines are taken in lorries to regional distributors, who then move these on to the news stand.

Freemiums

An increasingly popular method of distribution today is giving out free issues. These are given out at stations or other busy public locations. These magazines make all their revenue from advertising.

Ezines

Ezines are different from magazine websites, in that they are electronic versions of a magazine, with similar features such as pages that can be turned, adverts, page numbers. For music magazines, RWD is a good example. ezines are usually free, and they will have electronic features such as hyper links redirect the reader to another source.

Apps

Many magazines now have smart phone apps with some or all of the content available in the hard copy of the magazine. These may be linked via a smart QR code on the front cover of a magazine. Most magazines now extend their brand online , for example on social networks they have Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.