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APPLICATIONS OF CONTRACT PUBLISHING

Using contract publishing, business owners are able to take advantage of a really unique marketing method, and it allows them to be creative with the messages they want their clients to hear about, too. For example, you can advertise upcoming business events long in advance, release news about your brand that clients would otherwise be unaware of, and create brand awareness and familiarity with your customers by sharing personal interviews with yourself and your employees in the magazine.

Having a company magazine also means that your readers will likely have to stop what they’re doing and dedicate specific time to reading your content. This is a huge benefit over other forms of marketing, as you’ll have your customers’ total undivided attention whilst they’re engaging with your magazine. Without realising it, most people encounter thousands of branded marketing messages a day that they’re only conscious of for short amounts of time (such as billboards, TV commercials and radio adverts). However, by using a dedicated magazine, you can ensure that you’ll have captured your market’s attention for much longer than if you’d marketed to them via another type of media.

Having a physical magazine can also work similarly to other forms of print marketing, such as leaflets or posters, but can be used in more versatile ways. For instance, if your attraction has its own magazine produced via a contract publishing relationship, having a stand to dispense copies to visitors leaving your attraction will ensure they’ll still be thinking about your brand after their trip. Alternatively, you can enter into an agreement with a local business (such as a supermarket, shop or museum) to stock copies of your magazine, increasing the chance that people will take a copy home with them.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

As part of our publishing agreement service, businesses can have as much or as little input as they’d like in the works published. We handle every element of the magazine’s production inhouse, from content writing, to proofreading, graphic design, printing, and delivery - all within your desired time period and delivery date! Some of our clients choose to supply us with lots of helpful information about what they’d like featured in their upcoming issues, where as some would rather just have final say when the editorial has been written.

Contract publishing is a bold and inventive marketing strategy that can be tailored to virtually any customer-facing business. We’re always more than happy to take on new clients who are ready to take their marketing to the next level by using our contract publishing service. To find out more about how contract publishing could serve your brand, or if you’d like to establish your own contract magazine, get in touch with us today!

TAKING STOCK OF YOUR OPTIONS

How to choose the best paper stock for your campaign.

When it comes to choosing a paper stock for your marketing needs, there are a surprising number of factors that you’ll need to take into consideration. What do you want your paper to physically feel like to the reader? How heavy should your paper be? How thick do you need each individual page? Don’t let all the choices confuse you! We’re here to help you choose the best paper stocks for your campaign.

The term “paper stock” refers to the type of paper used for a printing job. Usually, there are 3 major considerations that businesses have to take into account: paper weight, whether the paper is coated, and the paper’s finish.

WHAT IS A PAPER STOCK? PAPER WEIGHT AND SIZE

One of the most important attributes when choosing the right paper stock is to decide upon how light or heavy your product needs to be. Most UK businesses use paper sizes that correspond to the ISO 216, which provides a sizing standard that’s easy for everyone to follow. The most well-known type of ISO standardised size paper is an A4 sheet, but there are other sizes too, ranging from A0 to A10.

The weight of this paper is measured in grams per square meter (GSM), so a big sheet of paper like A3 is always going to have a higher GSM than a smaller one, like a size A5.

The unit of measurement for paper thickness is called a “point” (written as pt), and one point is equal to one-thousandth of 0.001 inches. For example, paper with a thickness of 20pt is going to be 0.02 inches thick.

PAPER WEIGHT GUIDE:

75 – 90 GSM

This is usually the standard GSM for things like notebooks

90 – 100 GSM

This is the standard thickness for common printer paper

120 - 140 GSM

This is usually the GSM range for hanging posters

210 – 300 GSM

This is bendable thick paper, used in magazine covers and quality leaflets

350 – 400 GSM

Incredibly stiff paper usually used in business cards for durability

Generally, thicker paper is seen as studier and more dependable, and although this is usually a positive thing, you’ll need to decide upon which paper size and thickness is appropriate for your project.