Toolkit for
Digital Publishing Awesomeness
Ready, set, go! To make your transition into publishing on Issuu as seamless as possible, we’ve filled this toolkit with everything you need to find success using the platform. We’ll show you just how easy it is to upload, share, measure and monetize from your digital content using Issuu’s tools and features. 1. Creating publications 2. Preparing docs for upload 3. Uploading and publishing 4. Sharing far and wide 5. Growing and engaging with social 6. Using statistics 7. Generating revenue from publications
Photo Credit: 57 Degrees
Photo Credit: Blush Magazine
1. C REATING PUBLICATIONS
So where do I start? The hardest part of digital publishing is putting your content together. If you still have some work to do, that’s okay! Whether you have a magazine, creative work to showcase professionally, a catalog or just the idea of trying something new, we’re here to help.
1.2 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Get inspired. Get your daily dose of inspiration by reading Stories on Issuu. Our publishers have got you covered on everything from music to fashion to arts and more. Later in this toolkit, you’ll learn more about how to create Stories of your own.
1.3 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Define your brand. Be sure readers can recognize your brand and content by designating certain colors or fonts as your own. Stick to one writing style or viewpoint, so your readers have no question it’s coming from you.
Photo Credit: Artful Living Magazine
1.4 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Be consistent. Whether it’s your voice, branding or timing, be the publication you say you are. If you are a vegan food quarterly, be sure your hummus recipes come out four times a year. Consistency is key when you publish: readers want to be able to rely on you.
Photo Credit: ALIVE Magazine
1.5 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Be genuinely yourself. Figure out what you do better than any other publication, and keep doing it. Don’t get lost trying to copy another publication — just be yourself. There’s a reason your audience chooses to read your content.
Photo Credit: Santa Barbara Life & Style
How do I prepare for upload? Photo Credit: Local Wolves
2. PREPARING YOUR DOCUMENT FOR UPLOAD
Little details matter. Publishing on Issuu begins with uploading. Once you upload, we automatically convert your publication to display beautifully on desktop and mobile. Sometimes, uploaded documents fail during the conversion process, which typically happens when the document is not properly prepared. Here are guidelines to ensure your uploads are a success:
File size
File naming
Layout
Files must not exceed 500
Readers will see your
Use single-page spreads only.
pages. If you’re on a Basic plan,
document’s name in the
Our system automatically
documents cannot be larger
URL and other places on
converts all documents to
than 100MB. For Premium, the
Issuu, so instead of “final_
double-page spreads, so if you
maximum file size is 500MB.
draft_magazinename_date_
upload your publication with
version1234x.pdf,” be
double-page spreads, each
descriptive.
spread will show up as four pages. Not good.
When exporting to PDF, check for the following: Pages Our system will turn your publication back into spreads. Tagged PDF This helps Issuu optimize your publication. Hyperlinks Checking this box will allow us to auto-detect the page-to-page, web and video links in your document.
Exporting We prefer PDF files, but Word (.doc), PowerPoint (.ppt), OpenOffice (.ods,
Having trouble getting your document to upload
.odp), WordPerfect (.wpd), Rich Text
properly? This article will help solve the most
Format (.rft) and StarOffice (.sxi,
common uploading problems, as well as prevent
.sxw) are OK too. If using InDesign,
issues with your future uploads.
download our Export Preset to ensure your PDFs are Issuu-ready when exporting.
3.2 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Issuu Templates We’ve got a great set of downloadable magazine and catalogue templates to help jump start your publishing career. With spaces for photos, videos, text and ads, these templates are perfect for anyone looking to convert their content or start creating from the ground up.
3.3 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Video Premium/Optimum users can now embed Youtube and Vimeo videos directly onto pages in their publications, adding a seamless viewing experience for your readers. Head to the Link Editor from your Publisher Workflow to get started. Basic/Starter plan users can also add videos as pop-up overlays.
3. U PLOADING YOUR DOCUMENT TO ISSUU AND PUBLISHING IT TO THE WORLD
Welcome to the big time. Uploading There’s two ways to upload once you’re signed in: first, you can click “Upload” from the top navigation on Issuu.com. When the uploader window loads, drag and drop your document into the window, or click the “Select a File” button to search for it on your machine. Or, for the simplest way, just drag and drop your document into any open Issuu browser window. Really, that’s it.
Photo Credit: Debate Magazine
3.2 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Publishing Once the upload process completes, you’ll need to add a few details about your publication so it can be properly introduced to the world.
Publication name Use a name that’s short and sweet, but descriptive enough to distinguish it from your other publications.
Description Write a short, clear description of your document so readers can discover it.
Original publishing date In most cases, your publishing date will be the same as when you’re uploading. When uploading back issues or ones slated for a future release, enter the actual publication dates.
Preview option Designating your publication as a “Preview” means most of its contents won’t be displayed to readers. This cannot be changed, so be sure it’s what you want.
Visibility If you want your publication to be unlisted, choose “Private” and only those you share the URL with can view it. This can be changed if you decide to make it public.
Photo Credit: Dress to Kill Man
Premium features Unlock Issuu’s Premium features to include detected links within your publication, allow readers to download it, or schedule your publication for a future publishing date.
3.3 C REATING PUBLICATIONS
Draft Mode Customize your publication’s information and settings even before uploading. Your changes are automatically saved in draft mode so you can come back and make changes later.
Scheduling New Game of Thrones out the same day you want to release? No problem! Premium/Optimum users can now schedule publications by the hour to time exactly when your content drops.
Back-Date & Re-Ordering You can now backdate and re-order your past publications, eliminating the need to delete and reupload publications.
Once everything has been entered, click the
“PUBLISH NOW” button. That’s it! You’re a digital publisher. Photo Credit: BENTO
4. D ISTRIBUTING YOUR DOCUMENT TO THE LARGEST AUDIENCE POSSIBLE
Hello world! Once published, your document is automatically viewable on Issuu everywhere — on desktops, tablets and smartphones around the globe. With that in mind, it’s important to ensure your work looks great across all platforms. Our world-class publisher tools help grow your audience by letting you embed a publication on your site or blog, or by sharing socially.
Mobile
Linking
Embedding
Audiences love to read Issuu
Email your publication link
Embed your publication on your
via their mobile devices. Our
to subscribers, post it to
site or blog. Visit the “Publisher
award-winning apps make it
your blog or share it on your
Tools” section of Issuu.com,
easy no matter what device or
social channels. Premium
find your publication in the list
OS readers are using, so be
users have the option to
and select “Embed” from the
sure to download our iOS and
share a standalone reader
list of pull-down menu options.
Android apps and cross-check
link, which means readers
Once you decide how it will
your publication on multiple
won’t see community features
look, simply copy and paste the
platforms, including desktop,
(Follow, Info, Share, Add to
embed code into any HTML
tablet and mobile.
and Like) or sidebar- related
editor and your publication
publications.
will be displayed in a fully functioning Issuu reader on your site or blog. Learn More.
https://www.brooklyntweed.com/
Printing We may be a digital publishing platform, but that doesn’t mean we don’t understand the power of print. Our print-on-demand services allow you to print anywhere from one to 1,000 copies for distribution. Learn more about the print requirements and how you can order your printed publication.
5. O PTIMIZING YOUR POSTS FOR EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
It’s all about social. Now that you have a general idea about sharing your publication, let’s talk specifics. Here are tips and tricks to optimize your content for several top social platforms.
Pinterest Pinterest is a valuable social platform because it’s evergreen. Unlike other channels, Pinterest posts will circle back and gain new viewers for years to come. Use our custom Pinterest graphics to grab the attention of a brand new audience.
Instagram Utilize your feed and Stories to showcase the best of your publication, share behind the scenes looks and connect with new audiences. Switch things up by using our GIF creator in addition to static images to keep your brand fresh.
LinkedIn LinkedIn is the most professional of the social networks. It’s a great place to show potential employers or colleagues your hard work by embedding Issuu publications right on your LinkedIn profile page.
Facebook With Facebook, there isn’t a character limit or image limits. Use images and video to engage your audience and stop scrollers in their tracks. You can also embed Issuu content in Facebook posts by simply inserting the link, which will produce an Issuu reader. You can also deploy our Facebook App.
Twitter Share your publication, images, GIFs and videos –– but also use the platform to your advantage. Pose questions, retweet similar content or share links that pertain to you. Posts with media tend to do best, so include visual content often as you can. Learn more about how you can optimize on Twitter.
5.2 O PTIMIZING YOUR POSTS FOR EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
GIFs for Social A GIF, or moving image file, can help your content stand out on any social platform. With Issuu’s Share as GIF tool, it’s easy to create, customize and share your publication as an animated GIF — perfect for social media or email!
5.3 O PTIMIZING YOUR POSTS FOR EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
Stories on Mobile Now, you and your readers can share individual Stories on any social network — the most targeted way to share. That means more of your content gets shared, more frequently, with every Story. Stories are optimized for mobile, so readers get the best reading experience on any device — beautiful spreads for big screens, slick scrolls for mobile screens.
5.4 O PTIMIZING YOUR POSTS FOR EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
Stories on Desktop Issuu Stories are shareable sections from your publication to give your audience a focused look at what’s inside. Highlight and name individual sections from your publication, including stories, spreads, products, or chapters. Tease your content to audiences on Issuu and on social to take them beyond the cover.
Using Stories • Click Social Tools in your publisher dashboard • In the “Story Sharing” tab, select which issue you want from the dropdown • Select the pages you want to share and add a title and description for your section. • Share your Story using our social tips
5.5 O PTIMIZING YOUR POSTS FOR EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
Promoted Impressions Looking for an extra boost in distribution? When you purchase promoted impressions, we feature your publication on our homepage, where you’ll have the opportunity to reach our 100 million+ unique visitors per
Photo Credit: Man of Metropolis
month. Learn more.
Photo Credit: Modeliste Magazine
6. U SING READER STATISTICS
Power in numbers. Up-to-the-minute stats are available for all your publications, such as number of clicks on a cover or percentage of readers on mobile versus desktop. This data can really help you better understand your audience, as well as increase potential rates you can charge advertisers.
Track
Analyze
Monetize
Find out exactly where your
What you do with the
With print, there are very few
audience is, what devices they
information you gain from
numbers you can bring to
are reading on and which parts
Statistics is incredibly important.
potential or current advertisers.
of your publication they’re
Have a large percentage of
Publishing on Issuu, however,
reading most. Is your audience
your readers on mobile? It
means having deep Statistics
mostly from a certain region?
would be wise to explore design
at your fingertips whenever
What pages get the most
changes geared toward viewing
you need them – whether it’s
shares? Are the majority of
your publication on Issuu’s
for your media kit or your next
readers on mobile or desktop?
mobile apps. Are the majority
pitch. Use your numbers to
Every tidbit you can glean
of your fans located in Japan?
attract new advertisers and set
about your audience takes the
Schedule your next publication
higher ad rates. Or, let current
guesswork out of what content
release for the middle of
advertisers know how many
they’ll love.
their workday, instead of when
people saw their ad or how
they’re asleep.
long they stayed on the page.
7. H OW TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM YOUR ISSUU PUBLICATIONS
Digital Sales As an Issuu publisher, you’re armed with tools to leverage your hard work and unlock additional revenue for your business. Monetizing publications can help deliver the resources to improve your final product, as well as speed up production times. This can mean buying new computers, hiring staff, paying for better photographers and illustrators, taking more time off work — anything, really, to keep your publishing empire growing. Learn more about Digital Sales
7. H OW TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM YOUR ISSUU PUBLICATIONS
Cha-ching! Shopping links In-Publication Shopping Links allows viewers to click through. Whether it’s your own marketplace, an e-commerce site or your preferred affiliate program, these links are an easy way to monetize your publications. Shopping links are differentiated from other links with a special shopping icon, which lets readers know something is available for purchase.
Advertising sales Create a proposal for advertisers using your Issuu Statistics. Focus specifically on the number of readers, their demographics and time spent reading. While Basic users have access to limited stats, Premium publishers enjoy statistics all the way back to their original publication dates. These are numbers you just can’t get with a print publication and physical distribution. Learn more.
Photo Credit: Modeliste Magazine
An
We hop the digi If you s at supp
Keep in #IssuuL social p
Photo Credit: Dainty Obsessions Magazine
Remem
nd that’s a wrap.
pe this guide has brought you closer to becoming ital publisher you have always wanted to be. still need a hand, reach out to our support team port@Issuu.com.
n touch during your journey with the hashtag Loves and follow @Issuu on your preferred platform.
mber, Issuu is here for you and because of you.
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