If you are planning on starting an online magazine, this checklist of features will help you ensure that it is built on strong foundations. Simple feature omissions at the beginning can lead to time-consuming and costly updates later on.
Feature #1 – Excellent Content Management
As a publisher of an online magazine, you must have complete control over adding, editing and removing your content, preferably without having to know any HTML or other technical skills.
Feature #2 – Enable Multiple Revenue Streams
Like offline magazines, you should ensure that implementing multiple revenue streams is simple, including placing adverts, adding affiliate links, charging for subscriptions and selling stuff via your own online shop.
Feature #3 – Member Database
Every online magazine, whether free or paid subscription, needs to have a way of collecting visitor’s names and other personal details. The database should be searchable, exportable and simple to customise.
Feature #4 – Integrated Payment Processing
Payment processing is often added as an afterthought. It shouldn’t be. It is essential to have the capability of processing credit cards tightly integrated into your website so you can use this feature to charge for subscriptions and product sales and generate income from other services.
Feature #5 – Flexible Functionality
When you start an online magazine, you can never be sure of how it will develop. Therefore, you should start with a website that can easily be upgraded and have new functionality added.
Feature #6 – Search Engine Optimization
A lot is said about search engine optimization, but the truth is very simple. You must have a website that is very easy for the search engines to index. If it is easy to find and you keep adding great quality content, the search engines will include you on their results pages. Make sure that the search engines can index every page, including the pages in the password-protected member areas.
Feature #7 – Multimedia Content
Specialist information websites today should have content in multiple formats, including text, images, audio and video. Even if you don’t plan on using these formats today, make sure your website is enabled to use them in the future.
Feature #8 – Relationship Building Applications
Once you get visitors coming to your online magazine, you need to start building a relationship with them to encourage them to return. Applications that enable relationship-building include email newsletters, forums and comment fields under articles.
Feature #9 – Integrated Login and Password Access
Most publishers who launch an online magazine build the website first and then try to add login and password protection later. This is a recipe for disaster. Password protection, which gives members access to premium content, needs to be seamlessly integrated with the member database and content management service from the outset.
Feature #10 – Management Information
You should be able to easily access all the information about how your website is performing in a single web statistics management report. This should include the number of visitors and pageviews; the time spent on the website and the most popular pages; where your traffic is coming from and much more. Only when you have this information at your fingertips will you be able to understand the needs of your customers.
Feature #11 – Monitoring, Security and Backup
Publishers often overlook the importance of having secure flexible hosting with automated backup. Most websites, including the leaders like eBay and Amazon, have downtime. You need to minimise the risk of failure by regularly backing up all your content.
Feature #12 – Simple Control Panel
As you will see from the above list of features, a good online magazine is made up of lots of different applications. If possible, the service you choose should have all (or most) of the applications run from a single, easy-to-use control panel.
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Pets
Wild Animals
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Bodyart & Tattoo
Photography
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Travelling and Hotels
Holidays and Vacations
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Accounting & Auditing
Financial Planning
Insurance
Credit & Collections
Financial Services
Investing
Personal Finance
Banking Services
Board Games
Card Games
Arcade & Coin-Op
Gambling
Online Games
Roleplaying
Video Games
Other Games
History
Law and Issues
Military
People
Politics and Government
Relationships
Religion and Spirituality
Sexuality
Cycling
Equestrian
Events
Golf
Other Sports
Martial Arts
Motorsports
Strength Sports
Tennis
Track and Field
Team sport
Water Sports
Winter Sports
Livestock
Animal Health
Pets
Wild Animals
Art History
Bodyart & Tattoo
Photography
Arts Education
Performing Arts
Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Agriculture & Forestry
Automobiles & Motorcycles
Chemicals & Allied Products
Construction & Maintenance
Consumer Goods & Services
Energy
Environment
Food & Related Products
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Management
Publishing & Printing
Telecommunications
Textiles & Nonwovens
Transportation & Logistics
Business Creation & Development
Domestic Services
Translation Services
Clothes and Shoes
Fashion and Accessories
Jewelry and Watches
Wedding
Gifts
Toys
SEO and SEM
E-Commerce
Advertising
Affiliate Marketing
Branding
Direct Marketing
Internet Marketing
Mailing Lists
Market Research
Marketing Software
Public Relations
Sales
Telemarketing
Web Hosting & Domain Names
Web Design & Development
Making Money Online
Directory
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Computer Repair & Consulting
Data Communication
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Graphics and Multimedia
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Medicine
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Gardening
Home Improvement & Furniture
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Natural & Physical Science
Computer Science Education
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Music and Radio
Collecting
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Outdoor Activities
Travelling and Hotels
Holidays and Vacations
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Accounting & Auditing
Financial Planning
Insurance
Credit & Collections
Financial Services
Investing
Personal Finance
Banking Services
Board Games
Card Games
Arcade & Coin-Op
Gambling
Online Games
Roleplaying
Video Games
Other Games
History
Law and Issues
Military
People
Politics and Government
Relationships
Religion and Spirituality
Sexuality
Cycling
Equestrian
Events
Golf
Other Sports
Martial Arts
Motorsports
Strength Sports
Tennis
Track and Field
Team sport
Water Sports
Winter Sports
Livestock
Animal Health
Pets
Wild Animals
Art History
Bodyart & Tattoo
Photography
Arts Education
Performing Arts
Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Agriculture & Forestry
Automobiles & Motorcycles
Chemicals & Allied Products
Construction & Maintenance
Consumer Goods & Services
Energy
Environment
Food & Related Products
Employment & Work
Industrial Goods & Services
Management
Publishing & Printing
Telecommunications
Textiles & Nonwovens
Transportation & Logistics
Business Creation & Development
Domestic Services
Translation Services
Clothes and Shoes
Fashion and Accessories
Jewelry and Watches
Wedding
Gifts
Toys
SEO and SEM
E-Commerce
Advertising
Affiliate Marketing
Branding
Direct Marketing
Internet Marketing
Mailing Lists
Market Research
Marketing Software
Public Relations
Sales
Telemarketing
Web Hosting & Domain Names
Web Design & Development
Making Money Online
Directory
Electronics and Electrical
Computer Repair & Consulting
Data Communication
E-Books
Graphics and Multimedia
Hardware
Mobile Computing
Programming
Security
Software
Systems
Technology
Gadgets
Healthcare
Addictions
Alternative Treatment
Beauty and Cosmetics
Child Health
Conditions and Diseases
Dentistry
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Medicine
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Pharmacy
Reproductive Health
Weight Loss
Women's Health
Real Estate
Consumer Information
Cooking and Culinary
Family
Gardening
Home Improvement & Furniture
Exact & Formal Sciences
Social & Empirical Sciences
Natural & Physical Science
Computer Science Education
Anomalies & Alternative Science
Education & Reference
Education and Training
Movies and Television
Music and Radio
Collecting
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Literature and Libraries
Outdoor Activities
Travelling and Hotels
Holidays and Vacations
Amusements & Attractions
Accounting & Auditing
Financial Planning
Insurance
Credit & Collections
Financial Services
Investing
Personal Finance
Banking Services
Board Games
Card Games
Arcade & Coin-Op
Gambling
Online Games
Roleplaying
Video Games
Other Games
History
Law and Issues
Military
People
Politics and Government
Relationships
Religion and Spirituality
Sexuality
Cycling
Equestrian
Events
Golf
Other Sports
Martial Arts
Motorsports
Strength Sports
Tennis
Track and Field
Team sport
Water Sports
Winter Sports
Livestock
Animal Health
Pets
Wild Animals
Art History
Bodyart & Tattoo
Photography
Arts Education
Performing Arts
Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Agriculture & Forestry
Automobiles & Motorcycles
Chemicals & Allied Products
Construction & Maintenance
Consumer Goods & Services
Energy
Environment
Food & Related Products
Employment & Work
Industrial Goods & Services
Management
Publishing & Printing
Telecommunications
Textiles & Nonwovens
Transportation & Logistics
Business Creation & Development
Domestic Services
Translation Services
Clothes and Shoes
Fashion and Accessories
Jewelry and Watches
Wedding
Gifts
Toys
SEO and SEM
E-Commerce
Advertising
Affiliate Marketing
Branding
Direct Marketing
Internet Marketing
Mailing Lists
Market Research
Marketing Software
Public Relations
Sales
Telemarketing
Web Hosting & Domain Names
Web Design & Development
Making Money Online
Directory
Electronics and Electrical
Computer Repair & Consulting
Data Communication
E-Books
Graphics and Multimedia
Hardware
Mobile Computing
Programming
Security
Software
Systems
Technology
Gadgets
Healthcare
Addictions
Alternative Treatment
Beauty and Cosmetics
Child Health
Conditions and Diseases
Dentistry
Fitness
Medicine
Mental Health
Nutrition
Pharmacy
Reproductive Health
Weight Loss
Women's Health
Real Estate
Consumer Information
Cooking and Culinary
Family
Gardening
Home Improvement & Furniture
Exact & Formal Sciences
Social & Empirical Sciences
Natural & Physical Science
Computer Science Education
Anomalies & Alternative Science
Education & Reference
Education and Training
Movies and Television
Music and Radio
Collecting
Humor
Literature and Libraries
Outdoor Activities
Travelling and Hotels
Holidays and Vacations
Amusements & Attractions
Accounting & Auditing
Financial Planning
Insurance
Credit & Collections
Financial Services
Investing
Personal Finance
Banking Services
Board Games
Card Games
Arcade & Coin-Op
Gambling
Online Games
Roleplaying
Video Games
Other Games
History
Law and Issues
Military
People
Politics and Government
Relationships
Religion and Spirituality
Sexuality
Cycling
Equestrian
Events
Golf
Other Sports
Martial Arts
Motorsports
Strength Sports
Tennis
Track and Field
Team sport
Water Sports
Winter Sports
Livestock
Animal Health
Pets
Wild Animals
Art History
Bodyart & Tattoo
Photography
Arts Education
Performing Arts
Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Agriculture & Forestry
Automobiles & Motorcycles
Chemicals & Allied Products
Construction & Maintenance
Consumer Goods & Services
Energy
Environment
Food & Related Products
Employment & Work
Industrial Goods & Services
Management
Publishing & Printing
Telecommunications
Textiles & Nonwovens
Transportation & Logistics
Business Creation & Development
Domestic Services
Translation Services
Clothes and Shoes
Fashion and Accessories
Jewelry and Watches
Wedding
Gifts
Toys
SEO and SEM
E-Commerce
Advertising
Affiliate Marketing
Branding
Direct Marketing
Internet Marketing
Mailing Lists
Market Research
Marketing Software
Public Relations
Sales
Telemarketing
Web Hosting & Domain Names
Web Design & Development
Making Money Online
Directory
Electronics and Electrical
Computer Repair & Consulting
Data Communication
E-Books
Graphics and Multimedia
Hardware
Mobile Computing
Programming
Security
Software
Systems
Technology
Gadgets
Healthcare
Addictions
Alternative Treatment
Beauty and Cosmetics
Child Health
Conditions and Diseases
Dentistry
Fitness
Medicine
Mental Health
Nutrition
Pharmacy
Reproductive Health
Weight Loss
Women's Health
Real Estate
Consumer Information
Cooking and Culinary
Family
Gardening
Home Improvement & Furniture
Exact & Formal Sciences
Social & Empirical Sciences
Natural & Physical Science
Computer Science Education
Anomalies & Alternative Science
Education & Reference
Education and Training
Movies and Television
Music and Radio
Collecting
Humor
Literature and Libraries
Outdoor Activities
Travelling and Hotels
Holidays and Vacations
Amusements & Attractions
Accounting & Auditing
Financial Planning
Insurance
Credit & Collections
Financial Services
Investing
Personal Finance
Banking Services
Board Games
Card Games
Arcade & Coin-Op
Gambling
Online Games
Roleplaying
Video Games
Other Games
History
Law and Issues
Military
People
Politics and Government
Relationships
Religion and Spirituality
Sexuality
Cycling
Equestrian
Events
Golf
Other Sports
Martial Arts
Motorsports
Strength Sports
Tennis
Track and Field
Team sport
Water Sports
Winter Sports
Livestock
Animal Health
Pets
Wild Animals
Art History
Bodyart & Tattoo
Photography
Arts Education
Performing Arts
Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Agriculture & Forestry
Automobiles & Motorcycles
Chemicals & Allied Products
Construction & Maintenance
Consumer Goods & Services
Energy
Environment
Food & Related Products
Employment & Work
Industrial Goods & Services
Management
Publishing & Printing
Telecommunications
Textiles & Nonwovens
Transportation & Logistics
Business Creation & Development
