Zinio PGS Group Launches Online Resource Center For Publishers


Zinio Resource Site Keeps Readers Informed of Industry News and Provides Digital Publishing Tips

San Francisco, CA (June 24, 2008) - Zinio, the leading online publishing, distribution and retail services company, announced today the launch of the Zinio industry resource center. The site, managed by the company's Publisher Growth Services (PGS) Group is designed to educate the publishing industry on the growth, continued adoption and best practices relating to digital publishing.

Zinio's PGS Group helps publishers develop effective online marketing programs for the digital versions of their publications. Programs typically focus on the distribution growth of and consumer brand extensions of digital titles. Today, a number of print publishers rely on the strategic guidance and expertise of Zinio's PGS Group to help them further the reach of their digital editions, including Bonnier, Hachette Filipacchi and Playboy Publishing. "Over the past eight years, publishers have relied on Zinio to help them sell and deliver their digital magazines globally. We have been able to demonstrate over and over again that consumers are interested in paying for the high quality content and creative published, regardless of how it is presented for reading." Said Rich Maggiotto, Zinio CEO "With digital publishing continuing to grow, we wanted to do something that would help continue to grow the adoption and success rates within the industry."

With the launch of the Zinio industry resource center, the PGS team can expand their expertise. The industry resource center offers readers insight into the latest research and news in the digital publishing market, case studies, best practices and even an Ask the Expert section. For publishers with experience in digital editions, the site provides a consolidated feed of digital publishing information that will act as a one-stop shop to keep them abreast of the latest news and trends in the industry. The mission of the site is for it to actas a resource for publishers looking to take initial steps towards developing digital editions of their publications.

Currently, the site features the following sections:

  • Ask the Expert
  • Case studies
  • Digital Publishing News
  • Events & Activities
  • Zinio news
  • Open forum through comments

"We're committed to the success of our publisher partners by providing tools, insights and guidance which allows them to effectively promote their magazines digitally," said Eddie Coffey, director of the PGS Group. "This resource center was created in response to the high demand we receive from publishers, and demonstrates our desire to help publishers create an exceptional digital reading experience for everyone. We want to inspire publishers not yet in the digital realm to get their feet wet, with the resource center offering the ideal starting point."

One example of the types of real learnings a publisher can benefit from is the case study on Playboy Publishing. . Playboy wanted to sell international versions of its magazine in all markets. Zinio's eCommerce platform allows for international editions to be sold globally, according to the language preference of the reader. For example, Mexican Playboy sells more copies to Spanish speakers in the U.S. than in Mexico. Now, approximately 50 percent of the digital copies are sold in international markets. "We hope this case study will be recognized as a demonstration of the types of success available to publishers in today's market" said Coffey.

"Working with Zinio's PGS Group, we customized a successful marketing program for the digital version of Playboy," said Phyllis Rotunno, senior vice president of subscription circulation for Playboy Enterprises. "We're able to offer digital editions of our magazine, produced in several languages, opening the door to many more readers worldwide. International versions are no longer limited to the countries where they are produced, and Zinio's technology and understanding of the market was ideal for our launch into digital media."

The Zinio Industry Resource Center is live at http://blog.zinio.com. More information about Zinio's PGS Group can be found at http://www.zinio.com/publishers.