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Readers Involvement
October 23, 2007

I recently came across a magazine Delivery put out by the United States Postal Service.
An article in the November 2007 issue caught my attention, “Tools of Engagement - magazines turn to on line social networking tools to keep readers involved” written by W. Eric Martin.

The article states magazines have communicated with readers in what has amounted to a one way conversation. I have never thought of the written word as a conversation. To have a conversation you need at least two people. Writers present information and as a reader we absorb the information. It is possible to respond to the editor and sometimes the writer provides contact information.

Many magazines offer an on-line version. It amazes me that some people prefer reading articles on the computer. I still like the paper copy so I can read in bed, in the car, anywhere I have a few minutes. Some think the printed word will go away. What would people do in all of the waiting rooms if there were not magazines and books? Have you been to a Barnes and Noble lately or the Half Price Book store, they are busy and stay open late to accommodate their customers.

Magazine readership is up, 168 million in 2001 to 184 million in 2006, according to the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA). From 2003 to 2007, according to the MPA, the number of consumer magazine web sites has increased by two-thirds, up to nearly 6,000 websites.

These companies are not just publishing old material in a new format. They are reevaluating and revamping the reader-publisher relationship, adding Blogs, RSS feeds to strengthen readership on line and off.

Writing Blogs for Purchasing.com has been a challenge. You always look for things of interest. Some interesting statistics, a change in your work, an event you have attended. I was hoping to receive more feedback on my blogs. Maybe you need a real controversial article. The really great thing is to believe someone will read what you write. I receive feedback from people where I least expect it. They don’t reply to my blogs, however they will put a note on an email that they have been reading my blogs. Also sometimes in a casual conversation someone will mention my articles. It is not always positive; a couple of my friends are totally against the start up of blogs. Hey, we can’t please everyone so don’t try.

Posted by Mary Walker on October 23, 2007 | Comments (0)