Mark Pasetsky's Cover Awards

Jeremy Davis, a partner at Format-Studio, says, “Treat your digital division as a separate business and dedicate the right staff and resources to make it a success.

If you launch a magazine, it costs tens of millions of dollars. And while you may not need to spend that kind of money to launch a digital strategy, publishers need to understand that they are now also in the software business.

At least a third of their online effort requires designing and building new applications in order to compete not only with other publishing web sites, but also Internet-only brands that are much more nimble, and in many cases have had a big head start.”

For more information on Format-Studio, which helps publishers build long-term publishing strategies, please click here.

Jeremy Davis, a partner at Format-Studio, tells CoverAwards that “Advertisers are not only interested in integrated campaigns, but they also know that run of site campaigns are not producing the kind of results that they did just a few years ago.

The trend is toward sites that enable advertisers to reach vertical niche markets where the click through rate is considerably higher. Publishers will find the more specific the audience, the higher the cpm rates that they can charge.”

For more information on Format-Studio, which helps publishers develop digital publishing strategies, please click here.

A Q&A with Format-Studio’s Jeremy Davis

The publishing industry is under enormous pressure on all fronts.

One of the biggest issues of 2008 continues to be the Internet and how to develop a successful long-term digital publishing strategy.

CoverAwards sat down with Jeremy Davis, partner Format-Studio, which has worked with leading publishers including New York Magazine, New York Times, Prevention, and Glamour, among others.

CoverAwards:  What is the right way for a publisher to develop its digital strategy?

Jeremy Davis:  Every publisher needs to step back and think about what their core value proposition is and how they can leverage it to make money. 

Whenever possible, publishers should be thinking about how to leverage their current brand and content, but there are also times when they need to think about new ways of reaching their audience that doesn’t necessarily replicate how they present themselves in print. 

A good example of this can be seen in publishing sites that make effective use of user generated content.

CoverAwards:  How should a publisher develop a digital publishing strategy?

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Taste of Home is best known for its recipes, but what’s driving its online growth?

“It’s all about community,” says Jeremy Davis, Format-Studio partner, the agency that oversaw the digital strategy, architecture and visual design of TasteofHome.com.

Davis adds, “We found in our research that many of Taste of Home readers love the recipes from the magazine, but were also searching for like-minded people on the Taste of Home site.”

As a result, Tasteofhome.com features forums, groups,  blogs, and other community features. 

The site is also very easy to navigate and you can find all types of recipes — even for those with restricted diets. There’s a tremendous amount of dessert recipes as well as a featured recipe of the day.

The “field editors,” who are people that send in recipes to the magazine, are a big part of the success of Taste of Home magazine, and are also featured on TasteofHome.com.   

If you’re looking for a web site featuring mouth-watering recipes and a robust community of foodies, check out TasteofHome.com, the online extension of Taste of Home.

For more information on Format-Studio, click here.  

Taste of Home is best known for its recipes, but what’s driving its online growth?

“It’s all about community,” says Jeremy Davis, Format-Studio partner, the agency that oversaw the digital strategy, architecture and visual design of TasteofHome.com.

Davis adds, “We found in our research that many of Taste of Home readers love the recipes from the magazine, but were also searching for like-minded people on the Taste of Home site.”

As a result, Tasteofhome.com features forums, groups,  blogs, and other community features. 

The site is also very easy to navigate and you can find all types of recipes — even for those with restricted diets. There’s a tremendous amount of dessert recipes as well as a featured recipe of the day.

The “field editors,” who are people that send in recipes to the magazine, are a big part of the success of Taste of Home magazine, and are also featured on TasteofHome.com.   

If you’re looking for a web site featuring mouth-watering recipes and a robust community of foodies, check out TasteofHome.com, the online extension of Taste of Home.

For more information on Format-Studio, click here.  

I’m excited to let you know that Format-Studio has signed-up to be a premiere sponsor on CoverAwards.com

Format-Studio (www.format-studio.com) works with publishers to help them develop long-term digital publishing strategies.

They have  impressive experience, including New York Magazine, New York Times, LeMonde, Prevention and others.  

CoverAwards will be organizing events with Format-Studio related to digital publishing strategies.  We’re already organizing a panel for early summer.  Stay tuned for more details!

I’m excited to bring you the first in CoverAwards’ Publishers’ Digital Strategy series.

We will be examining how successful publishers are creating digital strategies that help their brands grow while continuing to strengthen their print offerings.

In order to provide you with the highest level of expertise and knowledge in this area, CoverAwards has formed a strategic alliance with Format-Studio (format-studio.com), which develops digital strategies for publishers.

Today, Andrew Lerner, a partner at Format-Studio, talks to CoverAwards about People.com, which recently won Adweek’s Best Web Site of the Year.

We asked Andrew to tell CoverAwards why People is such a dominant force online and here’s what he had to say:

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