We're developing the www.magazine-group.co.uk offering and one of the first things we're doing is testing a site specifically for business and professional titles.

Comments would be appreciated on the test site http://www.magazine-group.co.uk/business-magazines/.

We're in the process of developing this to make it more useful to subscribers (and to increase the range of titles), so what would make it work better from your point of view? What's your feedback on it's look and feel? ease of use? What features (as publishers) would you want to see? What features (as customers) would you want to see?

All comments gratefully received (and some of them I might even reply to).

 

Don Brown

Damn! This forum is quiet.

Am a young entrepreneur, currently writing a business plan for a new videogames magazine.

When I checked out your games mags, couldn't believe a subscription to Xbox360 magazine cost £122. It seemed a bit mental. Upon clicking through to the mag's dedicated page, I saw that was for 26 issues. But in the first instance, I had assumed a year's subscription. So although you highlighted the highest on the catagory / thumbnail page, to show the max savings, it just made me think it was extortionate.

Lastly....I'm a bit disillusioned with magazines in general atm. The only one really interesting me at the moment is Monocle. Alas, you didn't have it. =P
But I could subscribe to that from the publisher's website anyway, I guess.

That's my two cents.

A quick look at the publisher page, and I wonder why I would want to pay £14 each time someone subscribes (Is Psychologies magazine paying £14 to recieve £6?). But figure I could contact any one of your currently participating publishers to get a reference on how beneficial working with you has been for them.

I'm not really into B2B titles. The three I get - InCirculation, InStock and MCV, are all delivered to me free of charge.

In short - I'm likely not your target audience, so mine probably isn't the most qualified nor enlightening response. Sadly, it's the only one on this forum so far.

Come on, you lot/the rest of you, ;-) pitch in.

To answer your questions directly...

ThreePM:

what would make it work better from your point of view?

>>>As a consumer, I kinda feel there are lots of titles on stuff I don't know, and unlike at the newsagents, I'm not able to flick through to judge content. In addition, there's nothing else bar subscriptions on the site, so I should only be there if I'm intent to buy. It's not like I'm a farmer deciding to read a tractor website, and then figuring whilst there, I'll buy Tractors Monthly magazine or something. You're only there if you know what you're looking for, or know of key brands in advance, and just want a better deal. So I think all you need is good search engine optimisation, so when I decide in advance I want a subscription to title X, and type it into Google, I land at your site with the cheapest offer.

What's your feedback on its look and feel?

>>>The business one seems similar to the consumer one, but with more "blue" ^_^.

ease of use?

Headed straight to the A-Z complete list. A bit peeved I was then presented with alphabets, as if I could only view one letter at a time, but a quick go on the drop down menu just above the letters, and every title was listed from A-Z. I scrolled through, on the look out for titles I recognised, such as Drapers, or The Week. But dissappointed the mag I'm currently interested in subscribing to (Monocle) wasn't there, and left the site shortly after. Again, I think your visitors already know what they want. And if they're in business, they probably already get a lot of relevant business mags anyway. I wondered why I would want to subscribe to Architectural Record, if I already knew about Architects Journal. But was pleasantly surprised to see Computer Arts there, as I used to get that when it first came out.

I didn't check out the SME/Specialist, etc tabs, as I figured the A-Z list page had already showed me everything in one go. But I noticed the catagories were there, if I fancied clicking on them.

What features (as publishers) would you want to see?

References/testimonials from publishers to convince me you're worth talking to. Maybe some case studies, or more stats on results. Seeing you appearing in google searches for mag subscriptions, some attempt to lure a complimentary audience in? Something like a Facebook app, or MySpace page, I dunno...some form of active marketing. But then it's hard to ask for that, if you're not willing to pay for it.

What features (as customers) would you want to see?

The titles I'm interested in, at a good price, with clear delivery details. Example pages or scans for titles I'm not aware of, or at least, a link to the publisher's website, for me to clue myself up on 'em. The usual share on facebook / digg it / email a friend, etc, links below. So I can drop hints to friends what I want when my birthday comes up. ;-)

Thanks for the responses here and for those of you who contacted me directly. The new site, www.magazinesforbusiness.co.uk has now been soft launched prior to the full launch on Monday.