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Published January 20, 2014 by Wojtek Szywalski

In 2012, there were one billion smartphone users. 2013 saw steady, incremental tablet growth. What will 2014 bring? We gathered expert Tweets for a glimpse into the future of digital and mobile publishing.

When it comes to predicting the direction of digital publishing, you need a keen understanding of global trends and behavioral aspects of magazines’ readers. We have recognized at least three global trends that will help you forecast the future of digital magazines in 2014. In this article, you will learn even more.

iTunes Newsstand pays off


Tweet by @wordsallowed

All of the top 15 (and 44 out of the top 50) highest-grossing lifestyle apps in the iTunes Store are magazine brands (…) Six out of the top ten highest grossing news apps in the iTunes Store are magazine brands, six out of the top ten highest grossing fitness apps in the iTunes Store are magazine brands (…) (iTunes/MPA, data as of Oct. 25 2013). Read more

The mobile market continues to grow, with new and unexpected players appearing


Tweet by @MackCollier

The global smartphone audience surpassed the 1 billion mark in 2012 and will total 1.75 billion in 2014. eMarketer expects smartphone adoption to continue on a fast-paced trajectory through 2017. Read more


Tweet by @Batteryhq

Tesco might be better known for its two-for-one offers on orange juice, but it’s wheeling its trolley into the electronics world with the Hudl. It’s a 7-inch tablet (…) Read More

Giants will join the digital publishing adventure


Tweet by @martinmaynard

Yahoo is making a huge bet on digital magazines about tech and food (…) Digital magazines Yahoo Food and Yahoo Tech were launched with fanfare. “We found our inspiration in magazines,” Mayer said. “They are elegant, beautiful and have a distinctive voice.” (…) And instead of banner or display ads, Yahoo digital magazines will follow the lead of their glossy predecessors and weave clearly labeled advertising into content, according to Mayer. Read more


Tweet by @talkingnewmedia

Facebook to launch news readers (…) the idea is that Facebook would be created the modern morning newspaper, something its millions of users would open first thing every morning. As Facebook does, in fact, have millions of users, the chances that the product will work as a business are quite good. Read more

Critical takeaways:

  • Digital magazines will become more popular in 2014
  • Content marketing instead of shooting ads
  • Content owners will monetize by republishing on mobile devices

There are various reasons publishers choose 1:1 digital replica publishing for mobile devices. Based on discussions with our clients, we can distinguish following reasons:

  1. In print magazines that are seeking cost optimization, digital publishing is a method of content reuse, therefore reducing the bottom line.
  2. Publishers explore new target groups. They evolve faster and increase circulation by accumulating online readers (top line up).
  3. Print on demand needs to speed up the time to market to test business assumptions and to receive fast market feedback.
  4. There are publishers who own rights to titles no longer in circulation, but these publishers see opportunities in reselling back issues. For this publishers going digital, 1:1 print replica is an extraordinary way to achieve cost-effective monetization on content already owned. (By the way, if you know such a publisher, please drop us a line.)

Are you one of them?

Published in Mobile Publishing 101