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Digital magazines

How to improve digital magazine engagement

Find out which stories, formats and sections your readers value, with a short question at the end of every story, and give more of each issue to what works.

The problem

Most magazine engagement figures measure attention: page views, time on page, newsletter opens. A long read can hold a reader for ten minutes and still leave them feeling it was not worth it.

Reader surveys go out once a year and come back with general opinions about the magazine. They rarely say which stories in the last issue landed, or which formats to do more of.

How it works with Asklet

  1. 01

    Add one snippet to your story template

    Paste one iframe after the story body in your template. Every story gets the widget, including back issues, and nothing needs adding story by story.

  2. 02

    Ask a question that fits each section

    Use path patterns such as /features/*, /reviews/* or /interviews/* to give each section its own survey: "Was this story worth your time?" on features, "Did this help you decide?" on reviews.

  3. 03

    Compare formats with themes

    Track your stories as pages and give each a theme such as "Long reads", "Interviews" or "Essays". Then compare whole formats as well as single stories.

  4. 04

    Use the answers when you plan the next issue

    Bring the results to the planning meeting: more of the formats readers value, a fix for the ones they rate low, and follow-ups on the subjects they ask about.

/features/* example path pattern

Questions to start with

  • Was this story worth your time?
  • Would you like more stories like this?
  • Which section do you usually read first?
  • What should we cover in the next issue?

What you get

  • See which stories and formats readers value, as well as which ones they open
  • Plan each issue around the formats readers rate highest
  • Follow up on the subjects readers ask about in their comments
  • Compare sections month by month with the same question and date range

Common questions

How do you measure engagement for a digital magazine?

Combine attention figures, such as time on page and returning readers, with a direct measure: the share of readers who say a story was worth their time. The first shows what readers opened, the second whether it was worth it.

Does the widget work on paywalled stories?

Yes, if the snippet is on the page readers see. Put it after the story body, so only readers who can read the story are asked about it.

Will a question at the end of a long read annoy readers?

It appears after the story, it does not cover the text, and answering takes one tap. Readers who do not want to answer simply scroll past it.

Do readers need to accept cookies or sign in?

No. The widget sets no cookies and uses no tracking identifiers, and readers answer anonymously without signing in.

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