As you develop your publishing plans for 2008, consider budgeting funds to measure reader engagement. This type of research is becoming more of a "must" than a "should." In the November issue of Engage, we spotlight reader engagement and ask "Are you giving your target audience what they need?" We also interview the Senior VP of Scripps Media (yes, the Food Network and HGTV folks), who is a guru of measuring engagement. Don't forget to check out the new launches, and take a look at one publication that sums up the best news of the week. If you get even one idea, we'd like to think Engage is worth reading.

industry buzz

Catch Up! Speakers at the American Magazine Conference urged magazines to come from behind on integrated marketing, before a lackluster online efforts cost them readers and heavy-hitting talent. Read more...

Rock and Read For the first time ever, Rolling Stone published its current issue cover to cover online—and FREE. The publisher gets extra credit on integrated marketing: Rolling Stone online gets an "audience push" from a blog. Take a look.

This Week... While some newsweeklies are experiencing a decline in readership due to busy and hectic lifestyles, one weekly publication is seeing just the opposite with double-digit growth over the last year. The Week "riffs through all the content in the known universe and digests it into a form that can be disposed of in 20 minutes."

Play Fair
Sharing content is one thing. Sticky-fingered stealing is another. Now Attributor software can track your content—articles, pictures, videos—across the Internet and alert you to unauthorized uses. Get the details...

Brand Fans
Facebook announces a new advertising initiative to let its users sign up as fans of the brands they love and refer them to friends. Can a social network work as a brand-referral network? Some publishers are betting it can. Find out why...

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diamond in the rough

Measuring Engagement
by Judy Kirkland

Keynote Competitive Research just completed the world's first study to measure the engagement levels of promotional micro Web sites. Beyond traffic and clicks, this study probes how users engage with new media, aside from clicking, registering and making transactions.

Publishers already know the value of engagement, with metrics showing that readers typically spend 30 minutes browsing a single issue of a magazine. Now, online tools can help organizations discover what exactly will make their content valuable to readers and advertisers. In fact, by combining both online and print metrics, content providers have all-new power to identify their most valuable readers while connecting sponsors with highly targeted advertising placements.

From "readers" to "responders"

With the average reader's attention being pulled in so many directions, it's no longer enough just to gather metrics on reach, readership and membership. By also measuring engagement, you get the insights necessary to increase subscriptions, site registrations, and ad revenues. Plus, you have proof that your content is motivating your audience to remain loyal and active.

Want to learn more about how readers and website visitors are interacting with your content? These sources will get you started:

1. Future Now offers an excellent article on how to measure engagement for your specific site, plus a ready-to-use Metrics toolkit.

2. Measure Map shows you what people do at your blog and the influence it is having. It's easy—and free!

3. TMG Checklist: 5 Ways to Measure & Maximize Engagement

Connect: 5 Ways to Measure & Maximize Engagement

Engage: Do you have a tip for increasing or measuring print/online engagement we haven't covered in our checklist? We'd love to hear from you! Click here

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