A powerful custom magazine cover is the key to hooking your readers. In this issue of Engage, we focus on the front cover — what can you do to make sure you grab your readers' attention every issue? Don't forget to check out the latest launches, and our video interview. If you get even one idea, we'd like to think Engage is worth reading (and now, watching)!

industry buzz

Green Equals Green
Readers will always love their traditional "eco-indifferent" magazines, but they may be willing to pay more for eco-friendly ones. Click here to find out how being an environmentally conscious production can put some extra green in your pocket.

Recession-proof Your Pub
Surviving during these tough economic times requires ingenuity, multimedia savvy, and willingness to try new things. Click here to find out how magazine publishers nationwide are keeping their balance sheets in the black.

A New Way to Video Search
New search engine technology and video-search sites such as VideoSurf are making it easier than ever to find relevant online video. Speech recognition technology, overall viewing numbers, and user ratings are allowing search-engines to deliver exact matches for video inquiries. According to a recent Ipsos Media Report, overall online video usage has dramatically increased in the last year.

Disclaimer: Access to some sites may require registration.

diamond in the rough

Open Sesame! Secrets of Great Magazine Covers

Your custom magazine may not be competing on the newsstand, but it is competing for your audience's attention. Busy readers need a compelling reason to stop, open your magazine and spend quality time engaging with your content. That's where a great cover comes into play!

According to Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, creating a strong cover takes three key ingredients: a great story, a compelling image, and a benefit — what's in it for your reader? "If you can put all that together and deliver your message fast and at 20 yards out, you'll have a great cover," says Keith. In an exclusive interview, Keith offers additional cover secrets for custom media professionals.

Watch Keith's video interview

So what does it take to have a great cover? There is a need to create the right balance between words and images. In the case of the American Society of Magazine Editor's 2008 Cover of the Year, New York magazine found that balance by using just one image (of former Governor Eliot Spitzer) and just one "strategically placed" word. The result? A clever cover audiences can't help but open.

A look back at some of the greatest magazine covers of the last 40 years offers insights into more ideas—and opportunities. Try thinking out-of-the-box and breaking with traditional formulas for shocking results. Poster-style photographic covers offer high visual impact, as does experimenting with metallic inks and/or unexpected color palettes. Don't be afraid to try new ideas that will resonate with your readers.

Want more inspiration for creating great covers that your readers can't refuse to open? Check back in two weeks for additional video footage from Keith's interview. In the meantime, be sure to take a look at our latest best practice guide:

Connect    High Impact Custom Magazine Covers.

Engage    Share your own cover tips here!

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