Comments on: How to Use a Magazine to Improve Your Blog [Day 24: 31DBBB]

By: ExcitedByLife

ExcitedByLife — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:01:24 +0000

Slightly off topic. But we went back to Australia recently (after spending several years living in Hong Kong) and it was interesting to see how much the type of magazines in Newsagent stands has changed. We we astonished by the amount of fitness and tattoo/body piercing magazines – rows of them. Image is now very important in “she will be right, mate” Australia.

By contrast in Hong Kong most of the magazines are games/gadgets/photography for the boys and gossip/fashion magazines for the girls.

Nevertheless, whatever the culture the same benefit laden short headline format still works – as well as beautiful smiling happy models on front covers.

By: abercrombie and fitch

abercrombie and fitch — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:13:07 +0000

This is a good idea, I hadn’t thought about doing this but it is a wonderful way to get your readers involved. I will definitly try this out on my own blog. Thanks

By: Nicole (Three By Sea)

Nicole (Three By Sea) — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:31:42 +0000

This is an interesting exercise- when I picture my ideal blog, I picture it as a mix of two of my favorite magazines. So I’ll be looking for more ways to integrate what I love about those mags into my blog.

By: Viviana

Viviana — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:25:33 +0000

I am always reading magazines. I cut out anything that I might be able to use for my blog, put the pages in plastics sleeves in a binder for later reference.

I have started looking a bit further a field, as in looking magazines from other countries for recipes and tips. You never know what you many find.

Great assignment.

By: elizof

elizof — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:48:34 +0000

Excellent concept!
I read lots of magazines and it was great to read them from an new perspective. I have been incredibly busy and somewhat out of the loop lately… I have enjoyed the process and plan to continue beyond the 31 Days. Thank you Darren!

By: Funny Wedding Speeches

Funny Wedding Speeches — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:02:44 +0000

Great ideas. I had never thought about using magazines and blogging together. Great fresh ideas.

By: Selboy

Selboy — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:01:11 +0000

I am always reading magazines here at my home. But I haven’t think of learning from them before. But it’s still the best time to start reviewing magazines just like the other bloggers who joined the 30 days lessons in blogging.

By: Ecommerce Help - Tyrone Shum

Ecommerce Help - Tyrone Shum — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:06:32 +0000

I was always fascinated by way magazine covers always stand out by the dull, gray paperstands at store. Usually, I am attracted to a magazine because of its cover model and the features that the cover bears. Once I bought it, I always marvel at the way their editors have put it together starting from the table of contents until the last page. Sometimes one title will fail to attract me or would sound boring to me but over all, magazines were like creative portfolios waiting to be opened.

Formatting your site or blog like a magazine will indeed challenge you, however, I think it will bring out the best ideas from you and will become more appealing to readers as well especially when it comes down to how different authors write various articles with including fun yet not losing the main concept.

By: Elena

Elena — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:31:04 +0000

I am pretty much in agreement with the others here. I was inspired to do my blog because I was such a reader of Dog Fancy in the past. Dogs are one of the topics I never get tired of. I have to tell you the detail and research you put into these posts is fantastic. Keep up the great work.

By: se7en

se7en — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:28:47 +0000

I cannot believe I am managing to keep up with 31-DBBB, the tasks are just enough to challenge my thinking but not so much as to be overwhelming! This is by far my favorite task!!! and I am planning to spend the afternoon deep in magazines… why read one when there are so many more! Here is my latest project update: http://www.se7en.org.za/2009/05/01/se7en-and-probloggers-31-dbbb-part-4

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:56:59 +0000

Great article, great ideas. I’ve started reading through a few magazines and have gotten fantastic ideas for posts. I like taking that a step further and looking at the marketing aspect for some new, fresh ideas.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:12:27 +0000

This article is a fantastic idea for me. I was just trying to think of ways to attract readers.

My site is about weight loss and my personal journey with it, however, there is sooooo much competition its hard to make a site like mine more interesting reading.

Thanks for this really great idea!

By: Make Money Online

Make Money Online — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:32:33 +0000

I do keep magazines out with me of topics I write to have a clue about how they write and thus not really copy them but try to do it better.

By: Clara Mathews

Clara Mathews — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:19:39 +0000

This is a great assignment for me, since I am planning to design both of my blogs this weekend. I am switching over to Thesis. I hope I can come up with 2 simple, yet appealing designs.

By: shannon

shannon — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:00:39 +0000

what a great post! i love this idea. so easy to do and use, but never thought of it!

By: dcgrrl

dcgrrl — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:50:03 +0000

I love this idea, Darren. I’ve got a giant pack-rat sized stash of magazines, and this is a wonderful use for them. I have a feeling I’m going to add to my editorial calendar as I go through them and get a lot of other great ideas. Thanks!

By: InternetHow

InternetHow — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:56:22 +0000

Nice idea. I also use magazines that are written in another lnguage. I translate what they say into English. As I translated from foreign language to English, it kind of becomes a unique article.

By: Nicolas Prudhon

Nicolas Prudhon — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:28:55 +0000

I did use a bit of that technique as inspiration in the past but never to the extend you did, it’s definitely worth a try!

Sometimes it helps me also to get inspired for content to write about.

By: Developerholic

Developerholic — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:15:05 +0000

Oh my! This is such a great idea, never thought of that. I certainly love the giveaway idea~ But my problem would be the shipment cost. Oh well :)

Cheers,
Meg

By: Paul Odtaa

Paul Odtaa — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:28:17 +0000

Most magazines have an interesting websites section. I would email the editor with details of your site.

The letter should be brief, two paragraphs at the most.

However after the signature put a section further details and then put what is effectively a short article on your site. So it can be easily cut and pasted into a short article.