Shortly, printed media will cease to exist. Nowadays, almost everyone has a cell phone in their pocket, and about 70% of them use the screen to read content. That's what digital publishing solutions mean. Although it may not seem like it, digital publishing is a way to disseminate content through computers. It's not just about online publications or e-books. You don't need to be a well-known commercial publisher to create and share your digital magazine online.

Continue reading to learn digital publishing and how to create digital content in the age of apps and mass media.

What is digital publishing?

Digital publishing, broadly speaking, is the dissemination of any kind of content through computer-based digital platforms. Naturally, other digital gadgets such as smartphones, smart TVs, and e-book readers can also be called “computers.” This does not include the digitization of print material; it can also refer to YouTube videos, blogs, wikis, memes, and Google Play mobile apps. However, it usually refers to any traditional content published online.

A digital publisher is a person or organization that produces and distributes digital content online, whether it's for financial gain, brand or cause promotion, education, or to share knowledge with the world. If you have a blog or simply a Twitter account, that automatically makes you a digital publisher. Digital publishing software production has become the norm, and in many countries, computer games are almost always sold online. 

The Internet infrastructure in the United States is so inadequate that many customers find it more cost-effective to buy games on DVD rather than using a digital publishing platform like Steam. As a result, there are still a lot of hobby stores and physical game stores in the country. But sometimes, you might be surprised to find out how common digital publishing is.

The term "digital publisher" is generally used to refer to business publishers who create various kinds of digital content, such as e-books, digital magazines, online catalogs, apps with articles, and social media content. They may rely on Amazon's self-publishing platforms, Kindle Direct Publishing and Kindle Reader, or comparable alternatives in other countries. 

Other examples are MP3 songs that are accessible through iTunes or the Apple Store, as well as games, books, and apps that are available on websites such as Steam or Google Play. Since audio content is a rapidly growing online content category, audio information is a growing segment of online content.

Why move to digital publishing?

After a long history, print media is slowly dying out in the 21st century. The number of print magazines has declined steadily over the past ten years, as print advertising revenues have fallen. Many traditional media have gone online, with varying degrees of success. The e-book market is growing, and the barrier to entry for digital publishing is much lower.

As the younger generation becomes accustomed to digital technology, electronic and digital publications are rapidly replacing traditional print media. Traditional newspaper and print publishers do not provide instant access to knowledge and information, which the younger generation has become accustomed to. Thanks to online publishing, consumers can easily find breaking news, search for information instantly, and view visual media.

Visual and video media have taken over the online landscape in recent years. Many of the most prosperous digital publishers know how to use infographics and visual aids to showcase their innovative content. The claim made by many pessimists that “young people don’t read” is not entirely true. Even if they don't read books or online publications, they seem far more effective at absorbing information. 

Naturally, the real problem is how digital publishers can train them to distinguish between high-quality content and fiction or fake news. Still, the younger generation appears to be more tech-savvy and skilled at news analysis than the older generation.

What is a digital publishing platform?

Digital publishing platforms are a set of technologies that facilitate online content presentation, such as a website, service, or mobile application. Typically, this digital content consists of text, online books, comics, or catalogs. Through these channels, you can distribute your excellent content in a digital format that is easy to read on computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Tribotz - Your #1 Stop for Digital Publishing

Tribotz is a great example of a digital publishing platform capable of creating interactive digital publications in the widely used flipbook format. Using Tribotz to create digital publications is quite simple. The first step is to submit a PDF file, which could be your business proposal, an e-book, a presentation, or any other digital publication. Without the need for a mobile app, Tribotz will instantly convert it into a stunning HTML5 flipbook that you can view online.

Tribotz allows you to utilize all the benefits of digital publishing while sharing your digital content with the world. As we mentioned earlier, multimedia information, such as additional image galleries, links to other blog entries, and movies on YouTube or Vimeo, can easily be added to your digital publication.

Like many other online publishing platforms, Tribotz offers you a suite of powerful digital marketing tools, the main ones of which are a subscriber tracking system and a comprehensive analytics suite. You can modify your publications or other digital media based on who accessed your content and how much time they spent reading it, thanks to Tribotz. This enables you to create even better online content for your readers and enhance your content marketing!

What's the difference between a digital publishing platform and a content management system?

All kinds of digital content can be delivered on a website using a CMS. In a way, a digital publishing platform can do just that – it lets you publish your media to a specific blog or app. However, digital media is published online through a variety of digital mediums these days. The simple website you get using portals and search engines has been replaced by a variety of digital distribution technologies, including APIs, mobile apps, podcasts, social media, and more.

A content management system displays content through a specific website, but a digital publishing platform typically offers a single primary channel, such as flipbooks with Tribotz. While digital publishing can be safely delegated, managing your content typically requires a CMS.

How to make money from digital publishing?

Of course, you may also be a non-commercial digital publisher and host a podcast about vintage video games or a blog about your favorite prog-rock band from the 1990s. That's fantastic, and sharing your digital content with the world will be a lot of fun.

However, most profit-based digital publishers aim to profit from their work. These publishers currently use three primary business models. The most important is paying for content: digital magazine subscriptions, memberships, and e-books are all examples of this publishing strategy. Your digital media is published online and treated as a paid good. 

For example, you can sell premium content to your Patreon supporters and sometimes make large amounts of content available for free. The subscription-based digital publishing model serves consumers who are willing to pay a specific amount for exclusive, high-quality content.

Even if your brand is unusual, digital publishing solutions platforms can be a great way to spread your message. Digital publishing can distribute branded content about your business and raise your profile. You can also create digital magazines that encourage your friends to express themselves, promote your brand, and build a community on social media. 

Digital content like online magazines and e-books can also help build a social media presence. If you can create content that people will want to share, even if it’s unrelated to your primary offering, you’re halfway there! This is especially important if you have multiple apps or products to market under different brands.