As an award-winning producer of magazines of all types and formats since 2008, All Media Marketing & Printing offers the following strategies as you plan your organization’s next magazine, directory or publication. Our team of publishing experts are available for consultation and to manage your complete project .
Whether you are just curious about the process, or have a publication planned for your organization, the following information will be helpful.
Managing a publication is no easy task and requires a reliable team of schedulers, designers, writers, photographers, proofreaders, sales reps, and printers.
Thorough planning is the cornerstone to maintaining an efficient schedule and smoother process. Planning well minimizes the stress of putting out fires especially near your deadline. A simple system can be established using three types of documents: the content plan, the flat plan and the production schedule.
Thorough planning is the cornerstone to an efficient schedule and smoother process. Planning well minimizes the stress of putting out fires as you near your deadline. A simple system can be established using three types of documents: the content plan, the flat (page-by-page layout) plan and the production schedule.
Begin with your content plan
The content plan helps outline the editorial, photography, graphics and advertising layout of a publication. Planning content identifies the sections as:
• News – which may include topical material such as events and calendars
• Regulars – include cover, contents page(s), letters, regular columns, etc.• Features – other editorial not covered above
• Advertising
• Other sections
• Also consider unique digital content options
A spreadsheet is useful to list and arrange the articles or items in each section and allocate the number of pages to each. Include space for photos and graphics. Add completion dates for each assignment to the spreadsheet and, as progress is made, mark as completed.
Once the relative sizes of the sections are decided, content can then be created for each section. At this stage focus on the type of content and the space allocated, not necessarily on its position within the publication. Pages can be easily rearranged later.
Design & layout – lasting impressions
First impressions are lasting impressions. An experienced designer can make your publication engaging and visually appealing, and that reflects well on your organization. A professional coordinates colors, contrast, fonts and the overall style that is consistent with your brand and appropriate for the type of publication your are producing. Additionally, a seasoned designer can be hired to create custom templates that your staff can populate with text and photos, if so desired.
Flat plan – knowing what goes where
The flat plan is a page-by-page representation of the whole publication, either as single pages or 2-page spreads. It shows the placement of all articles and advertisements, and in what order they appear. Mark each editorial page with a short description of the content. Blank boxes are ads. Consider:
• ’Hard’ or set pages should not be moved, such as the cover, letter from the editor and the center spread positions.
• Establish the running order of pages and placement of columns, features, advertising, etc.
Pace – engaging the reader
Pace refers to engaging the reader with photos, graphics and content type. It is the rate at which new items are presented as the reader flips the pages. Varying pace by distributing big features and smaller items, with intentional design, for example, can lead to a livelier product.
Production schedule – to manage the process
Production of any publication is about managing resources and staying on schedule. Collaborative use of a production schedule will identify expectations and concerns for everyone on your team and resolve potential bottlenecks. This progress schedule can be accessed by all members of the team for reference, to identify concerns and mark completions.
For questions or consultations contact All Media Marketing & Printing at 321-698-1550 or click on the portfolio link to view examples of our publishing projects.