B&N Opens Digital Revenue Streams with How-To Site
Barnes & Noble’s just-launched how-to site, Quamut.com, offers edited guides on more than 1,000 topics (it’s a diverse roster; everything from iPods to beagles). According to Publishers Weekly, Quamut’s free online guides are supported by display advertising and the sale of downloadable PDFs ($2.95 each) and laminated charts ($5.95). Some charts will also be sold through B&N stores.
Magazine Courts High-End with Price and Production
As publishers look to cut costs and go digital, Monocle magazine is choosing a different route — it’s using high-end production and big prices to differentiate itself: “We’ve demonstrated that format (trim size, paper stock) is more important than ever in a digital age. At the same time we’ve challenged the subscription model and convinced readers to pay more for quality — Monocle’s subscription is 50% higher than its cover price,” says Monocle editor-in-chief/chairman Tyler Brule.