Re:Subcompact Publishing
by jpatokal on Monday November 26, 2012 @06:48PM
(#4834667)
I agree with basically everything in this article... except the paid subscription model, which to me seems another instance of pointlessly aping the print publishing world.
In the print world, you have to charge each reader because there's an actual cost associated with producing each physical copy, but this is not the case for digital products, where distribution is effectively free. And since free crowds out paid, it's extremely difficult for a paid digital magazine to build up a following. (Thought experiment: if this article itself had been published behind a paywall, how many would have read it, and would it have ended up on HN?)
Now, of course there is still a cost associated with actually creating quality content. The key to success will be finding a way to pay for it without charging readers and thus kneecapping distribution.
In the print world, you have to charge each reader because there's an actual cost associated with producing each physical copy, but this is not the case for digital products, where distribution is effectively free. And since free crowds out paid, it's extremely difficult for a paid digital magazine to build up a following. (Thought experiment: if this article itself had been published behind a paywall, how many would have read it, and would it have ended up on HN?)
Now, of course there is still a cost associated with actually creating quality content. The key to success will be finding a way to pay for it without charging readers and thus kneecapping distribution.
Too short, read more: http://gyrovague.com/2012/06/28/why-the-web-will-gut-paid-e-...