#FlipboardChat Summary: Dailies, Weeklies and Monthlies on Flipboard

Gabriella Schwarz / June 9, 2015

Every Wednesday evening, members of the Flipboard Club—an unofficial group of passionate evangelists—hold a Twitter chat about a Flipboard-centric topic. The chats are usually so informative and inspiring that we thought we’d summarize the tips, tricks and ideas discussed each week and let you know what the next topic is going to be. (Tomorrow night’s topic is “Study Abroad with Flipboard.” Join in the chat at 7pm PT / 10pm ET via the #FlipboardChat hashtag on Twitter. If the time zone doesn’t work for you, join their Facebook group to stay in the loop.)

Last week, participants chatted about Flipboard Magazines that are published on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Here’s what they said:

Q1. What are your favorite daily, weekly or monthly publications past, present, online or in print?

• @NatGeo @TIME @voguemagazine @ParisMatch
• I have always been a huge magazine reader. I used to edit magazines. Since childhood, faves included National Geographic.
• @espn, SI, @HailVarsity #tokenguytweet.
• Definitely a fan of the @nytimes. My dad always read it so it was a staple in our house. Also, mags like @ConsumerReports.
• Favs: @Flipboard’s ’10 for Today’, @NewYorker, @TIME, @HBR, @people, @TheLunchRead, @Medium Daily Digest.
• I love the print editions of @NYMag & @TheAtlantic & flip.it/theweekend.
• Kinda old school, but read @WSJ in print when I can.
• Outdoor Photographer, Texas Highways, Cooking Light and Martha Stewart Living used to be monthly subscriptions.

Q2. What are the benefits of updating a Flipboard magazine using a defined editorial calendar?

• Editorial calendars allow both you and the readers to organize your time around the scheduled updates.
• Also, I discovered this about “dailies.” What a great excuse to push a mag every DAY w/o being annoying.
• Having consistent, quality content would develop consistent readers, I would think.
• Magazine stays focused and is manageable for readers.
• Predictability! If your readers know you publish a new edition daily, weekly, etc., they’ll know when to look.
• Consistency can be key for followers. When they can expect something, they’ll regularly come back.

Q3. What are the challenges faced when curating a Flipboard magazine with an editorial calendar?

• Curating and creating awesome content on a schedule, every time, without disappointing anyone! No pressure 😉
• So the “flip” side of the good of an editorial calendar can be problematic: You need to flip on schedule.
• My struggle with the one I do for my school district is relying on others for content. Some days it’s not available.

Q4. What are the best ways to alert Flipboard readers when you release a new edition of a periodical?

• Twitter is always great…and if you keep on schedule, people will expect your tweet.
• Share on social media, flip into a magazine. Share on #FlipboardFriday for starters
• And if you have a newsletter with subscribers, you can announce it there.
• Alert readers by changing the cover photo with every new edition and promote afresh! Just like print mags do.
• You can also put the magazine widget on your blog or website when there are updates.

Q5. How important is it to indicate a Flipboard periodical’s updating schedule in the magazine’s title?

• Readers will understand better what you’re doing if you tell them it’s a periodical in the description.
• Very important! If I don’t know when you update your mag, how will I know to check?
• If you don’t give people the proper info and invite them to do an action, it’s a wasted opportunity.
• #LessonLearned: It helps build readership when readers don’t have to check your description to know what you’re doing.

Q6. What are your best tips for co-curating with a team on a Flipboard magazine with a defined schedule?

• Communicate!! Make sure everyone’s on the same page and if you can’t maintain your commitment, let someone know.
• Goals, assignments, accountability.
• Use an organization app like Asana or something similar to keep your team organized. Schedule tasks.
• Be clear about the calendar, flipping schedule, expectations and criteria for the mag. Ask questions. Communicate.

Q7. Dailies, weeklies, monthlies or annuals—which ones have the greatest potential on Flipboard and why?

• Depends on the subject matter and your audience. You wouldn’t post new World Series mags weekly.
• I think they all have potential because people like dailies, weeklies, monthlies for different reasons.
• I would say dailies and weeklies (if possible) so it’s more likely to become a habit for people
• On Flipboard, dailies and weeklies win because of Flipboard topics! The more often you curate, the wider your reach.
• Dailies—I am on Flipboard daily, a better chance of me remembering to check daily then 7 days, or 30 days from now.

Q8. What are some creative ideas for daily, weekly, monthly or annual Flipboard magazines?

• You know what would be great: alumni magazines. They should be on Flipboard.
• An idea I got was to create a Flipboard Mag for my school district curating online news. Will embed in our new website soon.
• Supplement a brochure or newsletter, for a class that meets on certain days, or a show that airs on certain days.
• Event magazines are always fun and engaging. Especially reunions!
• Seasonal fashion magazines, “This Month in History” kind of magazines.
• I work with brands, so monthly newsletter magazines. For food one, weekly meals, recipes….
• Lots! “Daily Office Photo” or “Beer Friday Update” by companies. Or a monthly photo journal for a growing new baby.

Don’t forget to join the #FlipboardChat this week: the topic is “Study Abroad with Flipboard.” Start chatting on Twitter on June 10, 2015, at 7pm PT / 10pm ET, or come back to this blog for an update.

~GabyS on behalf of the Flipboard Club
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