After the successful launch of all three of our network magazines, I’ve now had some time to assess their functions and advantages better.

Today, I’ve been able to go around the Syntagma Media network of 50 sites, selecting pieces to be showcased in the mags. What immediately struck me was the fantastic range and depth of interests the network covers. Even I was impressed, and I put it all together in the first place.

My point is that the three mags throw a sharp focus on the sites and their content in a way that a sprawling array of 50 domains can never do. Judging by the remarkable stats we’ve had for Allusionz and Phi, many visitors think so too.

Another advantage is that they give a big boost to less trafficked sites, which of necessity all large networks have. In a magazine portal presentation, your least visited site can be seen sitting alongside your most visited, benefiting in the process. Each magazine, although wide-ranging in terms of topics, attracts a similar kind of reader, and connections will be made and traffic driven that wouldn’t happen otherwise. It really does work.

So, what is a “network magazine” and how does it differ from other magazines online? Here’s my definition :

A network magazine is a content platform that brings together a range of websites on multi-domains from the same network, and which are of interest to a similar readership.

They also aspire to adopt print media values and quality, mainly through using experts in their field with a track record of writing offline. No publication can survive with a bunch of duffers.

I’ve no doubt there are many other subtle advantages with the format that I’m not seeing just yet. The only disadvantage is that it adds more work to an already crowded day.

But, to paraphrase the ads : I do it because they’re worth it.

The three Syntagma Network Magazines are :

Allusionz (Arts and Philosophies)
21st-century Phi (Sciences and Future Technologies)
LifeTimes (Lifestyles and Celebrities)