Number One Best Place to Work In Pa is No Surprise to Us

On Thursday, December 1, we had the honor of winning the #1 Best Place to Work in PA out of 65 small- to mid-sized companies (25-250 employees). Make no mistake, it is a big deal to make the list of 65 at all: Pennsylvania is a large state with a lot of businesses. The process for narrowing down the list is rigorous, starting with getting the employee’s perspective, then factoring quantifiable benefits and employer information. 

And though, when they counted down the list and finally named our company as #1 we exploded into cheers and applause, it was more from pride than surprise. Since its inception, Nxtbook Media’s owners have actively and intentionally created the best place to work. As CEO Michael Biggerstaff put it, they try to make Nxtbook, "the place we always wanted to work but could never find." Being one of the top 3 companies to work for the past 4 years is proof this mentality pays off.

Of course the success of this business depends wholly on everyone’s participation in making it great. Winning #1 is simply an external representation of the pride everyone takes in their jobs. When we get to work, it isn’t to drudge through 8 hours and go home. We care about what we do, about serving our clients, creating work we can be proud of, and about caring for each other. Think about how much better it is to work with someone who is glad to be where they are (and have an award to prove it) rather than trying to get through to someone in less optimal conditions. (Think of "Peggy" in those customer service commercials.)

So the next time you call us, you can be proud that you’ve partnered with the best company to work for in the state of Pennsylvania.

You Might Think You’re Ready for Folio

You might think you’re ready for the Folio: show next week. Your bags might be packed, your tickets purchased and reservations made. But are you ready for the mind-blowing presentations we’ve got lined up for you?

For instance, our booth (#602) is going to have a special surprise for you, involving iPads, technology, and a lot of personality. Watch the sneak preview video here:

 

Don’t forget, Marcus is revealing the top 7 digital editions we found this year. Who knows, it might even be YOURS. Check it out to see who earned the honors. We’ll be in the "Wilder" room, 4th floor, at 10:35 am.

If nothing else, stop by and say hi. It’ll be great to see you.

 

Are You Going to Folio?

Man, I sure hope so. It’s going to be a fun time, including awesome key note presentations, a free Nxtbook sponsored run by City Running Tours and much more.

If you’re there, please be sure to check out my session entitled, 7 Sensational Digital Magazines for 2011. Rather than talk about what’s new at Nxtbook, we thought it would be more fun to shine the spotlight on YOU this time around, and show what publishers are currently doing to create some of the coolest titles of the year.

If you’re not going, we’ll try to somehow capture the magic on SlideShare or some other way, but do yourself a favor and hit the big apple next week! 

Stand Out Next Trade Show Season

It’s not easy to stand out during trade show season. Trade shows are still popular ways to gather thought leaders and vendors to share knowledge and products related to an industry. The trick is creating a value that sets you apart to both attendees and vendors.

Nxtbook clients have approached this many different ways. The American Association of Endodontists, for example, created a digital exhibit prospectus for sponsors and advertisers which made it easy for sponsors to find and print necessary documents for the event. They also created an animation which made it easy for potential sponsors to view the floor layout page, enabling it to flip vertically and horizontally so buyers can get a good look at the floor space available.

Georgia Tech went a different direction. They decided to focus on integrating a cutting-edge interactive show agenda in their brochure to connect attendees with networking opportunities before the show even began.

The Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium set itself apart by creating a screen-friendly design with optimized fonts and optimized layout so attendees could access the information on any digital device.

Your approach to differentiating yourself from the competing shows might look completely different from any of those samples, but one thing is clear: digital editions are a key platform for achieving that goal.

Questions Answered from the Education Webinar

Just yesterday, Nxtbook was proud to be a part of a webinar held by University Business which delved into digital editions in the education industry. If you missed it, you can register here to listen to the archived event. After the webinar, some people submitted questions, and I wanted to take a moment to address them here as more than just the webinar attendees may be wondering the same things.

"I have noticed flash mentioned a few times. Will this work on iPhones or iPads?"

Yes! We offer several options to get your materials on iOS devices, including web and native apps. You can check out one native app example by going here and downloading it to your iPad or iPhone.

"Would you consider replacing some web pages/sites with this format – or duplicating information on both?"

This question was originally directed at speaker Sherri Miles who talked about what Suffolk University did with their website and digital edition. (Click here to hear her presentation.) However, Nxtbook has long recommended that you consider digital edition a separate platform. Some of our clients do duplicate the information, but they’ll add extra content in the digital version. Other clients are successful by using the website to drive traffic to the digital edition for further information (like Sherri mentions), and vice versa. The two platforms work best when they complement each other, but each has its own separate value offering.

"What does a successful model look like? What kind of investment is required for every 10,000 viewers we could attract?"

That is a very specific question! We have clients who are very successful in what they do; the key is knowing how you define success. If your definition is to attract 10,000 views, then you need a model that focuses on circulation. If your definition of success is getting alumni to donate $10,000, then your strategy is going to focus much more on making getting reader feedback (and money!) seamless. The best way to get more information about success stories or to process what ROI means for you, get in contact with one of our Success Managers. Their job titles alone should tell you they know about successful models.

"Would a text-only version, or otherwise accessible digital publication, also be available online?"

Yes. We provide accessible versions for those who would like to offer that as a service to their readers. Additionally, you can offer your readers BOTH options, like Bold Voices did here, giving readers the ability to flip pages normally, or to click the "Text View" button in the toolbar to see the text pulled out.

"Will I get a copy of these presentations?"

Absolutely. Check your inbox for an email from us.

Digital Catalog Webinar LIVE in a Week

Next week, September 27 at 2:00pm EST Multichannel Merchant in conjunction with Nxtbook Media is offering a strategy-based webinar for everyone who has ever published or ever considered publishing a digital catalog. (Click here to register.)

In this webinar, two speakers will share their stories about what worked and what didn’t when approaching digital catalogs. You can expect to hear some of the following:

  – Why going digital works: Discover why these companies ultimately decided to go digital, and how their catalogs work with – and surpass – other media

 - Which features matter: With all the bells and whistles available today, hear which ones make a difference in these real scenarios

 - How it all comes together: From production to publishing, learn what processes and benchmarks to use, and how to measure your success

Custom Publishing for Marketers

Right now, as I type, fellow blogger Marcus Grimm, creative services project manager Andrea Bierly, CEO Michael Biggerstaff, and sales director Eric Gervase are all attending this first Content Marketing World event hosted by Junta42. It is the first event of its kind, and we’re proud to be there.

People from a variety of industries have gathered to discuss one of today’s business’ primary concerns: content. As was tweeted and retweeted this afternoon, "If 10 years ago content was king, then today it’s the whole deck of cards." (Originally uttered by Gary Spangler at the show.) Content creation’s primary objectives are to trap viewers’ attention, engage people, and to separate the brand from the competition.

Sound familiar? Publishers are facing these same issues. That is why we are there. With custom publishing solutions, your content is made into a new and interactive experience for readers. If you can dream it, chances are we can make it happen. Custom publishing moves your content beyond the old media into something that grabs your readers’ attention. It expands into new roles in publishing, content marketing, and brand journalism.

To learn more about custom publishing ideas, you can attend this archived webinar hosted by Folio: or contact one of us here to see examples of creative solutions our in-house designers and developers have created for clients.

To keep up with the Content Marketing World event via twitter, follow #cmworld and "hear" some of the conversation circulating the floor. For a small view of the first day of the show, check out this video.

 

(Hint: if you look closely, you can see all 4 Nxtbook representatives!)

Receiving Recognition for Core Values

It is always a privilege to be recognized for something done well, and it’s even sweeter to receive attention for practices you’ve worked to achieve. These past few days, Nxtbook has enjoyed recognition in a couple different arenas, highlighting some of the aspects that make this company great.

Today, for instance, Nxtbook Media’s iPhone app was listed as one of “The 10 Best iPhone Apps for Keeping Current.” It was listed alongside apps such as CNN, Wall Street Journal, and NYTimes.  According to this website, you can, “Stay in the know with lots of insider apps from the world of business, sports, politics, music, fashion, and more.” Considering our nxtstand catalog contains magazines from each of these industries, I guess that would definitely qualify us as a relevant app!

On Thursday and earlier today, Chris Gentri, one of the representatives here, attended the Florida Magazine Association Publishing Conference and Expo to spread the word about digital publishing. Chris was asked to speak at this event on the topic of Integrated Marketing Packages in one of the breakout sessions. (Read the overview here.) Look for a more in-depth post on this topic next week!

Also on Thursday, Nxtbook Media was featured in a local newspaper article for our unique perspective on dress code and business. Our creative styles and relaxed dress code is part and parcel of who we are at Nxtbook, as mentioned by CEO Michael Biggerstaff in the article: "We are creative here and want our employees to express this creativity," Michael Biggerstaff, chief inspiration officer, said. "We want them to be comfortable and not feel like they can’t be themselves. Their work speaks for itself; it doesn’t matter what an employee wears, as long as he is putting out great work."

Being recognized for three different business values core to Nxtbook – quality products, solid knowledge base, and a creative approach to business – is an honor I just had to share.

The Day the CEO Became a Barber

Not everyone would be willing to grow his hair out for 3 months to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Even fewer people would also volunteer to be subjected to a haircut by whoever raised the most money for the cause.

At Nxtbook Media, we have a hero who volunteered to do just that. Success Manager Adam Grim started growing his hair in May and continued to let it run wild through yesterday, August 2. For three months the competition at Nxtbook for the honor to cut his hair was fierce, with coins spilling into the collection jar at the office. Ultimately, CEO Michael Biggerstaff won the rights to creatively cut and style Adam’s unruly mane.

Watch the process by clicking the image below, or by clicking here.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Adam is currently a little shy of video conferences and one-on-ones with clients. Of course, now might be the perfect time for you to call him and ask his advice on a strategy that can only be solved face to face.

As the whole point is to raise money for Alzheimer research, click here if you’d like to donate to a worthy cause. Nxtbook Media will continue to run fundraisers to support Alzheimer’s Association throughout the year.

Custom Media Day Play by Play

Yesterday, the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) and Custom Content Council (CCC) hosted Content Media Day, an event for those looking to monetize marketing and create quality custom content. Our very own Custom Media Sales Director Eric Gervase attended the event and provided us with a play-by-play of the day. Click below to follow the trail of breadcrumbs Eric left behind, and maybe learn something new about custom content:

 

Can’t click the image? Click here for the link.

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