Getting Organized Magazine and the Future of Publishing
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The explosion in blogging and the Internet in general is really taking a toll on the publishing industry. Many magazines and newspapers that have been in print for many years are moving towards becoming available only online, or closing their doors altogether. I find this really sad, because even though the Internet is a valuable resource, it doesn’t satisfy the senses the same way as curling up with a glossy magazine.
Though the internet is a serious threat, its ephemeral nature is no match for the tangibility of print.
Lisa Maclean, Are magazines really dying?, The Guardian
Since I became involved with the organizing industry over 10 years ago, I’ve seen the launch of three magazines devoted to the topic of organization.
Balance: the magazine about getting and staying organized first appeared in the fall of 2002. As a new organizer, I was very excited to subscribe and looked forward to receiving it in the mail every two months. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was disappointed when it was discontinued after only a few issues.
Organize Magazine came out in June 2007 but, unfortunately, it too only lasted about a year.
It was starting to look as though producing a magazine about organizing just wasn’t a viable enterprise, so I was surprised to learn about the launch of Getting Organized Magazine in January 2012.
Although I was excited to see a great new resource for organizing tips and techniques, based on the early demise of the other two organizing magazines, I wondered how well it would do.
Now, after four years, the magazine has been discontinued, but fortunately, the publishers had the foresight to offer digital subscriptions as well. As a consequence, you can still order digital copies of all of the back issues as well as inexpensive new ebooks.
If you’re not familiar with this valuable publication, I encourage you to check out their website. While you’re there, you can also learn how to get free exposure for your organizing business by contributing content and/or applying to be included in their List of Organizing Experts!
Do you still subscribe to or purchase print magazines? How long do you think they’ll still be around?
This post was originally published in 2013 and has been updated. Photo courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
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Thanks for passing on a discount code for Getting Organized Magazine–it was also a good reminder for me to renew!
I, too subscribed to Balance years ago and was actually a columnist for the short-lived Organize Magazine. Was sorry to see them both go. I hope Getting Organized Mag finds more success in the publishing world than its predecessors.
Unfortunately, the coupon code can only be used for new subscriptions, but I’m glad to have reminded you to renew!
So far, it looks like Getting Organized is doing better than its predecessors – let’s hope it continues. At least they’ve covered their bases by offering a digital version as well!
I have a subscription to the digital version of Getting Organized, and I find I don’t read it. If it were in hard copy, I know I’d at least page through it sitting in a more comfortable chair than the one at my desk.
So what’s the solution? Probably digital magazines have a longer life span due to the lower production cost. Guess I’ll have to change my habits to learn what Getting Organized has to offer.
I generally forget to read stuff that’s on my computer too, and it’s not because I’m ALWAYS in productivity mode when I’m sitting there. Maybe the answer is to earmark certain time slots for reading digital magazines, ebooks, etc.
Hey, I subscribed to Balance and Organize Magazine, too. I’m sad that Getting Organized is going digital only. Too many of my favorite magazines (Budget Travel, I’m looking at you) have done this in recent years. I’m a huge fan of print magazine (though always careful to recycle the prior issue when the new one arrives). I’m going to miss being able to flip through Organize Magazine. I’m just an Old School girl — I like my magazines to have heft.
It doesn’t surprise me that “Paper Doll” likes her paper magazines! I feel the same way. I like to sit down and flip through a magazine.I haven’t actually tried reading one on my iPad though; at least I could do that in my comfy chair instead of sitting at my desk.
Actually, you can’t subscribe anymore. Although it’s a great online resource now, and you can order back (digital) copies, it’s no longer a magazine and all subscriptions have been refunded. 🙁
How did I miss that? Thank you for setting the record straight; I’ve updated my post accordingly.
I’m a die hard magazine lover. With that being said, I’ve let my subscriptions to Canadian House and Home and Real Simple lapse. Why? Because I just didnt have the time to read through them. Every time they arrived in the mail I felt guilty for NOT reading them and letting them pile up.
Well, I got rid of the guilt by getting rid of the magazine.
Problem solved.
I don’t subscribe to magazines anymore either for the same reason, and also because they’re so nice I feel compelled to hang onto them. Now I consider reading them a perk of having to go to the doctor or dentist!
This brings back memories. I remember when Balance came out. I was in the section for ask the organizers. Thanks for reminding me of those fun times.
I pulled out my copies, and it was so fun to see you there, along other organizers I didn’t know then but do now!