Web Design for Magazine Publishers
What makes a site compelling? What make it engaging? What about your site makes it accurately reflect your print magazine? Well, the first thing you need to understand is what kind of website do you have (or should you have)?
If you think your website will look as polished and refined as your magazine you're either way off or have a long way to go with your magazine's design.
One of the biggest incorrect assumptions that magazine publishers make when it comes to digital is the mistaken expectation that the web will be as attractive and naturally immersive as print - if it were you would not be able to run a magazine.
The web presents some unique challenges in design whereas print is simple - see the attached graphic that was created nearly a decade ago to contrast magazine design from web design considerations. Esthetics matter, design matters, brand matters but the web requires thoughtful information architecture (how do people find stuff) and a simple/clean interface to combat the web's natural complexity.
A website that effectively represents your magazine is a website that is engaging (because of the quality and relevance of the content), brand aligned (your values are preserved and communicated online), and an extension of your print content (whatever your content is in print you should have supplemental content online with more pictures, more information, Q&A, or even just a place to talk about the article for your readers thus converting your readers into visitors).
Don't fall into the trap that many publishers have where they've focused on design at the expense of effectiveness. You're in the content business, focus on the content and making it work as effectively as possible for the medium.
