In 2007, STC conducted a member survey of its publications. I've listed some interesting data that I believe relates to the Intercom magazine app I'm prototyping for the iPhone:
Three-fourths of subscribers save Intercom and refer back to it.
Pass along: typically, 2.1 people read the copy delivered.
Level of interest in the following electronic enhancements to articles or online formats (first number=extremely interested, second number=interested):
Online chats and forums about articles 5%, 20%
Online chats with authors 3%, 16%
Blogs related to features or other content 8%, 22%
Podcasts of articles 7%, 15%
Online additional content related to articles 16%, 41%
RSS Feeds 10%, 18%
Survey respondents rarely go online to read/search for article in Intercom.
Preferred access online:
PDFs 32%
HTML 16%
Digital version 21%
Combination of PDF and HTML 26%
Q: If there were no difference in the cost for members to receive the online version and/or the print version, which version would you prefer for Intercom?
Online only 24%
Print only 24%
Both print and online 51%
Don’t want it 2%
I bet if we conducted this survey again today, there would be some variation in the results due to the technologies that are now available and more widely used. It would be really interesting to see the difference two years makes. But these results are still valuable to me.
About Liz
- Liz Pohland
- Washington, DC, United States
- Welcome! I am currently a second-year PhD student in Texas Tech's Technical Communication and Rhetoric program. I am also editor of Intercom for the Society for Technical Communication. I began my academic career with a BA in English and French from Hollins College, with an emphasis in creative writing and poetry. In 1997, I graduated with my MA in English from Virginia Tech, intent on becoming an editor. My career in publishing started at Princeton University Press, as an editorial assistant to the English studies, anthropology, and art editors. After Princeton, I accepted an editorial and design position at the Folger Shakespeare Library, working on the academic journal Shakespeare Quarterly. I spent 10 years at the Folger, ultimately deciding that I was more interested in publishing, technology, and writing than in literary studies. In Fall 2008, I entered the Texas Tech program in TCR as an online student. Taking classes online has been an exciting adventure--one that I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of. I am now an on-campus student, thanks to a generous fellowship. I hope to finish my coursework by Summer 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment