Magazine reading app Flipboard is the latest contender in the battle to relocate some of the online conversations taking place on the social networking site on its own platform. In order to engage with their readers, Flipboard curators will be able to publish original content into their magazine. The company thinks the feature will allow curators to create small communities. This would deliver a different vibe than posting on the social networking site.
The ability for users to create their own magazines was introduced in 2012 by the social magazine app. With the launch of the new notes feature, curators will now be able to do more than share articles and other information, they will be able to post text notes, which can also include uploaded images or links, and they can even mention other users in their own community.
It's similar to doing a regular post on social media, but it goes into a magazine. It allows people who care about something, who are following this magazine or contributing to this magazine, to be able to talk to each other, communicate and build a stronger sense of community...
The blue background on the notes makes them stand out and can be liked, commented on, and shared.
The image is called flipboard.
The idea is not to create another newsletter or platform like Substack or Medium because curators can write in the notes without worrying about a tight character limit. The notes on Flipboard are designed to be longer than a Facebook post. They can be used to write an introduction to the magazine, or to ask questions of the community, among other things.
The feature has been in development for around six months, so it wasn't built to take advantage of the chaos atTwitter, which has prompted a portion of its user base to try out various social apps
The timing of the launch could become one of those things where preparation meets opportunity.
In the past few days, there are other publishing platforms that target users of the social networking site. In November, Substack announced a discussion feature called Substack Chat, which is similar to the one it has now.
Adding a social element might be the goal of Flipboard. The magazine app was founded back in 2010 to offer a more polished news reading experience that is also tailored to the user. The company claims to have 100 million monthly active users, which includes both web and mobile users, as well as those who open Flipboard's news emails. Users who only read news via email may be encouraged to re-engage with the app.
Only 25% to 50% of Flipboard magazines are active on any given month as not all are updated regularly.
Ahead of today's launch, the feature was piloted with a handful of Flipboard-run group magazines, which arecurated by multiple people. There was a 40% increase in social activity from August to September and a 28% increase in October. The feature was tested by a number of curators, including the magazines Photowalkers and Hiking the World.
The new community tab in the app will showcase the best magazine and curators.
Over the next few weeks, the notes feature will be available on the web, as well as on mobile devices.
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