Texterity Releases 2007 BPA Worldwide-Certified Digital Magazine Reader Survey Results

Survey reveals high digital reader satisfaction and engagement, along with an 11% decrease in the use of print magazines

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA (May 16, 2007) --- Texterity, Inc., a leading provider of digital magazine solutions, released the results of its second annual BPA Worldwide-certified digital magazine reader survey, the most comprehensive profile of digital magazine reader preferences and demographic data. Some of the information revealed is:

1. Digital magazine reader satisfaction rates remain high, 88% of readers are “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their digital edition, an increase of 3% from 2006.
2. Digital magazine readers are highly engaged with the digital edition; 89% read the digital edition the same week and 42% read it immediately or the same day.
3. Digital magazine readers are reducing their use of print, making digital magazines critical for reaching these readers. Over 44% of respondents have decreased their use of print in the last twelve months. This is an 11% rise from the 2006 survey in which 33% of respondents had decreased their use of print.

The 2007 Digital Magazine Reader Survey is the largest body of research available for understanding the profile and the needs of the digital magazine reader. Questionnaires were sent to over 99,000 current digital magazine readers of 110 different publications representing 33 publishers. Over 12% of recipients completed the survey.

The survey reveals that over 80% of digital readers rely on digital magazines to help them do their job better. Readers visit advertiser websites directly from links or enhanced advertising overlays within digital editions. Digital readers prefer to receive information online, with 81% preferring to contact a company via its website.

The top four reasons that digital subscribers cite for reading digital editions remain unchanged from last year and are, in order, the ability to search issues, ease of saving, environmental friendliness and more convenient than print.

Other highlights of the survey include:

• Digital readers remain highly engaged with advertisers. In 2007, 90% took some type of action with a product or service. The majority of respondents, 65%, visited the advertiser’s web site.
• Digital readers are using digital archives for convenient reference and storage. Over 89% of respondents use the digital archives, with the vast majority using them to find specific articles.
• Digital editions are not just for “Generation X”. The typical reader is a professional, with the median reader age of 45 years old, having over 17.5 years of industry experience.

“In the second year of this research, we have found the trends toward digital edition adoption increasing, with even stronger engagement,” said Cimarron Buser, vice president of marketing and product planning for Texterity. “We are continuing to learn what readers like. For example, video is viewed as increasing in importance, and readers are showing increased interest in PDA’s,” he added. “This data will allow Texterity’s publishers to work more effectively with advertisers and agencies to develop creative new ways to reach this highly-engaged audience.”

The survey was conducted by Texterity, Inc., with fielding, tabulation, and final results certified by BPA Worldwide. The internet-based questionnaire was sent to 99,175 current digital subscribers of 110 publications, representing 33 publishers of trade/professional and consumer publications, including Access Intelligence, Allured Publishing Corporation, ALM Media, American Spectator, Bonnier, Business News Publishing, Cahaba Media Group, Canon, Chronicle of Higher Education, CMP Media, Commonwealth Business Media, Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications, EH Publishing, E-Republic, Farm Journal Media, GIE Media Inc., Grand View Media Group, Horizon House Publications, Inc., ISC, Journalistic, Inc., Northstar, Oracle Corporation, O'Reilly Media, Inc., PennWell Corporation, Penton Media, Pinnacle Publishing, Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, Rodman Publishing, Soundings Publications, Stagnito Communications Inc., T & L Publications, Vicon Publishing, and Watt Publishing Company. The number of responses totaled 11,642 or 12% of the target list.

For a detailed breakdown of the survey’s questions and responses, go to http://www.texterity.com/survey/.

About Texterity

Texterity (www.texterity.com) ) is a leading provider of complete digital publishing solutions. With the most flexible solution in the industry, publishers can choose a custom program ranging from basic services to fully outsourced solutions with innovative circulation-building programs. Named to the “EContent 100” as one of the “100 Companies that Matter Most in the Digital Content Industry,” Texterity provides the only true no-download solution. Top publishers such as Time, Inc., Meredith, CMP Media, Penton Media, PennWell Corporation, Hearst, Condé Nast, Ziff Davis Media and IDG all utilize Texterity to provide a rich viewing experience using only a standard web browser. Privately held, Texterity is headquartered in Southborough, MA.