Kyle Menard – Publisher's Corner

Ringing in the Holidays with a Meet-up and Twitter Chat

17 Dec 201219 Dec 2012PattyLeave a comment

Hope you’re all enjoying December so far and that you’ve got those final MagCloud orders in for the holidays!

For your viewing pleasure, below are a few shots from our recent holiday meet-up at the Press Club in San Francisco. Be sure to follow MagCloud on Instagram to see the latest and greatest from our team. We look forward to seeing you at our next meet-up in the new year!

MagCloud’s Chief MagClouder Andrew Bolwell and
Marketing Mixologist Patty Tulloch at the MagCloud Meetup.

All the awesome MagCloud publications at our meetup!

Hooray for new MagCloud fans and friends!

Delicious food and wine from the Press Club
at the MagCloud Holiday Meet-up.

We also had a memorable Twitter Chat last week with Kyle Menard, editor of BRINK Magazine. There were quite a few inspirational tweets that we wanted to share with you. Below is a brief excerpt from the Twitter Chat – feel free to read our entire Twitter Chat via Storify.

Q1 – To start things off – @BRINKmag, how did you get started in publishing? #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:03:55

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Started with a vision & to create a guide for young professionals RT @magcloud how did you get started in publishing? #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:09:08
Q3 – Do you see a difference in behavior/interest between your print and digital readers? #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:18:18

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@MagCloud It’s a challenge, but readers want that hard copy AND the instant download of the latest issue. MC lets us provide that #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:20:25
@MagCloud Definitely. Big digital numbers when an issue debuts, but it tapers off. Hard copy somewhat sustains through the year #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:24:00
That’s great to hear, @BRINKmag. Digital offers instant gratification while print gives longevity – makes it easy to go back to. #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:27:24
Q5 from @TONE_DOPE: “When will @MagCloud begin offering subscriptions & an oversized 10×13 print copy option? #MagCloud“

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:35:49

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@TONE_DOPE We’re looking at subscription models and new product types. We do offer 11×14 today. #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:36:06
Okay, @BRINKmag. Jumping back to you with question from our community, how do you see #mag publishing evolving in the future? #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:40:09

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@magcloud There will always be a place for print, but with trends, it seems essential that a publication have an app #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:44:24
Last question from our team, @BRINKMag – what advice do you have for magazine publishers starting out? #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:47:14

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@magcloud It comes down to being on top of your game (in whatever you do), being a leader in what you believe in & staying current #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:47:40
Lay the groundwork, be prepared (cont) RT @magcloud – what advice do you have for magazine publishers starting out? #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:49:24
Also, (turning the tables) what advice do you have for publishers? RT @MagCloud Do you have any questions for Andrew? #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 10:55:29
Answering your 2nd Q: Listen to your customers, focus on innovation, embrace change, and don’t be afraid to take risks. #MagCloud

MagCloud @MagCloud

Tue, Dec 11 2012 11:00:31

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BOOM —> RT @MagCloud “Listen to your customers, focus on innovation, embrace change, and don’t be afraid to take risks.” #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 11:01:56
Definitely going to be quoting some of that for the next few weeks @MagCloud! Great stuff. #MagCloud

BRINK Magazine @BRINKmag

Tue, Dec 11 2012 11:02:48

MagCloud Holiday Meet-Up and Twitter Chat

5 Dec 20126 Dec 2012Patty8 Comments

Hey Bay Area! Help us celebrate 2012 at the MagCloud holiday meet-up in San Francisco with our Chief MagClouder and his team. Hear about all the latest MagCloud products and services, and learn what’s in store for next year.

Who: Fans of MagCloud – from new to seasoned publishers and all our social media fans! Not sure what MagCloud is? Stop by to find out!
What: Learn about what the MagCloud team is working on, ask questions, share feedback and win prizes!
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11
Where: Press Club, 20 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103 (View Map)
Cost: FREE! Light appetizers and drinks will be served
RSVP: Let us know you’re coming by RSVPing in the comment section below!

If you can’t join us on Tuesday evening, you can still discuss all things publishing during our next Twitter Chat with one of our MagCloud publishers! The hour-long Twitter Chat kicks off at 10:00 a.m. PST on Tuesday, December 11 on our MagCloud Twitter handle (@MagCloud) and will feature our Chief MagClouder Andrew Bolwell and BRINK Magazine editor Kyle Menard.

What are Twitter Chats? It’s simply a discussion conducted on Twitter, where you get to Tweet live with our Chief MagClouder and Kyle about, in this case, publishing as well as any other MagCloud questions you have on your mind.

How can you participate? Starting now, submit questions for Andrew and Kyle by either tweeting them to @MagCloud using the #MagCloud hashtag or ask them right here in the comments section of this blog post. We also encourage everyone to join our Twitter Chat from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PST on December 11 where Andrew and Kyle will respond to your questions live.

As an added incentive, all fans who ask a question will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a $25 Paypal MagCloud gift card –perfect for you, your colleagues, friends, family, etc. to purchase your favorite publications on MagCloud.com during the holidays. The drawing is open to residents in the United States only. For the complete rules, see below.

Here’s a little more info about Kyle:

Kyle Menard sets his sights on achievable goals while keeping the big picture within his scope. After launching his own award winning magazine in 2009, BRINK, he continues to explore fresh and innovative channels to reach a bigger and broader audience while keeping the current audience engaged. He thrives on spreading the message of entrepreneurship, attainable goals and staying dedicated to a brand – the ultimate message of BRINK Magazine.

Don’t forget to follow our Twitter handle, @MagCloud, for the latest MagCloud news and updates, and ask those questions using #MagCloud or in the comments section here! Look forward to seeing you in-person or virtually next week!

The giveaway opens on Thursday, December 6, 2012. Entries must be submitted by 10:00 a.m. PST, Tuesday, December 11, 2012 and the winner will be announced via Twitter and our blog on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. The prize will be one (1) $25 MagCloud gift card and one (1) winner will be selected at random. All entrants agree to be contacted by Hewlett Packard for prize fulfillment. The drawings are open to MagCloud blog readers, Twitter followers and Facebook fans that reside in the United States and are at least 18 years of age at time of entry. No purchase necessary to enter or win. There is no limit on the number of entries from any entrant, but each entry must be submitted separately as a Tweet using the hashtag #MagCloud on Twitter or as a blog comment on this blog post. Anyone found to be in violation of any of our rules or third party networks will be ineligible. Entries in this contest will not be carried over into subsequent giveaways or drawings.

Q+A with Kyle Menard of BRINK Magazine

25 Sep 201225 Sep 2012Lauren5 Comments

Kyle Menard has loved magazines since he could read. So much so that he once even dreamed of opening a newsstand selling magazines from around the world. “Like the kind you see in New York City,” he says.

Now an adult in the digital age, Menard has directed his passion for print into a magazine of his own. In 2009, he launched BRINK, an Orlando, Fla.-based bimonthly magazine that celebrates entrepreneurs – those already successful and those just starting – and the spirit that makes them all so special. BRINK was voted “Best Magazine in Orlando 2012” by TheDailyCity.com readers.

**How did BRINK come about?**

Kyle Menard I’m just a huge fan of magazines and wanted to create a magazine of my own. So I put all my ideas together and named the magazine BRINK – because it’s always exciting to be on the cusp of something new, whatever that might be.

BRINK celebrates entrepreneurs and shares their stories and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. We feature entrepreneurs in the realm of entertainment, fashion, human interest and pop culture – everyone from indie musicians and actors to designers and artists – people who’ve quit their day jobs to live their dreams. We hope these stories inspire future entrepreneurs to create their own paths to success.

How has publishing a magazine changed for you in the past five years?

KM My name has definitely become more recognizable in Orlando. And through the years people have become more willing to work with me and participate in BRINK. They want to join in the conversation. There’s something about publishing a print magazine that gives you more credibility.

There’s been a lot of talk about the demise of publishing, but print is not going anywhere. Online is great – everyone loves immediate gratification. But people still want to hold something in their hands. They want the physical magazine that they can hold – they want to experience a deeper connection.

How did you get started publishing through MagCloud?

KM I did a web search for “publishing magazines” and found MagCloud. I began with a simple eight-page prototype. And after teaching myself Photoshop, going through some MagCloud tutorials and trial and error, I’ve never looked back.

Why did you choose MagCloud?

KM We’re always evolving, and MagCloud is always evolving. The convenience factor is huge. If we need something printed right away, MagCloud can do that. If we need perfect bound instead of saddle stitched, MagCloud can do that. If we need 10 copies shipped to Spain, again, MagCloud makes all that possible. Plus, MagCloud is always encouraging us to do more with our magazine. They don’t just print your PDFs. They really care about your success.