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Issuu

Digital Magazine Publishing Platform

Published 07/06/2011 and rated

4 out of 5 stars by AppAppeal Editor

4 comments for this app

What can you use the app for?

Issue is a website dedicated entirely to publications. The focus remains on magazines, articles and anything that the user could normally find in a print publication. Users can explore thousands of individual items that range from reports to actual magazines. A mobile version is also available for Android users. The application also allows its users to customize the look of their Issuu interface by changing colors, adding a logo and inserting their own background image or pattern. The site breaks out its contents into various categories, based on genre or document type. Genre categories include travel, sports, film, creative, business, auto, religion, news, nature, hobby, home, fun and entertainment, weird and bizarre and more. The document type category options range from articles, essays, books, catalogs, journals and reports to presentations, photo albums, portfolios, newspapers and manuals. Users can also share their documents with the Issuu community.

What is the history and popularity of the app?

Issuu is based in Copenhagen, Denmark and is designed to give internet users access to thousands of unique publication related documents. The current Issuu team includes CEO Michael Hansen, Head of Development Morten Bach Sommer, Head of Operations Mikkel Jensen, Communications Manager Martin Ferro-Thomsen and Head of Design Ruben Bjerg Hansen. The site was also placed among the 50 best websites in a list compiled by Time.com in 2008.

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What are the differences to other apps?

Issuu gives internet users a diverse selection of reading and resource material to pull from. The website encourages users to share what they have by uploading files for the Issuu community. The user can sort items by category, type or by searching for specific topics or titles. What makes Issuu so appealing is the number of different types of items it covers. The user can find content taken from magazines, reports, manuals, books and other sources all in one virtual library.

How does the web app look and feel to use?

Issuu welcomes users to its shelves with a stylish blue and silver color scheme, highlighted by hints of orange found in the sleek Issuu logo. The homepage includes a search tool bar at the top, near the center with a large header showing the user what they can find on the site. Just below, a row of images sits atop a wooden bookshelf background while a list of links is positioned near the bottom for users who prefer to explore rather than search.

How does the registration process work?

A new user is not required to register to begin searching Issuu. However to enjoy all the benefits offered by the site, the user is asked to create an account. This can be done by clicking the blue “Create Account” link in the upper, right hand corner (to the left of the “Login” link). The following page presents the user with the registration form. The form asks for a first and last name, profile name, password, gender and Captcha code entry. Two check boxes are present at the bottom of the form. The user must manually select the top box to confirm their agreement with the Issuu terms of service. The second box is automatically selected to sign the user up for monthly Issuu updates. This must be manually de-selected to opt out of email notifications.

What does it cost to use the application?

When signing up, the user is given access to the free Issuu account. This account type allows users to explore the Issuu library, upload and share publications and embed items on websites, blogs or social networking profiles. A Pro account is also available and includes detailed statistics, advanced customization features and no advertisements. The Pro Reader membership costs around $20 per month or around $230 per year. A two year option is also available for around $390. Business users can choose the Issuu Enterprise membership which costs around $1,000 per month or around $12,000 per year. A two year option is available for around $20,400.

Who would you recommend the application to?

Issuu is a helpful resource for anyone who enjoys reading publications. The application can also help users publish professionally and offers multiple accounts which appeal to each type of user. Casual readers can even visit the Issuu website and explore its contents without paying or signing up.

Issuu Features

Upload new items to the Issuu library
Embed an item from Issuu on your website or blog
Share items through social networks
Choose between a free or paid membership
Search the site or explore the categories to find items

Issuu video

4 comments for this app

4 comments, showing 1 - 4 (newest first)

Jesper Madsen
on 24 Jan 2012 at 22:17

As a free service this product is fine - if you can accept the ads on the side. It's simple to use, nice look, etc. However there are drawbacks of the service: * search stinks - period If you find anything on the site you are lucky * Ads are simply irrelevant to the topics you are reading about. If you read about "Artificial Intelligence" you get an ad about the "Copenhagen Fashion Week". So who wants to pay for that? * A substantial amount of the publications are commercials or merely teasers to content you must buy elsewhere * There is no solution for charging readers for reading your publications To sum it up Issuu have tried the Google, Youtube, Flickr approach - the customer is the key to success. To succeed with that a company must give the customer a substantial benefit from using the company's products and the company must listen to the customers. Issuu fulfill to some extend the benefit - even thogh it could be much better. But the company does not listen to customers complaints and issues. Sporadic answers to issues are often months after the issue arised and has a patronizing tone - don't complain we have a great product for FREE and by the way we don't make mistakes. Bigger companies have been hurt severely on that approach.

tommy
on 11 Sep 2011 at 12:01

I like Issu, it's quite good, but but the biggest disadvantage is the fact, that they storage the publications on their servers.. And that's why you never know when they decide to delete your publication, change the look and functions of the page flip engine, add commercials of your competitor's product near your one, and so on.. So I think better solutuin is to keep my content on my server, the best solution for this I found is http://www.pressmo.com

Bill
on 25 Aug 2011 at 23:28

This company has HORRIBLE customer service. Provides no phone number to call in the event of crisis and no e-mail address. Instead, they offer a "community blog" to help you solve your problems. A NIGHTMARE!

K Scholl
on 14 Jul 2011 at 13:26

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