How to Create Print-On-Demand Magazines for Your Business

Publishing 6 min read

As I sat down to write this article about using print-on-demand for magazines, I did what I do with most subjects: I started on Wikipedia.

I always enjoy learning about the history of a subject before I write about that subject. Magazine comes from the Arabic makhāzin, which means ‘storehouse or depot’.

Interesting, as modern magazines are essentially a cache of various information around a topic or theme. And, thanks to Lulu’s print-on-demand, you won’t need a storehouse to keep your magazines in!

Etymology and joking aside, magazines are still a very popular way for people to read. According to research from 2023, 223,600,000 Americans read print or digital magazines, with 87% of U.S. adults having read a magazine in the last six months.

Magazines have been a mainstay for sharing news, food, gossip, and so much more. These slim books (because a magazine very much is a book) adorn the checkout aisles in grocery stores and get prominently placed in bookstores.

If you or your business relies on regular engagement with your audience, you know the value of professional, high-quality magazines. No matter what kinds of content you create, a magazine is a great path to regular income.

Whether you're running a subscription-based model or using magazines to supplement your products or services, creating a customized magazine is a great (and low-cost) way to stand out in a competitive market.

The Benefits of Print-On-Demand Magazines for Businesses

Print-on-demand offers flexibility and efficiency, making it an ideal solution for businesses that need to adapt quickly to market demands while keeping production costs low. Here’s why it's a smart choice for businesses using magazines to connect with their customers:

Low Overhead - No need to print bulk quantities or invest in expensive storage facilities.
Customizable Content - Tailor each magazine to reflect seasonal promotions, product launches, or audience-specific topics.
Quick Speed to Market - Update and send new issues quickly with no delays in printing or shipping.
Sustainable Scaling - Print as many or as few copies as needed, making it easy to scale up as your audience grows.
Simplified Distribution: Lulu handles the printing and shipping, including white-label options to maintain your branding.

Designing Your Magazine

Did you know that magazine layouts are pretty much standardized at a specific paper size? It’s true. Magazines are almost always Letter size, 8.5 x 11 inches for a standard (or A4, which is similar to Letter), Saddle Stitch magazine like you might find in a grocery store, or 5.5 x 8.5 inches for a periodical or literary journal.

If you go to a grocery store, bookstore, or comic book shop and look at the shelves, you’ll see the magazines are almost entirely uniform.

For the actual interior pages, the design can vary a lot. You’ll need to consider who your audience is, what your message is, and how the content needs to be presented.

Here is an image from UI Creative that does a good job of highlighting some of the main design elements.

The leftmost image is an eye-catcher: it’s designed to make you stop flipping through the magazine and indicate either a new article or a single-page information dump. You can break free of the ‘boxes’ design and use a variety of shapes and colors. The idea is to present a headline at the top of the page to catch the reader’s attention.

The middle page is the standard, column-based design for a magazine article. It’s easy to insert in-line images in a column without breaking the flow of the text. Note the use of white space and a blue background to emphasize different (but related) content on the page.

Finally, the right-most page highlights a graphic-focused page. These are easily the most customizable, so long as your graphics and copy are compelling.

High-quality magazines don’t just inform—they captivate. That means having a strong design is key to creating a magazine that supports your business goals.

Start with Templates

Templates can save significant time and effort in the design process. Lulu provides free design bundles that include magazine page templates for popular software like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and even Microsoft Word. These templates are carefully formatted to meet standard magazine sizes, ensuring you can upload and print your magazine without issue.

You can also explore platforms like Template.net or Canva for additional customizable options. These tools make it easy for businesses of all sizes to create visually appealing designs without hiring a professional designer.

Focus on Layout

The structure of your magazine speaks volumes about your brand. Here are some common layouts to consider for your magazine:

Eye-Catching Cover Pages - Use bold, engaging visuals and headlines to grab attention. These are like a mini-cover for the article, introducing your readers to the content they're about to consume.
Column-Based Content - Stick with clean, easy-to-read columns for long-form articles or features. Column layouts are easy to rearrange without interrupting your reader’s enjoyment of the article.
Graphics-Driven Pages - Utilize large images or infographics to engage audiences and break up text-heavy sections.

Magazine Covers

Aside from the standard sizes and graphic-heavy nature of magazines, there is one other important defining feature: printing on the inside of your cover.

It’s easy to miss at a glance, but most books do not have any printing on the inside cover. But comic books and magazines almost always have content on the inside cover. With Lulu, you can use our unique cover template to upload a cover file that includes printing on the inside cover.

That might seem like a small thing, but for a magazine that can be valuable advertising space. And it's crucial that your magazine feels like a real magazine to your readers.

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How to Print-On-Demand with Lulu

Lulu’s print-on-demand service is designed to make printing and distributing your magazine seamless. Here’s how you can get started:

Prepare Your Files - Use Lulu’s design templates to format your magazine to meet professional standards. Our creation guide ensures your files are ready for printing, with instructions on image resolution, color space, and bleed requirements.
Upload Your Magazine Design - Create an account with Lulu, select your desired magazine dimensions, and upload your completed design. Use Lulu’s live preview tool to see exactly how your magazine will look in print.
Choose Your Specifications - Select options such as interior black-and-white or full-color printing, paper type, and binding style. Whether you prefer a perfect-bound paperback magazine or a premium color edition, Lulu offers flexibility to match your brand’s aesthetic.
Set Order Quantities - Print just a single copy for review or set up recurring orders to supply your subscribers. Lulu allows you to print as many or as few copies as you need, adjusting quantities seamlessly based on your audience size.
Integrate Distribution Technology - For businesses operating subscription models, Lulu’s Print API is a game-changer. Automate your magazine orders for subscribers and enjoy international shipping, no minimum orders, and cost-effective fulfillment. Using the API to print your magazine also opens the door to individual personalization. You could offer subscribers at a higher tier a personal message or unique content for their magazine that regular subscribers won’t see.

Why Businesses Choose Lulu for Magazine Printing

Lulu stands apart with its flexibility, affordability, and customer-centric features. Here’s what businesses love about Lulu’s print-on-demand magazine solutions:

Ecommerce Integrations - Sync Lulu with your Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, or a custom-built online store to sell and distribute your magazine seamlessly.
White-Label Shipping - Maintain your branding throughout the distribution process with non-branded packaging.
Global Reach, Minimal Hassle - Take your magazine worldwide with automated international shipping options.
Cost Control - Pay only for what you print, minimizing waste and keeping tight control over your publishing budget.
Dependable Customer Support - From technical queries to file preparation, Lulu’s team provides hands-on assistance to ensure every magazine meets your expectations.

Create Your First Magazine Today

Print-on-demand magazines have made it possible for businesses of all sizes to offer regular content. Whether you’re looking to start a subscription service, complement your products with a branded publication, or share your expertise through informative articles, Lulu’s tools and resources make it easy to bring your vision to life.

Get started today with Lulu’s free templates and publish magazines that stand out. Sign up for a free Lulu account and explore how print-on-demand can elevate your business.