Instant Magazine - No More PDF's Required
A recent press release caught my eye “Dutch Startup Wants to Kill the PDF” so I decided to 
explore the company Instant Magazine behind the statement. Based in Amsterdam, Daan Reijnders and Joost Galama founded the company in 2013 but before teaming up they both worked in the creative agency realm. With the ever changing requirements in the digital publishing industry, Instant Magazine developed a tool that enables its users to create digital publications optimized for all technology platforms seamlessly.
Emphasizing the ease of use, the drag & drop editor, users have greater creative freedoms without compromise. Users are also able to insert elements such as forms and overlays, controlling their size and position with CSS-like properties, without writing a single line of code. With the embedded analytics, users are also able to see which parts of their content receive the most engagements. This allows for the discontinuation of the PDF's and allows for more responsive communication assets that are very interactive and allow for measurability.
With Instant Magazine being one of the most versatile tools available you are able to create your online magazines, annual reports, staff magazines, company brochures, catalogues and member magazines easily. They supply a wide range of page templates and frameworks which ensure easy viewing across all platforms: smartphone, tablet and desktop.
Since working in the content management industry, I was eager to learn more about this company so I reached out to CEO Daan Reijnders and asked him a few questions:
I understand the company started out as a creative agency, when did you decide to fully immerse yourselves with becoming a contact management platform?
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In 2013, I was a partner at a creative agency in the Netherlands. We were approached by Rabobank to create responsive templates they could use for their digital publications, which could be managed by employees in any of their locations. After looking for a solution for them, we realized that the right tool didn't exist. We coded the tool and some templates from scratch, and they were so successful that we realized we'd discovered a real need others might have as well. I left the agency on good terms and went on to start Instant Magazine."
With so many content management platforms out there why did you see the need to create your own? What makes your software stand out above the rest?
"Speaking to your question about where we fit into the ecosystem of content management platforms, the need for Instant Magazine developed organically. Content tools today either give you a way to create and manage content for your website, or they're purely design tools. We recognize that our customers are creating content that doesn't necessarily fit on their website. We don't want them to lose any creative freedom or ease of use, no matter the medium they're using. I think that's why we've managed to acquire over 1,200 customers in such a short time. You also don't have to be a designer or a developer to use Instant Magazine. You can be up and running in a couple hours, and your content will be every bit as spectacular as other tools that are far less accessible."
Your company is still fairly new, where do you see your company’s growth/focus in the next 3-5 years?
"The way people consume content is always changing. To stay competitive, companies need to make their content hyperpersonal. Our most recent innovation was empowering people to create personalized experiences that directly address the reader on a first name basis. Over the next 3-5 years, we'll be moving to make our customers' content short, snackable, and tailored to the readers' interests."
Instant Magazine is becoming one of the most versatile digital publishing platforms available. While the tool can work for many various products, it remains anchored in the basics of magazine publishing: being highly visual with linear navigation. This is completely different from how navigation works within. “By allowing users to swipe through content in a linear structure you can still retain elements of surprise as opposed to a website where you navigate to areas where you can predict what your will find as a result of your navigational choices.” comments Reijnders.
Ending Notes
They are continually developing new features to make it easier for clients to use these tools because speed of use and simplicity of execution will become more and more important as the market grows. With so much going on in the digital publishing space, it will be exciting to see their growth and where they will rank in the industry.
Since there are so many CMS platforms and tools out there it is so hard to really compare them without actually using the product yourself. So I encourage you, when you are seeking out a CMS to take the time in your research and make sure that you try the product first in order to make sure it suits your needs.
Stay tuned since CMS-Connected will be publishing a piece that I'm sure will help you select a CMS for your business. If you would like to find out more about the upcoming article and what it will entail click here.
Natalie Evans
Natalie Evans has over 16-years in the tech industry and currently works as the event coordinator and tech reporter for CMS-Connected, keeping up-to-date on what's happening in and around the Content Management industry.