Flipboard is now allowing users to post original content by way of a new notes feature. Flipboard's curators can put original material into their magazine to interact with their users. The functionality would enable curators to build local communities around a specific subject or passion. They may be used, among other things, to create an opening to the magazine that resembles an editor's note or to ask the community questions and respond to reader questions.
“It’s kind of like doing a regular post on Twitter or Facebook, but it’s going into a magazine,” explains Flipboard co-founder and CEO Mike McCue. “So it’s like a post into a micro-community…And it allows people who care about something, who are following this magazine or contributing to this magazine, to be able to talk to each other, communicate and build a stronger sense of community,” he says.
Image Credit: Flipboard
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- User-generated Content
- There is an opportunity for social media platforms to incorporate similar user-generated content features to create stronger and interactive communities.
- Community Building
- Brands can use similar functionality to build local communities around specific subjects or passions for increased engagement with their customers.
- Interactive Magazines
- There is a potential for magazine apps to incorporate more interactive features, allowing readers to engage with the content and creators.
Where This Applies
- Social Media
- Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook may incorporate similar user-generated content features to create stronger communities for their users.
- Publishing
- Publishers can use similar functionality to build local communities around specific subjects or passions, increasing engagement with their readers and building a loyal following.
- Mobile Apps
- Magazine apps and other mobile applications could incorporate more interactive features, including user-generated content, to engage users and create a sense of community around the app.
