Marketing Magazines: Why They’re a Secret Weapon
| Posted on 7/7/25

Marketing Magazines: Why They’re a Secret Weapon

As a business owner or marketer, you know there are a number of different assets that can advertise your brand. But have you considered marketing magazines? They just might be the answer to your promotion pickle.

 

With tons of options to personalize yours, plus a versatile format that allows you to show off everything, magazines make it easy to tell your story and boost your business one page at a time.

 

See how magazines can make all the difference.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

 

Four marketing magazines lined up in a row with various cover designs.

 

Magazine Printing at Its Best

 

We love magazines for what they offer your clients: product, service or event information in a tangible, real-life asset. In an ever-digital world, that second part is particularly important. And however you plan to use them (more on that below), you can create magazines easily and effectively with Smartpress’ custom options.

 

From coated and uncoated paper stocks to text and cover paper weights, our selections help you tailor your message to your customers. Not to mention protective coatings and the velvety-smooth Soft Touch laminate for an undeniable finish and an unforgettable experience.

 

Going for a classic magazine look and feel? Our magazines already come with a traditional saddle stitch binding, so all you have to do is choose a coated gloss stock with 80# or 100# text weight. (Hint: Our magazine template is a great jumping off point for your layout – it’s on the Magazines page under Layout Guides.)

 

 

How to Use Marketing Magazines

 

No matter the page count, no matter the layout, magazines are ideal for branding, storytelling, promoting, advertising and pretty much any other content you can think of. But with all that versatility can come confusion. How do you know where to start?

 

We spoke with four Smartpress clients about how they used magazines for their businesses and organizations. Let their inspo be your guide!

Two hands holding two marketing magazines printed with Art Beat on the cover.

MAGAZINE: 100# UNCOATED 100% RECYCLED WHITE TEXT COVER WITH 100# COATED MATTE WHITE TEXT INTERIOR PAGES, 8.5 X 11″

A custom magazine laying open to information and imagery about local art events and projects.

 

 

“We have a vibrant, thriving arts community, and a magazine allowed [us] to share the ‘riches.”

 

 

Print Your Own Magazine to Highlight Art

 

Magazines give you so much space to showcase products, services and story. Heartland Arts Grants Manager and Media Coordinator LuAnn Hurd-Lof took the opportunity to fill those pages with all things art.

 

“The goal was to consolidate arts news, activities and events in an attractive publication,” said Hurd-Lof. “It was distributed at the Chamber Visitor Center, public library, local restaurants and arts events.”

With vivid imagery and thoughtful feature stories, Hurd-Lof’s magazine was much more than a promotional asset.

 

“We have a vibrant, thriving arts community, and a magazine allowed [us] to share the ‘riches.’ The beautiful design reflected the quality people could expect at events and activities and met our mission to promote excellence in the arts through creation, education and performance,” she said.

 

A marketing magazine standing open and printed with CWC NOW and a boy drinking from a fountain on the cover.

MAGAZINE: 80# COATED GLOSS WHITE TEXT COVER WITH 70# UNCOATED SMOOTH WHITE TEXT INTERIOR PAGES, 5.5 X 8.5″

A magazine laying open to an image of two women and Growth Track in white and red.

 

 

“The magazine helps create a more connected community [and] solves the problem of people not being informed.”

 

 

Spread Your Organization’s Good News

 

No matter your nonprofit’s mission, a magazine is the vehicle to share milestones, celebrate achievements and communicate upcoming goals. Just ask Christ Wesleyan Church Communications/Broadcast Director Brent Mestach:

 

“CWC NOW is a magazine to inform our congregation of all we do as a church, including missions, events, ministry highlights and inspiring/impactful stories of our people,” said Mestach. “This helps create a more connected community [and] solves the problem of people not being informed of all that goes on here.”

 

With an easy-to-read layout and imagery that shows and tells, Mestach was able to print magazines online and create an impact in real life. “Print is not an outdated medium, and to offer something tangible may be refreshing, thus causing a more cognitive experience,” he said.

A custom magazine standing open and printed with Find Your Joy and course catalog information.

MAGAZINE: 80# COATED MATTE WHITE TEXT THROUGHOUT, 5.5 X 8.5″

Two hands holding open a magazine printed with course information and floral imagery.

 

 

“Having a visual aid with colorful photos, schedules and descriptions helps class participants select what they would like.”

 

 

Print Magazines as Course Catalogs

 

For marketing magazines to be truly effective, they need a blend of two things: a branded design and a message that’s more story and less sales-y. That’s exactly what Camphill Soltane Director of Marketing & Development Allison-Rose Cisik created with her course catalog.

 

“Camphill Soltane serves people with disabilities, and having a visual aid with colorful photos, schedules and descriptions helps class participants select what they would like to participate in,” she said.

Cisik’s goal was to “provide beautiful printed catalogs on our campus for upcoming classes and events for adults with intellectual differences,” and she more than achieved it, thanks to inviting imagery, a calming color palette and a clean layout.

 

See how other clients made catalogs a priority for their campaigns.

Two hands holding multiple magazines fanned out and printed with fragrance information.

MAGAZINE: 80# COATED GLOSS WHITE TEXT THROUGHOUT, 5.5 X 8.5″

A fragrance magazine laying open and printed with scent information and branded imagery.

 

 

“These magazines helped bring a clear quality to my audience, and gave my brand a professional boost.”

 

 

Put a Fresh Spin on Promotion

 

Doing your magazine printing online with Smartpress means you have the flexibility (and capability) to create a specific vision for your brand. Kareem Brown of Too Phresh Scents knew just how important that vision was for his fragrance magazines.

 

“Have you ever gone into a grocery store and seen magazines with the little fragrance strips inside? That was my inspiration behind designing these magazines,” said Brown. “I wanted to bring that feel back to the perfume industry.”

 

With sleek imagery and aspirational storytelling, Brown’s magazines did more than look good. “I wanted my audience to understand that there’s a meaning behind each fragrance,” he said. “These magazines helped bring a clear quality to my audience, and gave my brand a professional boost.”

 

 

 

Print Your Marketing Magazines with Smartpress

 

Whether for branding, promotion, storytelling or all three, magazines are the print marketing asset to do it. They allow you to show off your products, take deep dives into services and build connections with a wide audience, as well as existing and potential customers.

 

When you use Smartpress’ magazine printing services, you get to do it all with premium options, specialty finishes and a bunch of print nerds happy to help. “The quality and price point of Smartpress are unmatched,” said Mestach.

 

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