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Capstone helps schools create more effective print magazines through action plans, strategic storytelling, and online courses.
Capstone helps schools create more effective print magazines through action plans, strategic storytelling, and online courses.
10 techniques to generate more creative magazine ideas
/by Erin PetersonCall it a creative block, call it blank page syndrome, call it being stuck in a rut: sometimes, it’s tough to come up with great story ideas. It’s one of the reasons that people hire Capstone! My clients know that I’ve seen just about everything in my 25+ years in the alumni magazine business, and […]
Here’s how many pages your print magazine should be
/by Erin PetersonOne of the questions I get most frequently from newsletter readers is this: How long should our institution’s magazine be? It’s no surprise that I hear the question all the time! Printing and mailing a magazine is typically one of the biggest expenses for a communications office. Nobody wants to feel like they’re wasting […]
Fix your print mag’s “ChatGPT vibes”
/by Erin PetersonWith a headline like that, I suppose I should get something out of the way first: I like ChatGPT! I’ve written about the ways I use AI, and I’m always experimenting with new tools. (Current obsession: Google’s NotebookLM.) I love the way that ChatGPT can smooth out some of my roughest sentences and clunky clauses. […]
Improve your print mag’s deadly leader letter
/by Erin PetersonEvery few months, I have the chance to give one of my favorite talks, “60 print magazine ideas in 60 minutes.” I’m always changing the 60 ideas — let’s just say that after 25 years of this work, I have way more than 60 ideas! — but one idea that I’ve kept in for talk […]
This rule of thumb will instantly improve your print magazine
/by Erin PetersonOver the past few years, my team and I have done dozens of Magazine Action Plans. While every publication is unique, there are a few common issues that we see over and over. One of them? Too many words per spread. Before I dig into this topic, I want to be clear about my stance […]