Pursuing the latest issue of The Red Bulletin [print] magazine is a study in content marketing from one of the masters of this emerging discipline. The magazine is one of several media types from Red Bull Media House, the foundation set up by Red Bull to pursue it's brand publishing strategy.
Here are four immediate reactions:
1. Editorial. At 100 pages, more than 80% are devoted to editorial. I noticed only one photo of a guy drinking a Red Bull, that's the limit of product placement. Plus the articles were enjoyable and well-done.
2. Advertising. Four ads plus an ad for Red Bull. That's it. (Three of the ads were limited to the covers.)
3. High quality. The design, paper and editorial are as good as any magazine on the market.
4. You want to read it! With so little advertising it's easy to engage with the content.
It's a great example of content marketing that serves as a virtual brand ambassador.
Image credit: RedBullUSA.com
For me, an e-book is like a mass market book. It’s a throw-away read. When I read an e-book and like it well enough that I think I’ll want to re-read it, I go by the print copy.