Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Independent Music Magazine Websites?

Through my research into independent music magazine websites, I have learnt that there are common conventions that are used consistently. For example, hyperlinks were used in every website I looked at; this shows that hyperlinks are generic conventions for independent music magazine websites. When clicked on, hyperlinks take the reader to another page of the website, this can include an article/story that the magazine has promoted, a link straight to the album of a featured artist or just to a more specific page of information like how to contact the magazine. This provides easy navigation for the audience around the website so they have a pleasant experience because, if they don't have a good, fustration-free experience on the website, it is more likely that they won't visit the website again. 

Furthermore, the masthead is always at the top of the page to signify whose website it is. The masthead is in the same typography as it on the front cover of the magazine, however, the colour may change depending on the colour scheme of the page. This communicates consistency and familiarity to the audience so they know that they are not going to get any surprises or differences in the content on the website compared to the content in the magazine. 

Most websites show a copy of the front cover on the homepage of the website so they can maximise the promotion of the main revenue generator. The sale of the physical copies of the magazine are the primary source of revenue for the magazine so by showing that to the audience on the website it reaches a wider demographic. Nearby the front cover on the homepage is also other options of how to acquire a copy of the magazine digitally or buy a subscription, this increases the chances of a reader investing money into the magazine. 

The layout of an independent music magazine website is simple and spacious; this ensures that the reader does not get overwhelmed with the amount of content that is featured. Typically, three or four columns are used to divide the content: two for articles with hyperlinks to the whole story and one or two columns for smaller and more brief hyperlinks that usually promote events or gigs that are happening. The brands take advantage of the infinite canvas that a digital website provides and they feature as many prime stories as they can but they update them reguarly to keep the content fresh and reader interested. The colour palette implemented on the websites is minimalistic and the background is, typically, all white which allows the reader's attention to be drawn to the colourful pictures that anchor the stories and articles which increases the likelihood that the audience will click on them and read the content.