Cover + Main Teaser + Feature Story
- Cover: The cover image must be on theme and is required to be directly related to an article.
- Teaser: The main teaser must also support the theme
- Lifestyle Letter: The letter should talk about a personal connection to the theme while also teasing the article included that supports the theme.
- Minimum of 3 Featured Stories: For each issue, the local teams must produce at least 3 articles that support the theme.
- Table of Contents: Those articles will then be featured in the table of contents. We will restrict the content featured in the TOC to be on-theme content only. They may produce other content that is not directly related to the theme, but that content will not be allowed to be in the table of contents featured article stack.
Monthly Themes
- January: Health & Wellness
- February: Love Local
- March: Home & Design
- April: Investment
- May: Ladies
- June: Gentleman’s
- July: Explore
- August: Kids & Pets
- September: Style
- October: Food & Drink
- November: Thankful
- December: Holidays & Giving
Themed Monthly Content Ideas
Editorial themes are a great way to focus content. By centering an issue of the publication around one central theme, we are able to create a built-in sense of cohesion and it makes the publication easier to read as a whole. This, in turn, brings longer read times, more engagement, and a more invested audience. Specifically, these 7 points are why following the theme is important for all City Lifestyle magazines:
- Stronger Brand Identity: Creates a unified and recognizable identity and a stronger overall brand image. Even though readers may not be aware of other magazines within the brand, it helps them recognize and connect with the local magazine as part of a larger brand, building trust and familiarity.
- Cross-Promotion and Audience Engagement: Magazines AND corporate can cross-promote each other’s content more effectively, which fosters a sense of community among readers who share common interests or may have connections to other Lifestyle communities.
- Streamline Advertising Opportunities: It makes it easier for advertisers and sponsors to target a specific audience across multiple magazines, resulting in more impactful advertising campaigns.
- Collaborative Content: Encourages the exchange of ideas and content between different publications. Editors, writers, and contributors can collaborate more seamlessly, share inspiration, and learn from each other’s expertise, which strengthens the brand internally and leads to a more engaging experience for readers.
- Brand Expansion: It becomes easier to introduce new mags while maintaining consistency and credibility as a brand. The shared brand identity allows for a smoother transition and acceptance of the new publication, facilitating expansion and growth.
- Operational Efficiency and Quality: A shared framework allows for better coordination among teams, reducing duplication of efforts and minimizing confusion, and leading to smoother workflows and improved overall productivity.
- Brand Experience: Demonstrates a commitment to quality, consistency, and a unique brand experience, which can attract new readers, advertisers, and collaborators.