We surveyed our readership between April and June. The aim was to find out how their interests, industry proximity and preferences have changed. Some of the results surprised us.
The companies that employ most of our readers are active in the areas of assembly (17%) and design (16%). However, the PCB manufacturing and power electronics sectors are also more strongly represented (10% each).
The print version of PLUS is still the most popular: 75% of readers choose the printed version. 17 % read the PLUS online articles and around 8 % read the ePaper (PDF), which is part of our digital subscription. The combination of print, online and ePaper (our Premium subscription) is also popular - all in one, so to speak. We were very pleased with the continued popularity of the print version.
71 % of respondents read PLUS for up to an hour or longer
Whether online, ePaper or print: those who pick up PLUS spend a pleasingly long time reading the articles. 45% study the magazine for up to an hour - and 24% for up to two hours, 2% even longer. A very nice confirmation of our editorial work: PLUS is and remains the trade journal for electronics production that is really read.
Print is still very popular. However, online use is becoming more and more important andthe reach of our trade journal is particularly interesting for us. In fact, the print version is available in many companies and is often passed on to colleagues. On average, 5.2 people read an issue of PLUS. A reader factor of over 5 is really something to be proud of!
5.2 people read one issue of PLUS on average
PLUS is read by decision-makers and experts. The positions of the readers in their companies are broadly diversified: department, division or project management (34%), specialist (31%), management, board of directors and supervisory board (23%), branch, plant or operations management (6%), other (6%).
As is well known, a trade magazine thrives on advertisements - and these attract attention: 72% of the readers surveyed stated that they were aware of the advertisements. For 40%, business contacts actually resulted from advertisements in PLUS. Furthermore, 39 % of readers stated that they had received business contacts through editorial articles.
72 % of readers pay attention to the advertisements in PLUS
Apart from these 'hard facts', we received a lot of impulses for our editorial work. The fact that PLUS is published reliably twelve times a year and offers a good overview of the topics and technologies in the industry - in a brisk, appealing design - was praised across the board. We were naturally pleased and a little touched by such confirmation of our monthly work. We are starting the fall of productronica with corresponding motivation - for our readers and for an industry that, with its ingenuity, always provides us with topics to report on.
40% of readers have had business contacts through advertisements in PLUS
Also exciting: the most popular sections of PLUS. The 'It list' is headed by News (15 %), closely followed by Research & Technology (13 %) and Assemblies & Systems (11 %). Almost equally behind: PCB technology, design, analytics & testing and events & functions (9%). We had not expected the event block to be so far ahead.
