Websites using Smashingmagazine

Okay, let s break down Smashing Magazine, covering its overview, revenue (estimates), alternatives, pricing (where applicable), and customer care.

Overview

Smashing Magazine is a well-respected and long-standing online magazine and resource for web developers and web designers. It s known for its high-quality, in-depth articles, tutorials, and resources covering a wide range of topics, including:

• Web Design: UX, UI, accessibility, responsive design, design trends, color theory, typography.
• Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, front-end frameworks (React, Vue, Angular), backend technologies, performance optimization, security.
• Mobile Development: Native and cross-platform development.
• WordPress: Theme development, plugin development, security, performance.
• E-Commerce: Design and development best practices for online stores.
• Workflow & Business: Freelancing, project management, productivity, and business practices for designers and developers.

Key characteristics:

• In-Depth Content: Articles are typically longer, more detailed, and well-researched than typical blog posts.
• Practical Focus: Emphasis on practical advice, actionable tips, and real-world examples.
• Experienced Authors: Articles are often written by industry experts and experienced practitioners.
• Community: Smashing Magazine has a strong community following.
• Paid Workshops and eBooks: In addition to the free articles, Smashing Magazine offers paid workshops and eBooks on various topics.

Revenue (Estimates)

Smashing Magazine is a privately held company, so exact revenue figures are not publicly available. However, we can estimate their revenue streams and their approximate impact:

• Advertising: Display advertising on the website is a likely source of revenue, though they tend to use it sparingly and tastefully. (Estimate: Significant but decreasing relative to other streams.)
• eBooks: Sales of eBooks on design and development topics. (Estimate: A decent source of income)
• Workshops: Paid online workshops and conferences (in the past, in-person conferences). This is likely a significant revenue source. (Estimate: Arguably the most significant revenue stream)
• Smashing Membership: A paid membership that gives access to extra content and deals (Estimate: Increasing important source of revenue)
• Affiliate Marketing: They may earn commissions on products or services they recommend. (Estimate: probably small)
• Job Board: Charging companies to post job listings. (Estimate: Probably small, but consistent)

Overall Revenue Estimate: Because their workshops and eBooks are premium priced and well-attended, and because they have diversified revenue streams, it is reasonable to estimate that Smashing Magazine generates several million dollars in revenue annually. The exact amount would depend on the number of workshops they run, the success of their eBooks, and the effectiveness of their advertising sales.

Alternatives

Here are some alternatives to Smashing Magazine, categorized by focus:

• General Web Development/Design:
  • CSS-Tricks: Focuses on CSS and front-end development.
  • A List Apart: Covers web standards, best practices, and design philosophy.
  • Webdesigner Depot: A broad range of design and development topics.
  • SitePoint: Covers a wide range of web development topics, including PHP, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS.
• UX/UI Design:
  • Nielsen Norman Group: Research-based insights on UX.
  • UX Collective (Medium): A large collection of UX articles from various authors.
  • Interaction Design Foundation (IDF): Offers online UX design courses and resources.
• Front-End Development:
  • MDN Web Docs (Mozilla Developer Network): Comprehensive documentation for web technologies.
  • FreeCodeCamp: Interactive coding tutorials.
• Design Inspiration:
  • Dribbble: A platform for designers to showcase their work.
  • Behance (Adobe): A platform for showcasing creative work.
  • Awwwards: A website that awards the best web designs.

Pricing

Smashing Magazine uses a freemium model:

• Free Content: The vast majority of their articles are free to access.
• eBooks: eBooks are individually priced, typically ranging from $10 to $40 (or more, depending on the length and complexity).
• Workshops: Workshops are also individually priced, typically costing several hundred dollars.
• Smashing Membership: Provides access to the entire eBook library, exclusive content, and discounts on workshops, and costs around $5-$9 a month, depending on the tier and billing frequency (monthly or yearly).

Customer Care Details

• Contact Form: They have a contact form on their website (usually found in the footer or on the About page). This is the primary method for contacting them with general inquiries.
• Email: While a direct email address might not be prominently displayed, you can often find it within their privacy policy, terms of service, or in email correspondence related to purchases or memberships.
• Social Media: They are active on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can try contacting them through these channels, but response times may vary.
• Workshop Support: If you ve purchased a workshop, you ll typically receive specific contact information for support related to that workshop.
• Community Forums/Comments: While they don t have traditional forums, the comments sections on their articles can be a place to ask questions and engage with other readers (and sometimes the authors).

Important Notes about Customer Care:

• Response Times: As a smaller organization, response times may not be immediate. Be patient.
• Specific Inquiries: Be as specific as possible when contacting them to ensure a faster and more accurate response.
• Check the FAQ: Before contacting support, check their website for a FAQ or help section that might answer your question.

In summary, Smashing Magazine is a valuable resource for web designers and developers due to its in-depth content and practical focus. They generate revenue through a mix of advertising, eBooks, workshops, and membership. While their customer care options are somewhat limited, they provide adequate support through their contact form and social media channels.