When you’ve worked hard on creating a great publication, having more choices is always a good thing. That’s why we’re so pleased to announce that there is now a new option for including video in your digital publications on Calaméo!
From now on, you will be able to embed video elements that play directly on the page of your publication without opening a pop-up overlay. Your readers can move seamlessly from browsing an article to watching a video clip and back again.
All you need to do is open your publication in the Calaméo Editor, go to the page you want to modify and select the video icon.
Adjust the blue zone so that it appears where you wish the video to play and add the video URL and text label in the video properties window. Then, choose “Embedded” from the Display mode drop-down menu.
You can also choose whether you would like to display the video thumbnail, begin playing the video automatically when the reader turns to this page and mute any background music while the video plays.
💡 TIP: Want embedded videos to play with sound? Don’t opt for autoplay. By default, your readers must click for sound on videos that start playing automatically.
Save your work and view your publication to see the video embedded right on the page!
Of course, you’ll still be able to choose the classic pop-up player for your videos. Just select “Pop-up” from the Display mode options when adding video to your publication in the Calaméo Editor.
Looking to get a handle on your video strategy? Check out our guide to promoting content on YouTube. Then visit our YouTube channel to watch tutorials on using our Editor and more.
Spring is here and so is the 9th edition of Calaméo Magazine! Read our brand-new Music issue, out today:
This edition is all about music and audio. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, podcast aficionado, or simply a casual listener, you’ll find something for you in this issue of the Calaméo Magazine. We have statistics about the music industry and a spotlight on the invention of music recording, plus songwriting tips from top artists and a special Spotify playlist (and of course much more)!
But the most exciting development for this issue of the Magazine? It’s now available in French HERE! We are so happy to be able to offer Calaméo Mag to our francophone readers all around the world. Don’t hesitate to share the version en français with your French-speaking friends!
💡TIP: Missed an earlier issue? No problem! Head to the complete archive and browse every edition.
We hope you enjoy this issue of Calaméo Magazine! Let us know on Twitter @Calameo what you think, and stay tuned for the next edition.
The viewer of your publications is a key element of digital publishing. By adapting it, you improve the entire user experience (also called UX). So how do you optimize the Calameo reader to create an exceptional reading experience for your digital publications?
From its visual aspect to the elements that compose it, we will explain how to optimize the settings of the reader of your digital publications according to your needs and your objectives. Please note that these settings can be different for each of your publications, depending on their specific objectives.
💡 TIP: Before you even convert your documents into publications on Calaméo, make sure they are optimized for digital publishing.
Choose the right display mode
The “display mode” is the way your document will be displayed and read by your readers. It is therefore a crucial element of the user experience. Calameo allows you to publish many different contents by offering you the possibility to choose between 3 display modes from the settings page of your publication:
Publication: to create a flipbook, with pages that turn like a book. This type of display is recommended for: magazines, books, catalogs.
Scroll: the pages of your publication scroll vertically. This type of display is recommended for tutorials and infographics.
Slide: the pages of your publication are displayed one by one on the screen. This type of display is recommended for slideshows and presentations.
Selecting the right display mode for your document type is crucial to providing a good user experience.
Choose the right theme
If you are a BASIC or PREMIUM user, your only available choice is the default theme: 2021.
2021 : Our newest theme. With a simple and optimized design. Perfect for all types of documents, it will highlight your publications while providing a pleasant reading experience.
However, if you are a PLATINUM user, you can also choose from a selection of display themes depending on your strategy and needs. Here is the list of themes we offer (in addition to the 2021 theme):
Cribd : This theme is in light color by default. Discreet buttons at the top, a navigation bar at the bottom with the page number displayed to better find your way in your document. An elegant theme.
Default : A sober and uncluttered design, the buttons are displayed at the top. Two navigations are available: a bar at the bottom and arrows on the sides. Perfect to offer a simple reading experience: nothing is difficult to access.
Delisus : The reader can scroll through all the pages of your document in a box below your publication. This saves time in finding the page that interests them! In addition, the buttons are hidden so as not to hinder reading and only appear when the mouse passes over your publication.
Interface : A slider, and arrows for easy navigation. A classic and sober design that has proven itself, with its bar of buttons at the top, like on a website.
Simple : As the name suggests, this is a very clean theme that puts your publication first. If your goal is to read your document, not to share or print it, then this is the ideal theme.
💡TIP: The PLATINUM subscription unlocks all of Calaméo’s customization and optimization possibilities, such as the “elements” feature that allows you to customize the viewer to your liking.
Finally, the viewer on mobiles and tablets that we offer to all our users has been designed to provide an optimal user experience, taking into account the particularities of these specific media: learn more.
Choose the right options
Define your goals and choose the right options to achieve them. Whether your goal is to strengthen your brand image, attract new leads, or make your content more accessible, Calameo offers many options:
Basic option:
Reading mode: allows you to adapt your content to the language of your document and your readership.
Options for PREMIUM and/or PLATINUM users only:
Logo: be recognizable by respecting your graphic charter and your brand identity.
Sound effect: choose or suppress the sound when the pages turn.
In this article we have only presented the options that change the appearance of the Calameo viewer, but there are even more options to improve your publications and the reading experience.
Thanks to Calameo, you can offer a unique and pleasant online reading experience by making the right choices for your viewer. Moreover, its optimization will enable you to build loyalty among your audience and attract new prospects. It is therefore important to choose the right options to best adapt it to your content, your strategy and your readers.
