Why More Publishers Are Outsourcing Magazine Design (And How to Do It Right)
Publishing a magazine takes a lot of work. You have to design it, proof it, publish it, and then share it across your website, email, and social media. That’s a big job—especially if you only have one designer on your team.
Many publishers today are hiring outside design teams to help. Not just for layout, but for the whole system: print, digital, email, social, and more. If you’ve been thinking about doing the same, this post is for you.
Let’s walk through the key reasons why outsourcing can help—and what you need to know before you make the leap.
1. One Designer Is Not Enough Anymore
If you only have one in-house designer, your entire schedule depends on them. If they’re out sick or behind on other work, your magazine could miss its deadline. And even when things go well, it’s a lot for one person to manage every month.
Over time, the design can start to feel stale. There’s no time for your designer to try new styles or learn new tools. It’s just issue after issue, with no room to grow.
Takeaway: Having only one designer is risky. It can lead to stress, burnout, and missed deadlines.
2. What a Good External Team Can Do for You
A strong outside team doesn’t just design pages—they help you run your whole publishing process more smoothly.
They can:
- Make sure your magazine gets designed and proofed on time, every time
- Turn your articles into website content, emails, and social media posts
- Keep your design fresh and on-brand
- Give you access to more than one designer, so you’re never stuck
Takeaway: The right team becomes part of your team. You don’t just save time—you get better results.
3. What to Expect When You Start Outsourcing
Working with an external team isn’t instant magic. The first issue might feel a little rocky. That’s normal.
You’re learning how they work. They’re learning your brand. After two or three issues, things usually start to click. The process gets faster and smoother every month.
To make things easier:
- Build a simple brand guide (colors, logos, fonts)
- Set clear rules (like “no big changes after round 2 of edits”)
- Stay in touch (a short call can save hours of back-and-forth)
Takeaway: Give it time. The results are worth it.
4. Real Examples from Publishers Like You
B2B Publisher – 5 Magazines
- We’ve been working together since 2014
- Five titles managed every month
- Print, website, email, and social media handled on time
- They’ve never missed an issue in over 10 years
Franchise Wellness Magazine
- We help produce one national issue every month
- That issue gets customized by 50+ local franchises
- Print magazine is ready in 4 days, digital version in 5
- Everything is posted to the website and social media on time
- We also redesigned their websites and improved their email process
Takeaway: Long-term results happen when you build systems, not just layouts.
5. Should You Try Working with an Outside Team?
Here’s a quick test. Outsourcing might be right for you if:
- You publish monthly or bi-monthly
- You have a small team or just one designer
- You want to publish across the web, email, and social media
- You’re tired of rushing every issue
- You want your design to look fresh again
A Note About Our ProSquad™ Service
If you’re thinking about trying an external design team, our ProSquad™ service is one way to do it. It’s not a sales pitch—just something to look at if you want help running your magazine more smoothly, every month.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to do everything on your own. With the right team, you can publish faster, smarter, and without all the stress.
And once the system is in place? You get your time back to focus on what you do best.
I drive results for magazine publishers.
Experienced professional with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in internet engineering, marketing, business development and digital publishing.
