ABC's Monthly Online Member Newsletter

Consumer Magazine Services and Reports: Beyond Circulation Audits

ABC is recognized primarily as the circulation auditor for the print media industry, but did you know that ABC offers members more? As a member-driven organization devoted to meeting the needs of today’s marketplace, ABC data is more relevant, comprehensive and essential than ever. Below is a description of other audit services, supplemental reports and data dissemination options available to ABC members.

Audit Services

• Circulation Audit
  This is ABC’s primary service for publisher members. All publisher members are required to file their circulation claims with ABC in order to have the claims verified and reported to the membership and the industry. This service culminates in Audit Reports, Publisher’s Statements and FAS-FAX reports. The distinguishing characteristic of ABC membership is that Audit Reports are released for every ABC member.

Supplemental Services
In addition to the circulation audit, ABC’s advertising and publishing communities work together to create innovative services that present members with the vital supplemental verification services. Here are some optional services members can choose from:

• Subscriber Profile
  ABC's Subscriber Profile verifies subscriber information conducted to industry-developed research standards and reporting formats. This service delivers comparable, credible subscriber profile information that helps advertisers make better buying decisions and allows publishers to develop more competitive marketing strategies.
• U.S. Postal Service Verification
  For publications with a second-class mailing permit, ABC can authenticate mailing activity to help publications defend their discount. ABC’s postal verification is accepted by the U.S. Postal Service as an annual inspection of circulation activity for second-class mailing materials.
• ABC Interactive (ABCi)
  ABC's online auditing unit provides independent, third-party verification and industry-developed standards for ABC member Web sites. Publishers who use ABCi to verify their Web site data can choose to include and promote integrated media buys by featuring Web site performance data on the front page of ABC Publisher's Statements.
• Mailing List Verification
  At the publisher's request, an ABC auditor can conduct tests to validate the information on a publication's subscriber file for a specific issue. Verification of the mailing list allows for the disposal of individual subscriber documentation, such as reader request cards or original subscription order documents.
• Inspection of Records
  Prior to an applicant publication's initial audit, an ABC auditor can review a publisher's circulation operations and offer feedback and recommendations so that records are ABC-ready at audit time.

Supplemental Reporting Options
Publisher members are not limited to Audit Reports and semiannual Publisher’s Statements. Depending on their business strategy, the Supplemental Data Report and Statement Plus might be great ways for publishers to provide specific information to their advertising audience.

• Supplemental Data Reports (SDR)
  These ABC reports provide advertisers with additional decision-making data not included in a typical Publisher's Statement. Subject to an ABC audit, SDRs supply analyses of “ABCD” county distribution or demographics.
• Statement Plus
  Statement Plus is a customized report augmenting information included in the Publisher’s Statements and Audit Reports. Publications can elect to use these reports to highlight specific circulation information not traditionally found in other reports such as expanded trending, distribution versus print run, percentage of newsstand returns, renewal rate data, specifics on non-paid distribution and more.
• Interim Publisher’s Statement
  Publications on the regular June/December report cycles may choose to file quarterly statements in addition to their regular reports.

To inquire further about ABC’s wide array of reporting and service choices, contact an ABC marketing manager:

For publications located in Alaska, Hawaii, Wash., Ore., Calif., Wyo., Idaho, Neb., N.D., S.D., Utah, Nev., N.M., Ariz., Texas, Colo., Okla., Kan. - Contact at (847) 879-8406.

For publications located in Minn., Iowa, Mo., Ark., La., Wis., Ill., Ind., Mich., Miss., Ala., Fla., - Contact at (847) 879-8396.

For publication titles beginning with the letters A-E in Maine, N.H., R.I., Vt., N.Y., Conn., Penn., Del., Md., Va., W.V., Ky., Tenn., N.J., N.C., Ga., D.C - Contact at (212) 867-8992.

For publication titles beginning with the letters F-Z in Maine, N.H., R.I., Vt., N.Y., Conn., Penn., Del., Md., Va., W.V., Ky., Tenn., N.J., N.C., Ga., D.C - contact at (212) 867-8992.

Related Links:
Consumer Magazine Audit Services
About ABC Consumer Magazine Membership
Consumer Magazine Reports
Article D 4.1 Publisher’s Statements

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