The Magazine Manager
The Magazine Manager is a comprehensive publishing CRM designed to help you manage advertising sales, production workflows, and digital editions within a single integrated web-based platform.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a flexible work management platform that combines the familiar interface of a spreadsheet with powerful project management features to help you automate workflows and track complex projects.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | The Magazine Manager | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Website | magazinemanager.com | smartsheet.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2002 | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Coconut Creek, USA | Bellevue, USA |
Overview
The Magazine Manager
The Magazine Manager is a specialized CRM built specifically for the unique needs of the publishing industry. You can manage your entire publication lifecycle from a single dashboard, moving seamlessly from initial ad sales and contract management to production tracking and final invoicing. It eliminates the need for disconnected spreadsheets by centralizing your contact data, flat-planning tools, and digital asset management.
You can track your sales pipeline in real-time and automate the billing process for both print and digital media. The platform also includes tools for circulation management and email marketing, helping you grow your audience while keeping your internal operations organized. Whether you run a single local title or a large multi-national media group, you can scale the system to fit your specific team structure and workflow requirements.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet gives you a dynamic workspace where you can manage projects, automate workflows, and build new solutions without writing code. You can switch between grid, card, Gantt, and calendar views to visualize your work exactly how you want. It bridges the gap between simple spreadsheets and complex project tools, allowing you to track individual tasks or manage massive enterprise portfolios in one centralized location.
You can eliminate manual data entry by setting up automated alerts, status updates, and approval requests. The platform scales with your needs, whether you are a small team organizing a launch or a large corporation managing global operations. It helps you increase transparency across your organization by sharing real-time dashboards and reports with stakeholders, ensuring everyone stays aligned on key goals and deadlines.
Overview
The Magazine Manager Features
- Ad Sales CRM Track your entire sales pipeline and manage contracts specifically designed for print and digital advertising schedules.
- Flat-Planning Tool Map out your magazine layout visually with drag-and-drop tools to organize editorial and advertising placements.
- Production Tracking Monitor the status of every creative asset and automate reminders to clients for missing artwork or approvals.
- Automated Invoicing Generate invoices automatically based on your flat plan and sync your financial data directly with accounting software.
- Digital Edition Creator Convert your print layouts into interactive digital editions to expand your reach across mobile and web platforms.
- Circulation Management Manage your subscriber lists and distribution schedules to ensure your publication reaches the right audience on time.
Smartsheet Features
- Flexible Work Views. Switch instantly between Grid, Gantt, Card, and Calendar views to manage your tasks from any perspective you prefer.
- Automated Workflows. Create visual automated actions to send alerts, request approvals, and update sheet rows without manual intervention.
- Real-time Dashboards. Build custom widgets and charts to give your team and executives a live look at project health and performance.
- Dynamic Reports. Consolidate information from multiple sheets into a single report to identify trends and risks across different departments.
- Proofing and Approvals. Streamline content reviews by uploading files directly to rows and collecting feedback through dedicated proofing workflows.
- Resource Management. Track team availability and allocate hours effectively to ensure your projects stay on schedule and under budget.
Pricing Comparison
The Magazine Manager Pricing
Smartsheet Pricing
- 1 user and 2 editors
- Up to 2 sheets
- Gantt, Grid, Card views
- 500MB attachment storage
- 100 automations per month
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited viewers
- Up to 10 sheets
- Unlimited reports and dashboards
- 20GB attachment storage
- Forms and branding
Pros & Cons
The Magazine Manager
Pros
- Built specifically for publishers rather than general sales teams
- Centralizes sales and production in one unified database
- Excellent flat-planning tools for visual issue management
- Strong reporting capabilities for tracking sales representative performance
Cons
- Interface can feel dated compared to modern CRMs
- Significant learning curve due to the deep feature set
- Initial setup and configuration requires a time investment
Smartsheet
Pros
- Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces the initial learning curve
- Highly customizable views for different project management styles
- Powerful automation engine saves hours of manual work
- Excellent reporting capabilities across multiple different sheets
- Strong mobile app for managing tasks while traveling
Cons
- Advanced features require a significant time investment
- Real-time collaboration lacks the speed of Google Sheets
- Pricing can become expensive as you add more members