Trusted lifestyle publications have learned to walk a fine line between addressing a specific niche and having widespread appeal. The best of them answer felt needs for many…but without becoming too narrow. After all, they are striving to provide valuable insights and information and attract advertising revenue.

Some of the publications on this list are well-known. However, others you may not have heard of previously. They represent a mixture of blogs and magazines, many of them blurring the distinction in the process. Check out the ones that spark your interest. Poke around for a bit. We've listed our top picks in alphabetical order. Enjoy!

Camille Styles

As a college student, Camille Styles thought she was going to use her journalism degree to become a magazine editor. However, along the way, she worked for a catering company. Styles found, to her surprise, that she absolutely loved event planning. In her own words, she found it difficult to believe that she was getting paid to merge her passions for cooking, design, and bringing people together.

On her lifestyle site, Styles currently oversees what is arguably one of the most eye-pleasing, helpful, and fun lifestyle publications. As a result, if you share her passion for food, gathering, design, beauty, wellness, and more, check out CS. It's filled with engaging content, thoughtfully articulated, and beautiful to behold at the same time.

Conscious Lifestyle

With a core value of believing that we must be the change we wish to see, Conscious Lifestyle seeks to help people overcome challenges common to much of the human race. It's a pretty tall order, but the editors take an open posture toward issues of mind, body, and spirit.

The focus of this lifestyle publication is to provide practical tips, tools, and techniques. Consequently, these help others move in the direction of happiness, health, and healing. The site intentionally provides a platform for the world's leading thinkers, philosophers, and leaders. It zeroes in on material that anyone can access.

Entertainment Weekly

Who doesn't enjoy unwinding with some quality entertainment, especially during times of cultural upheaval, heightened stress, and economic uncertainty? The editors behind Entertainment Weekly totally get it. As a result, they strive to make sure we make informed, insightful decisions about the various forms of media on which we spend our time and money.

Wondering if it's worth it to catch Marvel's latest release in the theater? Not sure if the series your best friend won't stop jabbering about is really as good as he says it is? EW can help you sift through all of the attendant hype that surrounds anything in its initial days of release. This is true whether it's a movie, TV series, book, or theatrical tour. However, be warned up front. You might lose track of time once you start digging into the print magazine or website.

The Financial Diet

Far too many people put off learning about the ins and outs of money management and investments for good reason. On the other hand, many financial publications take as their operating assumption that their readers are already financially savvy. Not so with The Financial Diet. The editors at this lifestyle publication work hard to demystify issues of finance for the average reader looking to learn more.

Whether your intent is to become financially wise or simply to solve an immediate problem related to money, give the Financial Diet website a spin. You'll likely find articles about nailing that important job interview, how to create a simple budget, and even whether or not organic food is worth the hefty price tag. In short, end any embarrassment you might have about money issues today by checking out TFD.

Food Network

The folks at Food Network recognize that we all need to eat but are committed to helping us do it well. The namesake magazine shows up in the mail to an astonishing 100 million U.S. households and currently holds the No. 2 position in terms of best-selling magazines on the newsstand racks. Clearly, the editors of this lifestyle publication are doing something right.

Food Network isn't merely a collection of recipes, as the uninitiated might expect. Instead, it seeks to empower readers to move into a higher realm of food preparation and consumption as it seeks to fulfill its goal of being "food's best friend." Consequently, content is educational, helpful, diverse, and (let's just say it) jaw-dropping in its visual appeal. If you've been wanting to take your food habits to the next level, this is the site for you.

Good Housekeeping

The very first print issue of Good Housekeeping was published in 1885. With well over a hundred years of experience under its belt, the folks at this magazine obviously know what they are doing. The magazine has never swerved from its original calling to provide helpful information out of a sense of public duty matched by private interest.

This high calling serves its readers well. Others describe the editorial team at GH as ruthless in its fact-checking and commitment to accuracy. In this way, they help their readers make informed, reliable decisions with just about everything that touches their lives. If you are looking for dependable, authoritative information regarding food, beauty, holidays, and more, this lifestyle publication should be one of the first you consult.

He Spoke Style

If you're a guy looking to give your outward impression a serious upgrade, consider making He Spoke Style your first destination. Unlike many men's style lifestyle publications, the writers and editors at HSS shoot straight. They do so without a lot of fuss or even a hint of pretentiousness. The publication has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Esquire, and plenty of additional top-tier media.

The emphasis at HSS is on practicality and attracting "regular guys" as readers. Guys who maybe don't have thousands of spare dollars lying around. Since its launch over a decade ago, HSS has grown to include its own line of menswear. Likewise, the experts at HSS even offer complimentary consultations and personal styling tips via Zoom. If you find it slightly intimidating to walk into a menswear store, give the folks at HSS a shot.

Martha Stewart Living

While the emphasis tilts toward the upscale, everyone can find something of interest. Filled with helpful, practical tips and advice, the team at Martha Stewart Living offers up great recipes, DIY projects, beauty tips, gardening expertise, and much more.

Stewart has been an authoritative voice in lifestyle publications since 1982. That was the year her book Entertaining with Martha Stewart first hit the shelves. Since that time, MSL has grown to become a huge international presence. Her enduring commitment to making life easier, inspirational, and a little more beautiful has never wavered. For some of the best advice on health, pets, weddings, food, home design, and more, make MSL a regular destination.

Men's Health

Print editions of Men's Health are currently available in 25 editions in 35 countries. Add to that more than 21 million readers in print and online, and MH represents a formidable presence in the world of fitness, nutrition, and weight loss. The publication also offers advice on menswear, scientific breakthroughs, gear, movies, and more, all targeted at guys.

The commitment to service journalism runs deep at MH. Rigorous fact-checking, licensed experts, and experienced staff make it a worthwhile read. MH has been awarded many of the top publishing industry honors. These include the Ad Age distinction of being named one of its Magazines of the Year in 2017. The coverage typical of MH is informative while avoiding the trap of being overly promotional.

NewsReports

If you're interested in availing yourself of several life hacks and tips that cover just about any topic making headlines, make NewsReports your next lifestyle publication to visit. The folks behind NR value substance over hype and do their best to steer readers to the latest great apps, technology innovations, health news, and more. NR is an online-only publication committed to helping you become more productive and well-informed.

The NR effort began as a humble website dedicated almost exclusively to helping its readers wade through the mind-numbing array of options available on the Apple Store or Google Play. It never let go of that niche expertise. The writers and editors expanded and now scour the headlines for noteworthy innovations, so you don't have to. If you're looking to move past headlines and hype, give NR a look.

The Pioneer Woman

It might help to think of Ree Drummond's monolithic lifestyle publication as "Martha Stewart for the blue jeans crowd." In addition to the usual sections on food, decorating, health, beauty, and style, Drummond peppers The Pioneer Woman with information and snapshots from her personal life. The overall effect is one of exchanging recipes with your next-door neighbor over a glass of minty iced tea.

Drummond launched her website over 15 years ago. She had zero intention of launching a media behemoth, yet her publication transcends lifestyle genres in a way readers clearly enjoy. TPW answers a market segment that wants the information, yes, but also wants to know a little bit about the people providing it. Here you'll find articles with non-traditional titles such as "Todd Played His Last High School Football Game" and "Photos of Chuck."

Southern Living

The reach of Southern Living extends far beyond its initial target audience of the southern U.S. without losing its focus on the culture and traditions of the American South. Launched in February of 1966 by The Progressive Farmer Company, SL has stayed true to its vision. It celebrates what's glorious about the South "in all its complexity" and adds diverse and dynamic voices to the conversation.

Rigorous fact-checking and an unwavering commitment to accuracy make SL a lifestyle publication that is both dependable and entertaining. If you are looking for interviews with experts, creative food ideas, home and garden tips, and a whole lot more, look for SL to serve it all up. The editors present it all with a southern flair that is sure to appeal to just about anyone from any walk of life.

Verve

Headquartered in South Bombay, Verve was launched by Anuradha Mahindra in 1995 to offer a platform for the voices of recognized talent to express themselves. The namesake website followed in April 2014. The claim to fame here is being India's very first women's luxury lifestyle monthly. Verve offers its readership a glossy print version and has as its primary emphasis content of consistently high quality.

Verve tailors its content to a very specific niche. Over time, the publication has grown as its articles on arts and culture, people, fashion, travel, events, and more appeal to a considerably larger audience. Do you have an interest in getting a global perspective and approach to service journalism? Verve is a lifestyle publication well worth your attention.

Wit and Delight

True to its moniker, Wit and Delight advertises itself as "a home to professional feelings feelers, an elevator for glass ceiling breakers, and a soapbox for stories on anything from home decor and tile to battling anxiety and depression." And that pithy description pretty much sums up what you will find within. Never taking itself too terribly seriously, W&D tells important stories with a flair missing from many other website destinations.

The emphasis here is on stories that were developed as a result of real-world experiments out in the world of "adulting." If you're immediately drawn in by a no-nonsense approach to topics of importance, giving yourself 30 minutes with W&D is a dangerous undertaking. You'll pop in for a quick look and maybe miss picking up the kids from school. This lifestyle publication is long on useful information and enjoyable reading.

Digital PR isn't something to overlook as you work to build your brand and grow sales. On the contrary, digital PR is a powerful tactic that helps build brand credibility, ensuring your company stands out in the niche reserved for your products and services.

Used properly, digital PR can help connect people online with your company and create genuine interest, respect, and recognition for your brand.

Let's dive into what that means and why using digital PR to build credibility is so important.

What is digital PR?

Digital PR is not about sales content or any promotional message. Yes, there's a venue suitable for breaking out "the hard sell," but this isn't it.

Instead, marketers design digital PR campaigns to build brand credibility for brands by providing authentic, valuable content to readers. Digital PR also places messages where target audiences are most likely to find and appreciate them. Rather than impose a heavy-handed commercial where it's more annoying than helpful, these messages are a natural extension of the discussion.

In short, digital PR connects traditional public relations with social media, content marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO).

Digital PR builds awareness of your brand.

One of the ways digital PR helps is by providing people with an opportunity to get to know you and your brand. Done right, this opportunity shows up in a low-pressure, low-stakes encounter. If a target customer (a person most likely to want and need your services) does not know your company exists, they cannot even consider that you might be able to solve their problem.

Today's consumer is savvy. Experts estimate that 81% of shoppers will spend time researching a product or service before purchasing it or buying from a company they do not know. With the help of digital PR, it is possible to highlight what makes your company stand out and why you're better than your competitors.

It can provide a boost to your SEO efforts.

You may not realize it, but digital PR also helps by building your visibility in search engines.

That means when people seek information about what you offer, they can easily find you. Search ease helps develop your ability to be seen by prospective buyers.

Remember that digital PR cannot solve problems with products or services. If your products cannot stand up to others, this deficiency will become evident in search results. It will become even more apparent in consumer reviews posted to widely-used eCommerce sites.

When you use digital PR properly online, it suddenly becomes possible to get noticed. You're then a part of industry discussions and articles. This can be an additional signal to Google when you're trying to rank for specific topics and themes online.

Dovetail content with other digital PR marketing efforts.

You've worked hard to build a company that provides quality products and services, consistently-excellent customer service, and great value for the dollar. However, you might be baffled by a lack of online visibility. Worse, you see that competitors with an objectively inferior track record score hit after hit on SERPs. Why does the SEO spotlight shine brightly there?

Scan through industry websites, magazines, and popular sites. In all likelihood, sites that rank high on SERPs appear in industry-specific social media accounts, informative articles, and the like. The job of any successful digital PR and marketing campaign is to garner the attention of these industry voices and obtain links back to your content.

However, the digital footprint you create for your company must be entirely consistent with the messaging you are developing in traditional PR channels.

If you have a solid product or service and consistently send the same messages in your traditional marketing channels as you do online, you will begin to gain domain authority. Simply stated, "domain authority" can roughly be translated to "These people know what they are talking about." It goes without saying that you should provide agenda-free, service-oriented content in the spirit of helping people find solutions to real-world problems.

Social Collateral

Once you start scoring backlinks, you can use those brand mentions as social collateral. Leverage them! Highlight the fact that a credible online site mentioned your business. This aspect of digital PR will help fill your social media accounts with solid content.

When people start digging into your specific market niche, you will appear on those social accounts. You can then promote that you're a credible brand.

Lead Nurture

You can nurture leads or tout your efforts to current customers by showcasing your mentions in your email marketing efforts. Email campaigns help build credibility with both audiences.

Perhaps your audience is on the fence regarding your product or service. At that moment, a shopper sees that a powerhouse such as Forbes mentioned your brand in a positive light. This connection immeasurably boosts your brand.

Build a positive platform for your brand.

At the core of successful branding is using digital PR methods to build an impression on prospective customers about your products or services. That way, when someone mentions your brand, your customers know who you are and what you offer.

Being consistent in your approach matters. Consumers need to hear the same type of message from you every time.

Creating a positive impression for your potential consumers isn't a simplistic process. Consider these key questions.

• Do people think positively of your brand now?
• What are some areas of improvement?
• What are the main themes your audience should hear from you about?

Because it is all happening online, digital PR can help improve the decision-making and opinions of your consumer base. Utilizing the best methods, it's possible to enhance your branding considerably. Even if your credibility isn't where you want it to be, digital PR can help improve it.

Become a leader in your industry.

One of the best ways to conduct a digital PR public relations campaign is to build your presence in that market. That means becoming a thought leader and speaking authoritatively about innovations in your field.

It may mean contributing to the stories that are breaking within your industry now. You could provide tips and strategies or discuss the future of the industry. The possibilities are endless.

This form of digital PR is quite powerful because it allows you, the business owner, CEO, or other leader, to become the face of the industry. That means you can stand out from other companies. When a person has a problem your services or products can fix, they recognize you as the person to trust. That's building strong credibility in the industry.

Your service solves their problem, and they will remember your business favorably. They will likely recommend your products to others.

How does digital PR fit into your marketing strategy?

Digital PR is one component of your efforts to build a robust business model and online presence. Beyond a doubt, it is a core part of your digital marketing strategy. It works alongside your other efforts to build a solid digital PR footprint.

Over time, your digital PR, any traditional PR you are implementing, and other tools you use to develop your customer experience work together. These tools deliver an outstanding outcome for your client. They learn from you. They benefit from you. That leads to their willingness to recommend your business to others and come back repeatedly.

In a world where consumers see brand credibility as very important, especially for online businesses, you cannot overlook putting time and effort into digital PR. In the era of the smartphone shopper, your business (regardless of size) can't afford to let this opportunity go unrealized.

Intrigued? Want to learn more? We're here to help. Find out how our team at Relevance can help your business achieve its digital PR goals and build brand credibility. Schedule a free consultation today.