Innovative application lets readers build their own newsletters

User-generated newsletters are an interesting development of probable interest to both consumer and b2b publishers. In effect, it takes personalization to a whole new level.

According to a posting on eMedia Vitals, the tech trade publisher IDG is about to launch TechDispenser, an application that enables users of its magazine websites to build custom newsletters based on the technology topics that interest them.  They can choose from 200 topics drawn from more than 700 sources. 

IDG estimates it gets 30% of its traffic on its major brand sites from newsletters.Not at all coincidently, this new venture provides the company with new names and contact information for its database. As Tom Pimental, director of product development says: 

“We’re a media company on the front end, but on the back end we’re a database company,” said Pimental. “That’s our most valuable asset.”