Subscription-based digital platform for a popular sports magazine
Socrates, widely-popular sports magazine, partnered with us to transform their print archive into a subscription-based digital platform. We developed a custom CRM to digitize years of content into a multi-format hub and integrated a Shopify-based e-commerce platform, enabling consistent revenue generation through merchandise sales and digital subscriptions.
Node.js, GraphQL, TypeScript, React, ElasticSearch, PostgreSQL, UI Design, Design System
35% Subscription Growth
Across Digital and Print
1M+ Monthly Traffic
to Premium Sports Content
Who is Socrates?
Socrates is a well-known sports magazine that has been a trusted name in sports journalism since its launch in 2015. Celebrated for its in-depth coverage of diverse sports, from cycling and snooker to football and basketball, it stands out with its multidisciplinary approach, combining the best of print and digital media.
With its popular YouTube channel, boasting over 400 million views, and an international edition in Germany, the magazine has expanded far beyond its origins. Today, it reaches a loyal audience of over 1 million followers and subscribers, solidifying its place as a leader in sports publishing.
Founded
2015
Industry
Publishing
Company Size
11-50 employees
How our partnership started
Despite Socrates’ success in print, their digital presence was limited to a basic WordPress blog, leaving much of its exceptional content inaccessible to the modern digital audience.
Recognizing the need for modernization, Socrates approached us with a clear vision: transforming their print magazine into a multimedia, subscription-based digital platform. After evaluating multiple software houses, they chose to partner with us, marking the beginning of our long-term collaboration.
What the project was about
Socrates wanted to digitize their extensive archive of magazine content, including thousands of articles, podcasts, and their vast YouTube library with dozens of programs and hundreds of videos. The goal was to present it all together on a single platform while offering personalized recommendations to users.
They also aimed to create a sustainable revenue model by selling digital subscriptions alongside print magazine subscriptions and merchandise through an integrated e-commerce platform. This approach was designed to provide a steady income stream while expanding their audience and engagement across all formats.
Our solution to the challenge
To achieve this digital transformation, we developed a custom CRM system that enabled the digitization of years’ worth of magazine content, organizing it into a seamless digital platform. From the beginning, we worked closely with Socrates’ content and strategy teams, holding workshops and meetings to deeply understand their goals and audience behavior. By analyzing data from Google Analytics and YouTube statistics we uncovered key trends and insights into user preferences, guiding the platform’s features and functionality.
We designed the platform to deliver a personalized user experience, including tailored content feeds and recommendations based on users’ favorite sports, teams, or topics. These recommendations were powered by Elasticsearch, leveraging its machine learning capabilities and vector searches to ensure highly relevant results.
This approach ensured that each reader enjoyed a deeply engaging and personalized experience. To further expand Socrates’ digital offerings, we introduced a rich media hub under the theme “Read, Watch, Listen” providing access to articles, podcasts, and videos, elevating the magazine’s content beyond traditional text formats.
Additionally, we utilized Shopify Headless to power Socrates’ e-commerce functionality, leveraging all the capabilities of Shopify Plus to enable them to sell branded merchandise seamlessly. The digital platform’s subscription model granted users full access to premium content while supporting print subscriptions, creating a cohesive and profitable ecosystem that broadened Socrates’ reach and revenue streams.
Throughout the project, our agile development process, structured around two-week sprints, enabled us to quickly adapt to evolving needs. Regular demos at the end of each sprint ensured transparency and alignment with the Socrates team, allowing for continuous refinement of the platform.
Impact and value delivered
The platform we developed marked a significant shift for Socrates, expanding their digital footprint and redefining how their audience engaged with their content. With over 1 million monthly visitors accessing premium sports content, the transformation not only broadened Socrates’ reach but also strengthened their position as a leader in sports journalism.
By offering access to a vast archive of diverse content across multiple formats, the new digital platform provided a seamless experience for both existing and new readers. This modernization contributed to an impressive 35% growth in subscriptions across digital and print, creating a consistent revenue stream through subscriptions.
Our collaboration laid the groundwork for Socrates to sustain its legacy and adapt to changing audience needs, ensuring their continued success in the ever-evolving media landscape.
