Be-Mag: Reinventing the wheel, one spin at a time

Be-Mag is a rollerblading magazine founded in 1996 – one of the longest-running media companies in its niche. What started as a humble email newsletter evolved into a printed magazine and, eventually, a website.

Like many media companies, Be-Mag has faced challenging times with the ever-changing shifts in media consumption. But it has proven that Be-Mag is more than just a platform – it’s a manifestation of the community itself.

Join us as we sit down with Kevin Little, editor-in-chief, and Jonathan Labez, visual director, both passionate skaters since the mid-90s. They’ll share their journey with Be-Mag, from early fans to leading the charge and finding a reliable online home with Hostinger. Let’s slide right in!

From fans to front runners

Both Kevin and Jonathan have worked with Be-Mag before joining the in-house team. Kevin owns an inline skating wheels company and organizes inline skating contests, while Jonathan was doing photography of his fellow skaters.

“I still feel incredibly fortunate and blessed to be involved in Be-Mag, because we’re able to share so many people’s stories and their contributions to our community worldwide,” Kevin says.

“Be-Mag helped give me confidence in ways that I didn’t know I had when I was younger. If we can do that for someone else, make them feel like they’re part of something bigger and have a community that supports them – that’s what we’re trying to communicate through the website,” he asserts.

Guarding the legacy

When Kevin and Jonathan joined as staff in 2017, there was real concern that the magazine might meet its end.

During the pandemic, the then-owner’s intention to sell the magazine put them in a precarious position, forcing them to fight for Be-Mag’s survival. Decades of invaluable content, from printed magazines to digital archives, were at stake.

Jonathan drew a parallel to MTV News, the entire website and archives of which were deleted. More than two decades of music history have vanished into thin air.

“Being featured on Be-Mag means a lot to many skaters. If it’s gone, it will be a huge loss for the community,” explains Jonathan.

Here’s where Kevin and Jonathan felt a profound responsibility to protect this invaluable resource. Taking on the mantle of ownership was a monumental task.

“It’s great, but it also comes with its own anxiety and responsibility to make sure you’re doing it correctly,” Kevin admits. Jonathan found it surreal, going from a young fan purchasing Be-Mag in a magazine store to owning the publication.

“But well, just like anything in life, you’re kind of thrust into the driver’s seat, and you’re either gonna drive or just sit there,” says Kevin, determined to preserve Be-Mag’s legacy and ensure its continued success.

The hack

Shortly after Jonathan and Kevin joined Be-Mag, the website was hacked.

“We were losing a lot of traffic, and people are assuming that it’s no longer there at all,” Kevin reminisces.

Turns out the weak link in the attack was Be-Mag’s old message board, a pre-social media tool for connecting with fellow community members. The board was kept as a legacy since it helped develop Be-Mag’s community worldwide, and it was still connected to the website.

On top of that, the previous magazine staff never updated the WordPress software or backed up Be-Mag’s site.

Despite losing some content, the team managed to retrieve the majority of the content. This incident emphasized the need for robust security measures and data preservation practices. Not only from their side as webmasters but also from the host’s side – they need an online home that can provide peace of mind.

Therefore, Jonathan and Kevin figured they would need a reliable hosting provider first. Be-Mag has more than 90 gigabytes of data, so the host would need the ability to handle such complex website migrations.

The switch to Hostinger

After the hack, Jonathan took over the technical aspects of the Be-Mag website. He began to search for a hosting solution that could handle the complexity and ensure minimal downtime. With careful evaluation, he and Kevin chose Hostinger.

“We were trying to figure out what we can do realistically within our budget and abilities. We want a host that will not leave us stuck in the same kind of peril again,” says Kevin.

Initially, they planned to go with the Managed WordPress hosting plan, since they thought what they needed the most was a solid WordPress-optimized platform. But their friend suggested that their behemoth-sized data and traffic better suited the Cloud hosting plan, which is what they’ve settled with.

Like the managed WordPress plan, the Cloud plan has automatic WordPress updates and a malware scanner. These features can help prevent security incidents and let Jonathan and Kevin focus on tasks other than maintaining their site, such as revamping Be-Mag’s content.

One of the standout features of Hostinger that impressed them was its exceptional customer support. “Hostinger’s been so quick to respond to our messages,” Jonathan notes, “It’s nice to have support day and night”.

Kevin adds, “The support’s been the top bar for us.” He also appreciates Hostinger’s user-friendly interface and how the customer success team explains the solution in an easy-to-understand way, using layperson’s terms.

In terms of technical capabilities, Hostinger’s WordPress-friendly platform and robust infrastructure proved to be invaluable. Jonathan mentions, “It’s been rock solid. It’s also nice that there are data centers in many places, including Arizona, which is just a state over from Kevin and me. It’s fast and reliable.”

The top-notch service has made the transition seamless. As Kevin puts it, “It’s been smooth sailing. We have had nothing but great experiences thus far. When it’s smooth sailing, you don’t realize how good you have it.”

Gliding smoothly with WordPress on Hostinger

Be-Mag’s website has been built on WordPress since before Kevin and Jonathan took over the helm, but the hack gave them a fresh start. This setback allowed them to reimagine their website’s design and functionality. With the help of WordPress, they were able to create a more refined and visually appealing platform that accurately reflected their brand.

Kevin notes that one of WordPress’ key advantages is its flexibility. “Once I started playing around with the formats, I realized the versatility within the settings. I’m like, “I didn’t know I could do that!”

This adaptability has enabled them to experiment with different layouts and styles for various article types, while maintaining a cohesive overall design that is still related to its print publications.

Moreover, WordPress has empowered Be-Mag to maintain a high level of editorial quality while also meeting tight deadlines.

Kevin states, “We want it to be up and out as quickly as possible while also maintaining the quality of being an established magazine and making it look right.” This is a testament to how WordPress’s user-friendly interface and powerful tools have streamlined their workflow, allowing them to create and publish content efficiently.