Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to common questions about reading, publishing, subscriptions, and more.

๐Ÿš€ Getting Started

What is Fluidgenius?
Fluidgenius is a premium digital publishing platform that lets organizations create, distribute, and monetize interactive digital magazines. Readers can browse publications on the newsstand, subscribe for full access, and enjoy features like interactive tags, embedded media, AI chat, and gamified experiences.
How do I create an account?
Click "Sign In" on any newsstand page. You can sign in with:
  • Google โ€” One-click sign-in with your Google account
  • Email & Password โ€” Create a new account with any email address
Your account is created automatically on first sign-in. No separate registration required for readers.
Is it free to browse?
Yes! Browsing the newsstand and viewing publication covers is always free. Many publications offer free access to all pages. Some publishers may offer a preview (typically 3 pages) with full access available through a subscription. Each publication shows a "FREE" or price badge on the newsstand so you know before you click.

๐Ÿ“– Reading

How do I read a magazine?
Click any publication cover on the newsstand to open it in our flipbook viewer. Navigate using:
  • Arrow keys or swipe โ€” Turn pages left/right
  • Page thumbnails โ€” Jump to any page directly
  • Interactive tags โ€” Tap glowing icons on pages for shopping, videos, social content, and more
  • Zoom โ€” Pinch or double-tap on mobile; scroll-wheel on desktop
What are interactive tags?
Interactive tags are glowing icons placed on magazine pages by publishers. Tap them to reveal:
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop the Look โ€” Browse and buy products featured in the spread
  • ๐ŸŽฌ Video โ€” Watch embedded YouTube, Vimeo, or native video
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Social โ€” View embedded Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn posts
  • ๐Ÿ“ฐ Articles โ€” Read extracted article text with AI summaries
  • ๐Ÿค– AI Chat โ€” Ask our AI assistant about anything in the magazine
Can I share a specific page?
Yes! Click the share button (โ†—) in the flipbook toolbar. You can share to Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, WhatsApp, or Email. The link opens directly to that page with a rich preview image. On mobile, you'll also see a "More sharing optionsโ€ฆ" button that uses your device's native share sheet.
Does it work on mobile?
Absolutely. The flipbook viewer is fully responsive and optimized for touch. Swipe to turn pages, tap tags for interactions, and pinch to zoom. The newsstand, profile, and all other pages are also mobile-friendly.

๐Ÿ’ณ Subscriptions & Billing

How do subscriptions work?
Each publisher sets their own pricing. When a publication requires a subscription, you'll see a price badge on the newsstand cover. Click "Subscribe" to choose a plan (monthly or yearly). Payments are processed securely through Stripe. Once subscribed, you get unlimited access to all that publisher's gated content.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel anytime through the Stripe Customer Portal. Go to your Profile โ†’ Subscriptions โ†’ "Manage" to access the portal. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period โ€” you keep access until then.
Tip: You can also email support@fluidgenius.com for cancellation help.
Can I get a refund?
Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact support@fluidgenius.com within 14 days of a charge and we'll work with you to resolve the issue.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through Stripe. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also supported where available.

โœ๏ธ Publishing

How do I start publishing?
  1. Go to Register Organization and fill out the application
  2. Our team reviews and approves your application (usually within 24-48 hours)
  3. Once approved, you'll receive a welcome email with a link to the setup wizard
  4. Set up your branding, upload your first issue (PDF), and publish!
Formats accepted: PDF files. Each page becomes a high-res flipbook page. InDesign HTML5 exports are also supported for advanced interactivity.
What publisher plans are available?
  • Free โ€” 1 publication, basic features, great for getting started
  • Plus โ€” 5 publications, branding, gamification, reader subscriptions
  • Premium โ€” 25 publications, full branding, unlimited tags, Stripe Connect payouts
  • Enterprise โ€” Unlimited publications, white-label, dedicated support
See the full comparison at Plans & Pricing.
How do I add interactive tags?
Use the Tag Builder in your publisher dashboard. Navigate to any published issue, then click "Edit Tags." You can place tags anywhere on a page โ€” choose the tag type (Shop, Video, Social, Article, etc.), position it visually, and save. Tags appear as animated icons to your readers.
Can I earn money from my publications?
Yes! Publishers on Plus plans and above can set up reader subscriptions with custom pricing. Premium and Enterprise publishers can connect their Stripe account via Stripe Connect to receive direct payouts. Revenue is split between the publisher and the platform based on your plan tier.
How do I add a podcast to my publication?
Each publication can have its own podcast episode. To add one:
  1. Go to your Publisher Dashboard
  2. Find the issue in the "Your Publications" table
  3. Click the ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ podcast icon in the Podcast column
  4. Select an audio file (MP3, M4A, WAV, or OGG) and click "Upload"
Once uploaded, a waveform audio player automatically appears on the issue's cover page on the newsstand. You can replace or remove the podcast at any time from the same modal.
Supported formats: MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG. Files are stored securely in Google Cloud Storage and served via CDN for fast playback.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ Print Orders

Can I order a printed copy?
Yes! Click the "Order Print" button on any publication that supports it. Choose your format (Standard, Premium, Economy, or Digest), enter your shipping address, and pay securely via Stripe. Your magazine is printed on-demand by Lulu Press and shipped worldwide.
What print formats are available?
  • Standard Magazine (8.5ร—11") โ€” Perfect bound, full-color
  • Premium Magazine (8.5ร—11") โ€” Coil-bound, lay-flat, premium stock
  • Economy Magazine (8.5ร—11") โ€” Saddle-stitched, affordable
  • Digest (6ร—9") โ€” Compact perfect-bound format
The system automatically recommends the best format based on your PDF dimensions and shows a โœ… badge for matching sizes.
How long does shipping take?
Shipping times depend on your location and chosen speed:
  • Standard (Ground) โ€” 5-10 business days (US)
  • Expedited โ€” 3-5 business days (US)
  • Express โ€” 1-3 business days (US)
International shipping is available and typically takes 10-21 business days. Exact quotes are calculated during checkout.

๐ŸŽฎ Games & Gamification

What are magazine games?
Publishers can create interactive games within their magazines! These are treasure-hunt style experiences where you find hidden clues on pages, earn points, unlock achievements, and compete on leaderboards. Some games include teams, polls, and reward tags. Look for the ๐ŸŽฎ game icon on publications that have active games.
How do I join a game?
When you open a magazine with an active game, you'll be prompted to join. Simply click "Join Game" and start flipping through pages to find clues. Your progress is saved automatically. You can view your game history at My Games.

โœ๏ธ Yearbooks & Signing

What is yearbook signing?
Yearbook signing is a digital feature that lets readers leave personalized signatures on yearbook publications. You can draw a signature, type a message, and attach a photo โ€” just like signing a physical yearbook. Signatures appear as sticker overlays on the yearbook pages.
How do I sign someone's yearbook?
When you open a yearbook publication, the signing toolbar appears automatically. Click the "Sign" button, then:
  • Draw your signature using your finger (mobile) or mouse (desktop)
  • Type a personal message
  • Optionally upload a photo
Your signature is saved and visible to the yearbook owner.
Tip: If you were invited via email, clicking the link takes you directly to the owner's yearbook. Your signature is placed on their copy.
How do I invite friends to sign my yearbook?
Go to My Profile โ†’ My Yearbooks tab. Select your yearbook, then enter an email address and click "Send Request." Your friend will receive a signing invitation. You can track the status of each request (Pending, Signed, Canceled) from the same page.
What publication types support signing?
Signing can be enabled on any publication type โ€” yearbooks, comics, catalogs, journals, and more. Publishers set the publication type from the Publisher Dashboard. When "yearbook" is included in the types, the signing UI activates automatically in the viewer.
Example: A comic with signing enabled would have type=comic and mode=yearbook in the URL, giving it a comic layout with yearbook-style signing features.

๐Ÿ‘ค Account & Privacy

How do I manage my profile?
Go to My Profile from the menu. You can view your account details, manage subscriptions, and see your organization memberships.
How is my data protected?
We take data security seriously:
  • All data in transit is encrypted via HTTPS/TLS
  • Database encryption at rest using Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK)
  • Payments processed securely by Stripe (we never see your card details)
  • Firebase authentication with industry-standard JWT tokens
  • Rate limiting and abuse prevention on all endpoints
Read our full Privacy Policy for details.
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Contact support@fluidgenius.com to request account deletion. We will delete your personal data within 30 days, in compliance with GDPR and CCPA. Active subscriptions will be cancelled and prorated refunds may apply.
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Still have questions?

Our team is happy to help. Reach out and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.