Forsyth's Facebook focus group
About 120 subscribers to the Forsyth County News in Georgia are getting more engagement with the paper via a closed Facebook group just for them.
And the paper, which circulates 7,000 copies on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, is getting valuable input into its news coverage.
"We can have a direct relationship with the people who are paying us to do this work," said Editor Brian Paglia.
MoreIncrease newsletter engagement with A/B testing
For newsrooms, A/B testing can be a powerful tool for gaining insight into audiences to see how best to engage with readers.
Earlier this year, StarNews participated in A/B testing with the newsroom's Facebook account, testing which types of content struck more of a chord with followers. The staff was able to establish some important best posting practices. Read about them here!
MOREFree product expands digital business and financial content
A new kind of partnership for publishers: Wall Street, simplified. PassFail offers free content and shared revenues.
MORETop 5 best newsletter pop-ups
When it comes to newsletters, the meat of your product should be the content of the email. However, after launching a brand-new letter or reviving an old one, it's critical that newsrooms make a concentrated push for sign-ups. Many newsrooms use ads in house and on other websites, or opt for an embedded sign-up box in the body of an article or on their landing page. But some are still using the good old pop-up form.
But there's a catch: The pop-up form can be tricky. Sites can be dinged by Google for interrupting or obscuring the reader's experience. So why bother? At nearly 2 percent, the conversion rate for pop-ups is remarkably high, and while using them may interrupt usability, gaining immediate access to a reader's inbox is a powerful tool for newsrooms.
Pop-up forms get a bad rap, but for those sites that are willing to take the risk by using ads to garner subscribers, they make it worth their while.
We've listed five of our favorite, most eye-catching pop-up forms from across the web. Not only are these forms interesting, they actually convince us to sign up for a newsletter we otherwise may have overlooked.
MOREHow a seven-person community newspaper reached 20,000 Facebook followers
The Daily Telegram in Adrian, Mich., experienced an organic surge in popularity on social media site Facebook during recent months. Learn how breaking news and the use of Facebook Insights is increasing audience growth and interaction on the social media site.
MOREDatabases for education reporting and back-to-school coverage
Schoolhouse (reporting) rocks, because of the infinite amount of reporting to be done, but can also be a little overwhelming for the same reason. Here are some favorite databases for school data that all reporters ought to have in their arsenal.
MOREThe Washington Post introduces 'Topicly'
Special feature uses proprietary technology to present news topics visually; offers native advertising solution, sponsored by Land Rover.
MOREStrong advertiser support found for sports posters
Families love these high school sports-schedule posters and business sponsors are enjoying the community buzz.
MORECollaboration makes national news with Tuition Tracker
What's the sticker price for college tuition? There are wide differences in the net price for higher-income students versus lower-income students. This collaborative Tuition Tracker helps families compare costs. It's also proven to be a gift to newspapers across the country.
MORE10 tips for understanding your audiences and targeting new ones
In a consumer-driven media age, in which charging for digital content is becoming a large part of the business model, publishers have to focus more on individual users' needs and desires. Here are 10 key insights to consider.
MOREAiken Standard publishing free wedding, engagement announcements in 2017
Free wedding and engagement announcements will feature a standard-sized 2-column photo – which is about 3.5 inches wide and 5 inches deep – accompanied by a written description up to 500 words.
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