Corporate hopes to boost flagging sales of digital-only newspaper subscriptions as it launches new desktop and mobile app designs across the top 35 U.S. news sites.
But The Tennessean hasn't made the switch yet. So, why is it discounting digital subscriptions now? Shouldn't this promotion come with the relaunch, when there's something new to sell?
But The Tennessean hasn't made the switch yet. So, why is it discounting digital subscriptions now? Shouldn't this promotion come with the relaunch, when there's something new to sell?
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| Screenshot shows promotion of digital-only subscriptions. |
It's been discounting digi-subs for several months now, possibly in hopes of raising flagging numbers that have fallen well short of goals.
ReplyDeleteAt least it appears they're trying to sweeten the pot: I (vaguely) recall it offering a buy 2 months get one month free deal a while back. I'm not sure if I'm remembering correctly, but I do recall tossing out the pitch without a second thought.
Why do you think Nashville is lagging in selling digital subs?
DeleteWho is the target audience for digital subs?
And what are the implications if Nashville and other papers don't sell sufficient digital-only subs?
6:09 here. Sorry for the delayed reply ... I only pop in now and then.
DeleteAll I can go by is memory, primarily of the PowerPoint presentations that accompanied the monthly newspaperwide pep rallies. Almost all of the metrics -- ad sales, digi subs, revenues, etc - usually were short of goals. I don't recall actual numbers, though.
The Tennessean has (or had) five target audiences, including 'SUV moms' (affluent suburbanite women), the city's young hipsters (I think they were called TeDexers or something like that), and those in business/political power circles. I forget what the other two groups were, but I do remember what was not included: Average, working Nashvillians and minority communities. Those are (or were) target audiences not only for digi subs but story content and placement as well.
As to why digi subs are sluggish, I'd guess unappealing content and the lack of a decent mobile app as two likely causes.
As for your last question, I don't know what the implications are. It's obvious, though, that digi-sub growth isn't enough to offset the decline in print revenue.
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DeleteWha Happened ??"?
ReplyDeleteHow dare Nashville try to advertise and give readers a deal to buy subscriptions! The nerve of those people.
ReplyDeleteJim doesn't understand digital. He still uses the same canned blogging software as he did when the site started.
ReplyDeleteMy software also is free. What software do you use for your blog?
DeleteFree software. But it requires log-ins, which cuts down on the silly "Anon 9:15" crap that is prevalent here.
DeleteI also can search for information much more efficiently than I can here.
There are many other benefits that your software does not have.
Does that help, Jim?
Jim is always an unarmed man in any battle of wits.
DeleteOK, smart-asses, give us a link to your blog or site with inside information on GCI. C'mon now. You've got such impeccable platforms. Show it off.
DeleteJust as soon as you ID yourself, 1:28. Quid pro quo. You provide some ID plus proof, and then you can make requests.
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DeleteYou're the critic professing superior methods, 3:15/3:16. I'm just a passerby who happens to appreciate what Jim does for practically nothing. If you've got a better way, let's see it.
DeleteAnd you're the one asking for information. You volunteer some first. ID and proof. If you can't do that, then your request will be ignored.
DeleteJust to get back to the point you keep trying to hide: Jim busts on Gannett about digital, but he uses the same canned blogging software, five years later. No IDs. No efficient search feature.
3:57, there are any number of blogs with the features I described. I know you are too lazy to search for those yourself, so I found just one of many examples:
Deletehttp://www.gatorenvy.com/forums/gator-basketball.18/
This one has some problems -- the info box refers to the wrong team, for example. But it has log-ins. It has an efficient search feature.
Jim is probably too inept to set up something like this, though.
If you don't like Jim's site, move on and find one you like.
Delete10:34 With the Blogger brand software I use, I can require people to create IDs and use them to post comments.
DeleteBut I tried that once some years ago, and the number of comments plunged. I think readers here are nervous about registering in any way, out of a legitimate fear of being outed to management.
So, I reverted to the system of allowing anonymous comments. That's called listening to your customers.
So, you choose to be worse. That's called being worse.
DeleteNo, 1:00 AM, it isn't called being worse. It's called choosing to protect his readers, most of whom work at Gannett and who could face disciplinary action for posting here. You know that, of course.
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DeleteThe arrogant team leading the Tennessean think us dumb hillbilly's don't know how to delete cookies.
ReplyDeleteYou might be a hillbilly if you can delete cookies, but you can't use an apostrophe correctly to save your life.
DeleteDo you get free barbecue with this deal?
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ReplyDelete