Paywall Podcast - Subscription strategies for news and magazine publishers

Leaky Paywall
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Paywall Podcast - Subscription strategies for news and magazine publishers

We discuss paywall strategies for content publishers. With over 1000 news, magazine, and content publishers running our Leaky Paywall platform we have learned quite a bit about what works (and doesn't) in digital publishing. Join Pete and Tyler for a deep dive that will help you grow your paid audience.

  1. DEC 4

    Subscription Sticker Shock: Should You Raise Your Prices?

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discuss strategies for increasing subscription prices without affecting subscriber retention. They stress observing industry giants like Netflix for pricing cues and recommend annual over monthly subscriptions to avoid frequent small charges.  The discussion includes trial-based promotions over deep discounts to maintain content value and provide examples of successful subscription models and price adjustments by publishers like Heisenberg Report and Small Boats. Additionally, they highlight the benefits of clear messaging and tier simplification. Lastly, they advise publishers to regularly review and raise prices in line with inflation and added value, ensuring services remain financially sustainable.

    40 min

  2. NOV 16

    Black Friday Without the Profit Burn

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discusses the optimal Black Friday strategies for news and magazine publishers, emphasizing the importance of offering time-based discounts over monetary discounts to reduce subscriber churn. The conversation covers various pricing structures and ways to elevate subscribers to higher commitment plans, such as annual subscriptions and premium tiers. They critique a Black Friday promotion by the Olive Press and suggest alternatives to better maintain the value of the content.  The discussion also includes a review of successful pricing tactics used by the Salem Reporter and offers practical advice for publishers to enhance their subscription models.

    16 min

  3. OCT 17

    How Mexico News Daily Streamlines Newsletters with Flowletter for a Seamless Reader Experience

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler explores Flow Letter, an innovative newsletter system that integrates seamlessly with WordPress to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of newsletter creation for publishers.  The discussion includes a case study on Mexico News Daily's transition from MailChimp to Flow Letter, resulting in significant workflow improvements and time savings. Flow Letter's unique features, such as direct newsletter creation from WordPress content and bypassing login requirements for subscribers, are highlighted as major advantages. The platform also supports regional-specific and preference-based newsletters, enhancing content relevance and engagement. Additionally, the script addresses strategies for converting free readers into paid subscribers and the importance of maintaining direct communication with audiences via email and SMS, rather than relying heavily on social media platforms.

    31 min

  4. SEP 27

    Promote Subscription Benefits Over Features in Seconds using AI

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler focus on the importance of emphasizing subscriber benefits over features for news and magazine publishers. The episode introduces a method using AI, specifically ChatGPT, to transform feature-centric language on subscription pages into compelling benefits that resonate with potential subscribers.  An example demonstraion is the Boca Raton Tribune's about page, converting features into benefits that highlight how the subscription enhances the user's experience. The episode also discusses on applying the approach across key touchpoints on a publisher's website — subscription landing pages, upgrade messages, and newsletters — to increase subscription conversions. The book 'StoryBrand' by Donald Miller for building a strong brand narrative is also mentioned.

    25 min

  5. AUG 8

    How to Boost Traffic, Build Your Email List, and Increase Subscriptions with the Right Paywall Strategy

    This episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall,  Pete and Tyler provide an in-depth analysis on how news and magazine publishers can increase website traffic, build email lists, and grow paid subscriptions with effective paywall strategies. Common concerns among publishers, such as the fear of paywalls reducing traffic and ad revenue, are discussed. The hosts advocate for using a free registration model and metered paywalls to balance SEO and reader engagement.  Core strategies include leveraging content to grow email lists, employing targeted messaging in newsletters, and nurturing readers consistently to convert them into paid subscribers.  The episode also discusses a case study on Mexico News Daily that illustrates the success of these techniques, highlighting significant email list growth and increased traffic as a result of implementing these paywall strategies.

    47 min

  6. JUL 26

    The Subscription Page Formula: Best Practices Blueprint

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall,  Pete and Tyler provide an in-depth analysis of successful paywall strategies for news and magazine publishers. Highlighting examples like the Civil War Monitor and Salem Reporter, they stress the critical importance of simplifying subscription landing pages to enhance user experience and increase conversions.  Key insights include minimizing decision points, focusing on annual subscriptions, leveraging FAQs and testimonials, and employing two-button upsell techniques.  The episode also underscores the role of newsletters in driving subscriptions and the necessity of a clean, focused checkout process to reduce user distraction and boost sign-ups.

    36 min

  7. JUN 7

    Achieving a 20% Conversion Rate: The Local Publisher’s Winning Formula

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall,  Pete and Tyler discuss effective paywall and subscription strategies for news and magazine publishers. The discussion highlights the importance of free registrations as a pathway to paid subscriptions, revealing a 20% conversion rate with current data.  Key points include the inefficacy of standalone newsletter signups, the benefits of integrating free registration prompts, and the necessity of nurturing readers through multiple engagement points.  The episode concludes with recommendations for a structured paywall approach to maximize subscriber conversion.

    18 min

  8. MAY 10

    From YouTube Advertising to Boosting Paid Subscribers on Your Website: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

    In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, Pete and Tyler discuss a publisher's transition from relying solely on YouTube ad revenue to implementing reader revenue subscriptions on their website, intellamusica.com. The publisher, a musician and music instructor, noticed a decline in ad revenue on YouTube and sought to capture more revenue by offering paid subscriptions for access to premium content on their website. The podcast explores the publisher's journey, including initial experiments with pay-per-post options and the eventual transition to a subscription-only model for premium content. Key points discussed include the importance of controlling revenue streams independent of platform algorithms, leveraging website traffic to grow email lists through free registrations, and using targeted messaging to encourage conversions to paid subscriptions. The podcast also suggests strategies for nurturing free registered readers to become paid subscribers, such as offering a taste of premium content with registration. Overall, the podcast highlights the publisher's experimentation with different revenue models and the importance of adapting strategies to optimize subscription growth and revenue generation.

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

We discuss paywall strategies for content publishers. With over 1000 news, magazine, and content publishers running our Leaky Paywall platform we have learned quite a bit about what works (and doesn't) in digital publishing. Join Pete and Tyler for a deep dive that will help you grow your paid audience.

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