Black Friday Without the Profit Burn

11/16/24 • 16 min

Paywall Podcast - Subscription strategies for news and magazine publishers

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.

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.

Previous Episode

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.

Next Episode

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.