How to Thrive in an Online World.
“TownNews.com is a great partner in this mad world.”
~ Ellen Driscoll, Director of Interactive Media, Keene Publishing Corp., http://www.SentinelSource.com
Idea Exchange
Our suite of revenue-focused tools will help your online edition be a rich, dynamic and profitable complement to your print product.
We have surveyed our customers and captured some of their best ideas to help drive traffic and generate revenue for your site. These ideas are a compilation from our 1500 plus customers and what they are doing in the following areas: Editorial, Marketplace and Cross-Promotion.
This document is constantly changing and evolving. If you have ideas you would like to contribute please contact Kelly Hendershot, marketing coordinator, at 800-293-9576 x1008 or [email protected] and we will include your idea in the next version.
All of us at TownNews.com wish you great success!
TOWNNews.COM 800-293-9576 http://support.townnews.com Thriving in an Online World
Editorial
Keep Content Fresh q Post fresh content throughout the day. q Complement print by posting non-print content, such as press releases, videos, photos, podcasts, eye reports, events, opinions and more. q Highlight breaking news, as it happens, in a breakout box on your home page. q Add timestamps to content. q Make sure your online obituary section is well-maintained. q Schedule Morning/Evening editions to cycle content. q Revenue Idea: Sell sponsorship to your breaking news modules.
Make Content Accessible q Repeat words or phrases from your headlines within the article to improve search engine optimization (SEO). q Publish PDFs of your print edition online. q Increase special-section shelf life by posting them online. q Include sharing options (e-mail, print, bookmark, social network, etc.) for articles. q Syndicate content via RSS feeds. q Create e-mail alerts for Daily Headlines, Breaking News, Online Promotions and more. Allow readers to opt-in to the list(s) that interest them most. q Provide a mobile option. q Tag content. q Revenue Idea: Add a pay wall for readers to access PDFs of the print edition.
Community Involvement q Include an online guest book. q Change online polls regularly, maybe even have the poll question relate to your top story or breaking news item. q Accept reader comments. q Accept and highlight user-submitted photos. q Accept user-submitted calendar events. q Accept user-submitted articles. q Accept user-submitted video and monetize it. q Post electronic forms to accept announcements: births, engagements, weddings, obituaries, etc. Include a PDF of the form for readers who prefer pen and paper submissions. q Revenue Idea: Accept forms via an online ad placement system.
Share Your Ideas: Send your ideas to Kelly Hendershot, marketing coordinator, at [email protected].
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Thriving in an Online World
Marketplace
Banner Advertising q Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) standards can be found at www.iab.net. q Send, or personally deliver, weekly statistic reports to advertisers on how their ads are performing. q Change ad copy regularly. q Review online rates regularly. q Revenue Idea: Host an online sales blitz and learn how to sell online from experts.
Remnant Advertising q Participate in a national advertising program. q Post house ads in unsold positions.
Classifieds/Inserts q Post all display ads online for maximum exposure and integrate them with classifieds. q Offer online maps and directions for categories such as garage sales and real estate. q Accept online orders with real-time credit card processing. q Support online couponing. q Offer free, online-only classifieds (at least in some categories) with print up-sells. q Carry inserts online. q Distribute employment ads through a regional/national network.
Online Yellow Pages q Check for accuracy of local business listings before each sales call to them.
Share Your Ideas: Send your ideas to Kelly Hendershot, marketing coordinator, at [email protected].
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Thriving in an Online World
Cross-Promotion
Print to Web q Let readers know that more photos, videos and stories related to an article can be found online. q Print Ads to Promote Your Site: www.townnews.com/swat_information/swat_results/?keyword=Print q Print Ads to Promote Ad-Owl: www.townnews.com/solutions/ad-owl_results/?keyword=Print q Print Ads to Promote Special Sections: www.townnews.com/solutions/special_sections_results/?keyword=Print q Print Ads to Promote Online Yellow Pages: www.townnews.com/solutions/ypengine_results/?keyword=Print
Web to Print q Post online ads to promote your print product. q Promote print-only content your next edition will include.
Traffic Generation q Create a video tour of your new site or redesign and post it on your home page. q Online Ads to Promote Ad-Owl: www.townnews.com/solutions/ad-owl_results/?keyword=Online q Online Ads to Promote Special Sections: www.townnews.com/solutions/special_sections_results/?keyword=Online q Online Ads to Promote Online Yellow Pages: www.townnews.com/solutions/ypengine_results/?keyword=Online
Community q Ask local businesses, like the Chamber of Commerce, to link to your site. This creates inbound links, improving search engine optimization (SEO). q Promote your site with flyers at local businesses, radio spots and billboards. q Communicate the benefits of your site to advertisers via mailings, phone campaigns and faxes. q Make sure area non-profit organizations know they can promote their events on your calendar.
Share Your Ideas: Send your ideas to Kelly Hendershot, marketing coordinator, at [email protected].
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Ad-Market
Ad-Market is your all-inclusive marketplace and classifieds solution, providing viable revenue opportunities, such as line ads targeted to specific categories; the ability to add a flat or per column fee to post display ads online, bringing in sustainable new revenue; and the ability to upsell liners or display ads to Top Ads. Classified Marketplace Bloomington Pantagraph - Bloomington, IL Group: Lee Enterprises Classified Categories Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 43,330 URL: www.pantagraph.com/classifieds Best Practice: The Pantagraph does an excellent job of making Ad-Market a complete marketplace. Incorporated are quicklinks to Top Ads, Liner Categories, Milestones and ad placement links.
Daily News - Bowling Green, KY Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 20,157 Search Functionality URL: www.bgdailynews.com/classifieds/real_estate_for_sale Best Practice: Bowling Green makes it easy for their readers to find the home of their dreams by displaying additional search fields. They also post display ads in-column with classified liners.
Sioux City Journal - Sioux City, IA Group: Lee Enterprises Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 38,740 URL: www.siouxcityjournal.com/classifieds Best Practice: Customizing the category icons like Sioux City Journal has Interactive Features done is easy and is a great visual way to drive traffic to the different sections. PDF Display Ad Converter Sidney Herald - Sidney, MT Group: Wick Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 3,300 URL: www.sidneyherald.com/classifieds/area_shopping Best Practice: Sidney Herald’s Area Shopping section provides additional PDF Display Ad Converter reach to prints ads. Text is automatically extracted from the PDFs, allowing readers to search for them. Learn more about Ad-Market at www.townnews.com/solutions/ad- market.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Ad-Owl
Ad-Owl is the perfect 24/7 classified ad submission solution. The easy-to-use interface lets advertisers create, schedule and pay for their ad online. Supported are real-time credit card transactions, layout customization and the upsell of borders, graphics and reader product photographs. Bubbles Farm & Ranch Guide - Bismark, ND Group: Lee Enterprises Bubbles Paper Type: Bi-Weekly Shopper Circulation: 38,000 URL: www.tinyurl.com/ad-owl-bubbles Best Practice: Farm & Ranch Guide is very detailed in their package descriptions. They include packages for sister publications, outlining rates and discount options for each. Eeyore Times-News - Twin Falls, ID Group: Lee Enterprises Eeyore Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 20,240 URL: www.tinyurl.com/ad-owl-eeyore2 Best Practice: Generate more revenue and make ad submissions fun for your readers. Times-News provides their readers with graphics they can use to spice up their ads. Friendly Skies Argonaut - Marina Del Rey, CA Group: Independent Friendly Skies Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 42,021 URL: www.tinyurl.com/ad-owl-3 Best Practice: The Argonaut clearly defines their liner policy, accepted credit cards and refund policy on the landing page. Managing expectations early means fewer problems down the road. Peekaboo South Plains Star - Abernathy, TX Group: Campus Connection Peekaboo Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: Unknown Learn more about Ad-Owl at URL: www.tinyurl.com/ad-owl-peekaboo www.townnews.com/solutions/ad- Best Practice: Thinking outside the box, South Plains Star takes advantage owl. of Ad-Owl’s payment processing to accept celebrations — anniversaries, births, engagements, etc. — and obituaries.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: BLOX CMS
The BLOX Content Management System offers easy, yet powerful, administrative tools to manage audio, video, photos, rich content and articles on your site. BLOX empowers your staff to be able to regularly change the look and feel of your Web site without HTML or programming knowledge. BLOX CMS Newspapers and Technology - Denver, CO Group: Midlands Newspapers Movable Content Blocks Paper Type: Trade Publication Circulation: Unknown URL: www.newsandtech.com Best Practice: All content is tagged, allowing content to appear in multiple sections without the need to duplicate the entry. Keyword tagging also makes finding content easier for readers.
The Press of Atlantic City - Atlantic City, NJ Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 69,613 Easy to Use Interface URL: www.pressofatlanticcity.com Best Practice: Click into the sports section and you’ll see information broken out by level and team. This is easily achievable using section, keyword and geographic tagging of assets.
Current Publishing, LLC - Westbrook, ME Group: Independent Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 7,000 URL: www.keepmecurrent.com Best Practice: Update readers on site changes. Current Publishing does Tagging & Topic Pages an excellent job of relaying its site’s plan to readers via a run of site leaderboard.
Kokomo Perspective - Kokomo, IN Group: Independent Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 20,000 URL: www.kokomoperspective.com Best Practice: Engaging your readers is important. That’s why Kokomo Perspective has created blocks to display its Facebook fans and the headlines they feed to Twitter. Photo Editor Learn more about the BLOX CMS at www.townnews.com/solutions/ blox_cms.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Blueprints
Standard functionality blueprints were developed by our design staff to ensure best practices would be used in the creation or redesign of your newspaper’s Web site. In choosing a blueprint, the overall layout of it remains intact. The color scheme will change to reflect your logo and branding.
Blueprint 1 Buffalo Bulletin - Buffalo, WY Group: Robb Hicks Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 3,900 Blueprint 1 URL: www.buffalobulletin.com Best Practice: Who says Adsys should only be used to run paid advertising? Buffalo Bulletin effectively places house ads amongst paids. Their marketplace promo ad is especially attention-getting, averaging 60,000 impressions a month. Blueprint 2 Clayton Tribune - Clayton, GA Group: Community Newspapers Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 7,800 URL: www.theclaytontribune.com Best Practice: Engagement is key to keeping readers on your Web site longer and to earn their loyalty so they’ll return more often. One way Clayton Tribune does this Blueprint 2 is by posting user-submitted photos to its home page. Blueprint 3 Arizona Range News - Willcox, AZ Group: Wick Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 3,216 URL: www.willcoxrangenews.com Best Practice: Posting community events is an integral part of becoming the No. 1 source of news and information. Look at Arizona Range New’s calendar section for a good example. Only the home page and news sections are more popular. Blueprint 3 Blueprint 4 Gettysburg Times - Gettysburg, PA Group: Times & News Publishing Company Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 11,514 URL: www.gettysburgtimes.com Best Practice: Get creative in your presentation of the news! The Gettysburg Times uses VMIX to post Mid-Day Update. Every weekday at 2 p.m. EST, readers can watch a mini-broadcast of the day’s news. Silver Lite The McGehee Times - McGehee, AR Blueprint 4 Group: Independent Paper Type: Weekly Learn more about Blueprints at Circulation: 3,400 www.townnews-design.com/new_ URL: www.themcgeheetimes.com site_options. Best Practice: The McGehee Times drives traffic to its site by offering readers content from ARAcontent that it does not have the resources to supply itself. This includes automotive, bridal, community and more.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Calendar
Calendar is self-publishing, which saves your staff time when posting local events by date. Allow users to submit events and customize sub-calendars for organizations and clubs. Events can be exported into XLS or XML format, providing a reverse publishing option.
Calendar Daily Pilot - Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, CA Group: Times Community Newspapers Paper Type: Daily Calendar Categories Circulation: 30,000 URL: www.dailypilot.com/calendar/?cal=shopping Best Practice: Follow the Daily Pilot’s lead and help drive commerce to your community by posting a Shopping calendar. Events range from sidewalk sales to shopping extravaganzas.
Bryan Times - Bryan, OH Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 6,000 URL: www.bryantimes.com/calendar Local Events Best Practice: By accepting user-submitted events, much of the leg work is already done for the Bryan Times’ calendar. It’s a great way to stay in the loop for lesser known events.
Boerne Star - Boerne, TX Group: Granite Publications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 6,000 URL: www.boernestar.com/calendar Best Practice: Along with festivities and nightlife, Boerne Star provides a listing of educational events. This includes Cancer Support User-Submitted Events Groups, Alcoholics Anonymous and more.
Reedley Exponent - Reedley, CA Group: Independent Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 4,045 URL: www.reedleyexponent.com/calendar Best Practice: Don’t just post dates and times, provide readers with details on events in which they may be interested. The Reedley Exponent includes links to more info, contact info and more. Easy Navigation
Learn more about Calendar at www.townnews.com/solutions/ calendar.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Circulars
Using special section technology, Circulars convert print inserts into mapped images and searchable features for your Web site. Just send your PDF files to us, and our Creative Services team will do the rest! This is a perfect solution for grocery store inserts.
Circulars Tri-State Media - Princeton, IN Group: Brehm Communications Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 6,677 Customizable URL: www.tinyurl.com/tsm-circulars Best Practice: Tri-State Media’s Super Saver doesn’t just display ads from local businesses. The paper also runs its own house ads, including coupons for classified ad submissions.
Journal Inquirer - Manchester, CT Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 37,475 URL: www.tinyurl.com/coupon-clipper E-mail & Print Coupons Best Practice: The Journal Inquirer promotes its Coupon Clipper via a Top Ads module and markeplace links. Coupons are automatically pieced apart and flowed into the Display Ad Viewer.
Magnified Images
Splash Page
Learn more about Circulars at www.townnews.com/solutions/ circulars.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Creative Services
Take advantage of our optional online advertising designers who can create Flash ads, Kool-Ads, expandable ads, page curls, and more. Our Creative Services team utilizes the latest advertising trends and best practices to keep the file size of the ads down so it will not severely effect the Web site’s bandwidth and page load time. Creatives/Print Ads TownNews.com Sample Special Sections - Moline, IL Paper Type: Demo Creatives/Print Ads Circulation: +1500 newspapers URL: www.tinyurl.com/creative-services-demo Best Practice: With some of the most competitive rates in the industry, your newsapaper can purchase cost-effective ads that are sure to impress your advertisers. SWAT/Online Ads TownNews.com Sample Ad Creatives - Moline, IL Paper Type: Demo Circulation: +1500 newspapers SWAT/Online Ads URL: www.townnews.com/solutions/sample_advertising Best Practice: Drive revenue by posting a variety of ads on your site. Our Creative Services team generates ads quickly using the latest trends.
Kool-Ads
Page Curls
Learn more about our solutions at www.townnews.com/solutions/ creative_services.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: e-Editions e-Editions, generated in minutes using an administrative interface, convert your print product into an electronic version. The software automatically links page jumps, e-mails and URLs within the edition. Integrate archives as an added benefit to your readers. Free The Globe - Jacksonville, NC Group: Landmark Military Papers Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 30,000 Free URL: www.camplejeuneglobe.com/e-edition Best Practice: The Globe’s e-Editions are easily accessible. Quick links on the home page allow readers to view the current issue, download it in PDF format, or search archives of past issues. Registration Based Watertown Public Opinion - Watertown, SD Group: United Communications Corporation (UCC) Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 12,900 Registration Based URL: http://ee.thepublicopinion.com Best Practice: The Public Opinion manages its e-Edition viewers using Online Registration. Payments for this model are taken via a secure online form but are not processed in real-time. Subscription Based West Hawaii Today - Kailua-Kona, HI Group: Stephens Media, LLC Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 13,594 Subscription Based URL: http://ee.westhawaiitoday.com Best Practice: West Hawaii Today supplies potential subscribers with a free demo of the e-Edition. This way they can familiarize themselves with the format before making a purchase. Special Sections via e-Editions Hi-Desert Star - Yucca Valley, CA Group: Brehm Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 7,231 Special Sections via e-Editions URL: www.hidesertstar.com/special_edition_index Best Practice: Hi-Desert Star proves the e-Editions software can be used for Learn more about e-Editions at more than displaying your print publication. They post www.townnews.com/solutions/e- coupons, a real estate showcase and more. editions.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Entertainment
Entertainment contains automatically-updated content from ARA, saving your newspaper time and resources. The portal offers additional content such as entertainment news, local movie theater show times and a movie guide! Entertainment Paris Post-Intelligencer - Paris, TN Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 7,900 Frameset URL: www.tinyurl.com/entertainment4 Best Practice: Accessed via the Lifestyles section, Paris Post-Intelligencer is able to provide its readers movie times, box office listings and news with no extra work.
Northwest Signal - Napoleon, OH Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 5,757 URL: www.tinyurl.com/entertainment2 Best Practice: The Northwest Signal provides readers with travel ARA Content information powered by ARAcontent, including vacation hot spots, planning tips, budgeting advice and more.
Gettysburg Times - Gettysburg, PA Group: Times & News Publishing Company Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 11,514 URL: www.gettysburgtimes.com Best Practice: A house ad on the home page and link in the main navigation drive readers to the Gettysburg Times Entertainment section, where readers find news, sudoku, movie listings and more. Videos
Interactive Games
Learn more about Entertainment at www.townnews.com/solutions/ entertainment.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Inclusive Sites
TownNews.com provides a suite of revenue-generating tools to bring even more money to help your bottom line and content tools to promote reader involvement on the Web site. These inclusive sites use a variety of TownNews.com solutions to provide an overall nice Web site for their readers. Daily Herald and News - Klamath Falls, OR Group: Pioneer Daily Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 17,047 URL: www.heraldandnews.com Best Practice: Herald and News saw the promise of video early on, first using it for classifieds in 2008. In 2009, it became the first TownNews.com paper to launch VMIX video widgets. Weekly Taos News - Taos, NM Group: Independent Weekly Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 10,845 URL: www.taosnews.com Best Practice: The Taos News features many great products, many of which allow readers to interact with others. This interactivity is why it receives so much traffic on a daily basis. Umbrellas Sun Gazette Newspapers - Plano, TX Group: American Community Newspapers Umbrellas Paper Type: Umbrella Circulation: N/A URL: www.sungazette.net Best Practice: PDF Display Ads, Special Sections, Added Value Content, e-mail alerts - Sun Gazette Newspapers has it all, and then some!
Daily
Learn more about our solutions at www.townnews.com/solutions.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Mobile Sites
Mobile sites allow readers to access your Web site on their cell phone or other mobile devices that allow Internet access. This scaled-down version of your Web site allows your on-the-go readers to browse news, sports, and other local content.
Mobile Sites Daily Iberian - New Iberia, LA Group: Wick Communications Paper Type: Daily Customizable Circulation: 35,000 URL: www.iberianet.com/mobile Best Practice: Mobile detection allows the Daily Iberian to automatically detect if the reader is using a mobile device to view the site. If they are, they are redirected to a special mobile setup.
Messenger Inquirer - Owensboro, KY Group: Paxton Media Group Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 28,000 URL: www.messenger-inquirer.com/mobile Reach More Readers Best Practice: The Messenger Inquirer provides readers with the capability of accessing its site at any time throughout the day on their mobile device.
Chronicle - Centralia, WA Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 14,060 URL: http://m.chronline.com/mobile Best Practice: With no extra work for the staff, the Chronicle displays news articles as plain text, making the stories easily visible on a Classifieds reader’s mobile device.
Sand Springs Leader - Sand Springs, OK Group: Community Publishers Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 3,762 URL: http://m.sandspringsleader.com/mobile Best Practice: Sand Springs Leader’s scaled-down version of its Web site allows on-the-go readers to browse news, sports, and other local content. Breaking News
Learn more about Mobile Sites at www.townnews.com/solutions/ mobile_sites.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Niche Sites
Niche sites, such as campus, Hispanic, and magazine sites, allow other types of publications to provide a Web site for their readers. The same traffic-building features and revenue-generating tools provided by TownNews.com can be adjusted to fit these types of Web sites. Campus Sites Iowa State Daily - Ames, IA Group: Independent Iowa State Daily Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 14,000 URL: www.iowastatedaily.com Best Practice: Employing over 200 students throughout the year, the Iowa State Daily is an independent, student-run, non-profit organization. Hispanic Sites El Imparacial Chicago - Cicero, IL Group: Tele Guia de Chicago Orange Coast College Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 7,763 URL: www.elimparcial.us Best Practice: El Imparacial Chicago provides news and information to the Hispanic community. Additional revenue is generated via national advertising. Magazine Sites Outdoor News Publications - Plymouth, MN Group: Outdoor News Hispanic Site Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: Unknown URL: www.minnesotaoutdoornews.com Best Practice: Outdoor News is a hunting and fishing publication with locations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota.
Magazine Site
Learn more about niche sites at www.townnews.com/solutions.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery allows you to create galleries based on topics with multiple albums within each gallery. Photos can be batch uploaded using FTP and then organized online. Make the gallery interactive by allowing readers to submit photos, comment on posted photos and rank their favorites. Photo Gallery Rawlins Times - Rawlins, WY Group: Wyoming Newspaper Group Multiple Galleries & Albums Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 3,575 URL: www.rawlinstimes.com/gallery Best Practice: Rawlins Daily Times features the “Day in Photos” in its gallery. This has readers checking its site each day, building page views and reader involvement.
Beaches Leader - Jacksonville, FL Group: CNI Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 11,800 Reader Comments URL: www.beachesleader.com/gallery Best Practice: By allowing readers to comment on each photo, Beaches Leader promotes interactivity and increases site traffic by encouraging others to post additional comments.
Richfield Reaper, Richfield, UT Group: Brehm Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 5,500 URL: www.richfieldreaper.com/gallery Best Practice: The Richfield Reaper is using a watermark feature to Rate Photos promote its brand. The words “Spread the word about RichfieldReaper.com” is emblazoned across all online photos.
Daily Pilot - Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, CA Group: Times Community Newspapers Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 30,000 URL: www.dailypilot.com/gallery Best Practice: The Daily Pilot’s “Top Shots” gallery provides some of the best albums that have been featured on its Web site in the past. Sorted by album, readers can easily locate photos. User Submitted Photos
Learn more about Photo Gallery at www.townnews.com/solutions/ photo_gallery.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Politics/Elections
Political and Election News provides an easy way to create and maintain local election news. Included is the option to add photos of candidates to a basic photo gallery and political comics to a cartoons section. Allow users to comment on local campaign coverage using Simpleblog functionality. Political & Election News Lodi News-Sentinel - Lodi, CA Group: Independent National & Local News Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 17,362 URL: www.lodinews.com/politics_and_elections/front Best Practice: Lodi News-Sentinel beefs up its Political & Election News section with AP video, non-partisan election information and a Truth-O-Meter powered by PolitiFact.com.
TownNews.com Sample Special Sections - Moline, IL Paper Type: Demo Circulation: +1500 newspapers URL: www.tinyurl.com/politics-and-elections Political Cartoons Best Practice: Political & Election News is a quick and efficient way to add election coverage to your site. Get a head start on coverage of the next election with candidate profiles.
Candidate Profiles
Story Commenting & Rating
Learn more about Political & Election News at www.townnews.com/ solutions/political_and_election_ news.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Rich Media Tools
Rich Media Tools allow you to create blogs, Flash video, podcasts and more on your Web site. These tools invite the community to become more involved in your Web site. Interactivity creates a deeper loyalty towards your publication. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Green Valley News & Sun - Green Valley, AZ Group: Wick Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 11,373 Audio URL: www.gvnews.com/rss Best Practice: Glendale Valley News & Sun takes the mystery out of RSS by clearly defining for readers what RSS is and how it can be used. Simpleblog Lodi News-Sentinel - Lodi, CA Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 17,362 Really Simple Syndication (RSS) URL: www.lodinews.com/politics_and_elections/front Best Practice: All articles on the Lodi News-Sentinel’s site accept reader comments. Policies are defined so readers have a clear understanding of what type of comments are unacceptable. Podcasts and Multimedia Outdoor News Publications - Plymouth, MN Group: Outdoor News Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: Unknown Simpleblog URL: www.minnesotaoutdoornews.com Best Practice: Many reporters record interviews for a story. Why not take those recordings and post them on your site? That’s what Outdoor News did in its Interview section.
Video
Learn more about Rich Media Tools at www.townnews.com/solutions/rich_ media_tools.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Site Features
Additional site features will allow your newspaper to increase traffic and generate additional revenue. Some of these features include breaking news headlines, an editor’s blog, and utilizing a mailing list to send alerts to your readers. Breaking News Minnesota Sun Newspapers - Eden Prairie, MN Group: American Consolidated Newspapers Paper Type: Umbrella Circulation: N/A Breaking News URL: www.mnsun.com Best Practice: Visitors to the Minnesota Sun Newspapers site don’t have to dig to find breaking news. It’s right there on the home page in rotation with headlines, video and sports updates. Mailing List Elk Grove Citizen - Elk Grove, CA Group: Herburger Publications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 12,700 Editor’s Blog URL: www.egcitizen.com/updates Best Practice: Elk Grove Citizen distributes this HTML page via a mail blast to its readers. Topics – news, sports and lifestyles – are easy to distinguish.
E-mail Headlines
Mailing List Sign-Up
Learn more about these site features at www.townnews.com/solutions.
Contact Us: For more information on this or any other TownNews.com product, contact your regional sales manager. Main TownNews.com Office: 800-293-9576 • E-mail: [email protected]
2.11.10 Site Examples: Special Sections
Special Sections convert print sections into mapped images and searchable features for your Web site. All you have to do is send your PDF files to us, and our Creative Services team will do the rest! This is a perfect online solution for your special sections. Enhanced Special Sections Sidney Herald - Sidney, MT Group: Wick Communications Paper Type: Bi-Weekly Circulation: 3,300 Featured Sections URL: www.zwire.com/site/dav.cfm?brd=3140 Best Practice: Readers of the Sidney Herald don’t have to wait until they arrive at a restaurant these days to find out what is on the menu. The menus are posted only for convenience.
Daily Pilot - Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, CA Group: Times Community Newspapers Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 30,000 URL: www.tinyurl.com/enhancedss Best Practice: The Daily Pilot knows how to extend the shelf life of its Magnified Images special sections — by posting them online. It even has a special Real Estate wrapper to make those sections shine. Special Sections via e-Editions Gazette Newspapers - Long Beach, CA Group: MediaNews Group Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: Unknown URL: www.gazettes.com Best Practice: Gazette Newspapers drives traffic to its special sections by Enlarged Page Views featuring them on the home page. This gives readers a quick glimpse of the site’s newest sections.
Natchitoches Times - Natchitoches, LA Group: Independent Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 4,805 URL: www.natchitochestimes.com/special_edition_index Best Practice: Natchitoches Times has a dedicated splash page to highlight special sections, complete with cover thumbnails, section Customizable title, and a timestamp of the date it was posted. Learn more about Special Sections at www.townnews.com/solutions/ special_sections.
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2.11.10 Site Examples: Specialty Sites
The TownNews.com content and revenue-generating tools can be applied to Specialty Sites as well. Specialty Sites offer your readers a featured site in addition to your regular newspaper Web site. Customize your Specialty Site and incorporate most of the products and services offered by TownNews.com. Specialty Sites Voice of San Diego - La Jolla, CA Group: Independent Voice of San Diego Paper Type: Online Only Circulation: N/A URL: www.voiceofsandiego.org Best Practice: VoiceofSanDiego.org has already made its way onto the national stage. This site has been featured in a New York Times article discussing the latest trend of online-only sites.
Kid Scoop - Sonoma, CA Group: Independent Paper Type: Other Circulation: N/A Laughlin Entertainment URL: www.kidscoop.com Best Practice: Kid Scoop is a weekly newspaper feature for grades 2 through 9 that explores a new subject each week. Its site is packed with ideas for kids, parents, and teachers.
Laughlin Entertainer - Laughlin, AZ Group: Brehm Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 8,000 URL: www.laughlinentertainer.com Best Practice: The premier source of information on the casino scene Kid Scoop since 1988, the Laughlin Entertainer venture online attracts the next generation of those rushing to the casino scene.
Las Vegas City Life - Las Vegas, NV Group: Stephens Media, LLC Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 72,000 URL: www.lasvegascitylife.com Best Practice: Las Vegas City Life is Southern Nevada’s most established alternative weekly newspaper, covering news, politics, music, clubs, arts and culture in both print and online. Las Vegas City Life
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2.11.10 Site Examples: The Job Network
The Job Network is comprised of more than 700 newspapers of all circulation sizes across the United States. The Job Network is the only vendor in the market today that enables newspapers to offer online employment advertising services with more features and capabilities than the leading sites. The Job Network Bangor Daily News - Bangor, MN Group: Independent Job Matching Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 55,627 URL: www.mainevillejobs.com Best Practice: Bangor Daily News created its own video tutorial to instruct visitors how to use the site. It adds stickiness through an employment blog called “Matchmaker Blog.”
Standard Examiner - Ogden, UT Group: Ogden Publishing Corporation Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 61,696 Career Articles URL: www.intermountainjobs.com Best Practice: Standard Examiner has seen ver compelling results through The Job Network. Its affiliate networks offer 17 major job boards with access to 37 million job seekers monthly.
Brown Publishing Group: Ogden Publishing Corporation Paper Type: N/A Circulation: N/A URL: www.jobsourceohio.com Best Practice: Brown Publishing has created a state wide portal of job Virtual Job Fair content. The branded domain is home to employment classifieds sections throughout its Ohio Market.
Ad-Market Integration
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2.11.10 Site Examples: Top Ads
Top Ads are high profile ads that give you strong revenue results. They have the ability to rotate ads and display graphics or text. Place Top Ads anywhere on your site and allow advertisers to manage their own listings. Thumbnails or text in the ad can link to a detail page or to the advertiser’s Web site. Top Ads Paris Post-Intelligencer - Paris, TN Group: Independent General Modules Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 7,900 URL: www.parispi.net Best Practice: Paris Post-Intelligencer uses Top Ads for “Ten Most Wanted” suspects from the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, complete with photos and crime details.
Mohave Daily News - Bullhead City, AZ Group: Brehm Communications Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 10,000 Top Tours URL: www.mohavedailynews.com/coupon_corner Best Practice: Daily News realized the success of coupons long ago and updates the Coupon Corner Top Ads module on its site daily. Coupons can be printed or e-mailed directly from the site.
Herald-Palladium - St. Joseph, MI Group: Paxton Media Group Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 24,305 URL: www.theh-p.com Best Practice: Especially in these economic times, coupon redemption is Top Cars very high. This is why the Herald-Palladium proudly displays its Shop Smart, Shop Local module on the home page.
Richfield Reaper, Richfield, UT Group: Brehm Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 5,500 URL: www.richfieldreaper.com Best Practice: Traditional uses of Top Ads are for display advertising, jobs, homes and automotive. Richfield Reaper takes things backs to the basics with a Top Cars module on the home page. Top Coupons Learn more about Top Ads at www. townnews.com/solutions/top_ads_ module.
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2.11.10 Site Examples: Video
Video can be a great enhancement to any Web site. Use VMIX to allow readers to upload their own videos and comment and rate other videos. Standard Video can be a great addition to an article, as well as serving as an effective promotional tool for your newspaper. VMIX Herald and News - Klamath Falls, OR Group: Pioneer Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 17,047 VMIX Widget URL: www.heraldandnews.com Best Practice: Herald and News generates revenue with Ask the Expert videos. In these videos, local businesses share with readers the benefits of their products or services offered. Standard Video (TownNews.com platform) Queens Courier - Bayside, NY Group: Schneps Communications Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 6,000 VMIX Playlist URL: www.queenscourier.com/multimedia/video Best Practice: As Queens Courier shows, video is a great enhancement to any article. According to a 2008 comScore report, the average online video viewer watched 274 minutes of video. User-Submitted Video Daily News - Bowling Green, KY Group: Independent Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 20,157 Standard Video URL: www.bgdailynews.com/readervideo Best Practice: The Daily News encourages its readers to upload video of news events to YouTube, and then send its webmaster a description and link to the video for posting on its site.
Self-Promotional Video
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2.11.10 Site Examples: Wheels
Wheels is a feed-generated automotive marketplace. The program leverages the power of your print and online readership to drive highly qualified local passive and active auto buyers to the dealers’ inventories, Web sites and showrooms. Wheels Erie Times-News – Erie, PA Group: Times Publishing Company Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 86,185 Search Capability URL: www.gotristateautos.com Best Practice: Erie Times-News provides new and used vehicle searching based on price, mileage, year, make or model. It sets a 50-mile parameter so users can find vehicles close to home.
Idaho Press-Tribune – Nampa, ID Group: Pioneer Newspapers Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 18,329 URL: www.treasurevalleywheels.com Best Practice: Idaho Press-Tribune’s research and advice section provides Detailed Vehicle Descriptions buyers with valuable industry information that they can use to make a more informed purchase decision.
La Crosse Tribune – La Crosse, WI Group: Lee Enterprises Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 31,464 URL: www.rvng.wheelsforyou.com Best Practice: The La Crosse Tribune integrates its Wheels site with its classified marketplace by prominently displaying Advertised Deals. The deals link back to its marketplace site. Payment Calculator
Lincoln Journal Star – Lincoln, NE Group: Lee Enterprises Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 74,795 URL: www.lincoln.wheelsforyou.com Best Practice: Lincoln Journal Star leverages the power of print and online readership to drive highly qualified local auto buyers to the dealers’ inventories, Web sites and showrooms. Auto Dealer Advertising
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2.11.10 Site Examples: Yellow Pages
Online Yellow Pages provide local search, mapping and business directories. Included are over 18 million searchable business listings complete with maps and directions for each. Upsell options include links to coupons, print ads and Web sites. Customize the look and feel to create multiple revenue sources. Yellow Pages Los Angeles Downtown News – Los Angeles, CA Group: Independent Basic Setup Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 42,577 URL: www.tinyurl.com/yellow-pages-la Best Practice: Los Angeles Downtown News gives businesses a reason to purchase enhanced listing upsells. By doing so, they are given prominent display in the directory.
All Around Philly Golf – Philadelphia, PA Group: Journal Register Paper Type: Specialty Publication Circulation: N/A Guided Site Example URL: www.zwire.com/site/yp.cfm?brd=2864 Best Practice: All Around Philly Golf is a custom guide site. Topics for search are all golf related - courses, driving ranges & instruction and equipment & merchandise.
My02818 – East Greenwich, RI Group: Independent Paper Type: Online Only Circulation: N/A URL: www.zwire.com/site/yp.cfm?brd=3078 Best Practice: My02818’s business listings include a business card, map and Custom Guide Example directions and option bar. The option bar includes choices for returning to the list, map, directions and e-mail to a friend.
Daily Pilot - Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, CA Group: Times Community Newspapers Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 30,000 URL: www.dailypilot.com/shopping Best Practice: The Daily Pilot’s shopping page highlights local shopping areas and ties in the local business directory categories. This is a great way to drive traffic to online Yellow Pages. Featured Business Example
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2.11.10 Site Examples: YP Module
Drive traffic to your online Yellow Pages product by adding aYP Top Ads Module to your home page. Choose from three different design sizes in order to best fit your Web site. Increased exposure for enhanced business listings will be sure to generate additional revenue for your newspaper. Yellow Pages Top Ads Module Los Angeles Downtown News – Los Angeles, CA Group: Independent Paper Type: Weekly Basic Setup Circulation: 42,577 URL: www.ladowntownnews.com Best Practice: Los Angeles Downtown News does an excellent job of promoting online Yellow Pages. The Yellow Pages Top Ads module is displayed ROS at the bottom or the right column.
Batavia News - Batavia, NY Group: Johnson Newspaper Corporation Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 7,500 URL: www.thedailynewsonline.com Enhanced Listings Best Practice: Batavia News increases exposure for its enhanced business listings and drives traffic to its online Yellow Pages by placing the YP Top Ads Module on its home page.
Journal Tribune - Biddeford, ME Group: Sample News Group Paper Type: Daily Circulation: 7,319 URL: www.journaltribune.com Best Practice: Journal Tribune allows readers to search its Yellow Pages Popular Search Categories directory right from its home page, while increasing its site’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Cody Enterprise - Cody, WY Group: Sage Publishing Company Paper Type: Weekly Circulation: 6,910 URL: www.codyenterprise.com Best Practice: Cody Enterprise rotates its enhanced listings results in the YP Top Ads Module to increase frequency and reach for its advertisers. Customizable Header
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