It’s hard to keep up with all the content you love. We live in a largely post-RSS feed world, where we spend more time Googling the specific answers we need rather than subscribing to a single source for it.
So if you’ve missed what’s been going on with the Sterling Woods blog lately, here’s the opportunity to catch up! Based on our engagement data, here are the top seven articles we’ve posted over the past six months.
1. The State of Niche Media in 2017
The experts weigh in on what’s next for niche media after the 2017 “Super Niche” Conference. Read on what trends are coming down the line from data to native advertising to changing business models. It’s a must-read to take the pulse of the niche publishing community.
2. Paywall Strategy: Winners and Losers
Managing paywall rules is a delicate balancing act. It’s like walking a tightrope. If your rules are too loose, you undermine the value of your content. If your rules are too tight, you fail to nurture leads. Here, we take a look at some recent actions by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Sun to understand what works and doesn’t with respect to paywall rules.
3. Digital Ads Up 16% — But You Won’t Reap the Rewards
US digital advertising will reach $83 billion in 2017, but digital ad revenue is likely decreasing for any publisher who isn’t named Google or Facebook. But not to worry! You can survive—and even thrive—in this environment. Here are three steps successfully monetizing your website and collecting a piece of that revenue pie.
4. Remote Work: Millennial Pandering or a Smart Business Decision?
Is inviting your team to work remotely good business? In short: maybe. There are massive benefits and also some downsides to working with a distributed team. Discover the pros and cons to allowing remote work on your team. (And if you’re feeling skeptical, we do ask you keep an open mind for this one!)
5. Stop Making Magazines Now!
What if you could grow your web traffic by 700%, digital subscribers by 800%, and list size by over 900%? Gerrit Klein, CEO of Ebner Publishing was able to achieve this with his magazine WatchTime. In this interview, he explains how you can replicate those results if you’ll only stop making magazines—and start producing content instead.
6. Don’t Be Scared of Analytics: A 7-Step Plan
Does the word ‘analytics’ scare you? It shouldn’t. Analytics is why I love the digital world. Everything you do is measurable. In fact, using analytics gives you a license to fail. Find out why and snag a very simple 7-step process to use analytics to drive your business.
7. The Importance of Having a Business Playbook
In sports, a playbook is essential. No two playbooks are alike. And the truly exceptional players take the time to memorize every page before they even start practice. Just as in sports, in business it pays to be prepared. Here’s how creating a business playbook can help your business run more smoothly.
How Sterling Woods Group Can Help
The Sterling Woods Group has a track record of driving double- and even triple-digit growth. Whether you’re looking to monetize your digital content, make the most of your website’s analytics, or systematize your business operations with a playbook, we can help.
Want to learn more? Contact info@sterlingwoodsgroup.com for a free 30-minute consultation.
About the Author, Rob Ristagno
Rob Ristagno is the founder of The Sterling Woods Group and partners with companies to drive rapid digital revenue growth. Prior to creating Sterling Woods, Rob served as a senior executive for several niche media and e-commerce companies. Rob started his career as a consultant at McKinsey and holds degrees from the Harvard Business School and Dartmouth College. He has taught Product Strategy at Boston College.
