On subscriptions. As a happy subscriber I get mixed messages. You sometimes laud new hires and initiatives as if you have the revenue to expand and alternatively plead for the free loaders to subscribe to stay afloat. I think of the Pillar staff and its subscribers as family. Family’s share information more extensively within than withou…
On subscriptions. As a happy subscriber I get mixed messages. You sometimes laud new hires and initiatives as if you have the revenue to expand and alternatively plead for the free loaders to subscribe to stay afloat. I think of the Pillar staff and its subscribers as family. Family’s share information more extensively within than without. Could , for example , you tell us why you do not give the free loaders a trial subscription . If you don’t cut them off they will continue to free load. Maybe you get a great conversion rate already . I don’t know. I know certain publications that have an advertising base sell their publication for little to nothing since the number of “ subscribers” enhances their advertising rates but that would seem not to apply here. Some explanation as to your business model would be helpful. Perhaps your subscribers could be more helpful. Why would you not for example ask your subscribers to give you 10 names of friends who they think might like the Pillar. The subscriber pays you X for 10 trial 6 month subscriptions. And you work on converting them. Alternatively, could you reincorporate as a non profit to allow wealthier subscriber’s fund good journalism.
We chose not to be a non-profit because we believe that the effect of relying on wealthier patrons for journalism is corrosive-- it leads to agenda driven coverage tailored to fit the pre-conceived narratives of the whales. you can already find that in Catholic media.
We also choose not to be advertiser-dependent because that creates an incentive for clickbait type reporting that we want to eschew. you can find that too.
So we choose to be subscriber-funded, to live within our means, to hire when we can afford it, etc. And we spell out two realities: subscribers have made it possible for us to do things like hire Edgar, and grow our coverage. But without continued growth, there's no safety net, so we need to encourage free readers (we're committed to keeping The Pillar's news coverage free) to become paying subscribers. Both things are true.
On subscriptions. As a happy subscriber I get mixed messages. You sometimes laud new hires and initiatives as if you have the revenue to expand and alternatively plead for the free loaders to subscribe to stay afloat. I think of the Pillar staff and its subscribers as family. Family’s share information more extensively within than without. Could , for example , you tell us why you do not give the free loaders a trial subscription . If you don’t cut them off they will continue to free load. Maybe you get a great conversion rate already . I don’t know. I know certain publications that have an advertising base sell their publication for little to nothing since the number of “ subscribers” enhances their advertising rates but that would seem not to apply here. Some explanation as to your business model would be helpful. Perhaps your subscribers could be more helpful. Why would you not for example ask your subscribers to give you 10 names of friends who they think might like the Pillar. The subscriber pays you X for 10 trial 6 month subscriptions. And you work on converting them. Alternatively, could you reincorporate as a non profit to allow wealthier subscriber’s fund good journalism.
Just Asking . Brainstorming is cheap.
Thanks Dennis,
We chose not to be a non-profit because we believe that the effect of relying on wealthier patrons for journalism is corrosive-- it leads to agenda driven coverage tailored to fit the pre-conceived narratives of the whales. you can already find that in Catholic media.
We also choose not to be advertiser-dependent because that creates an incentive for clickbait type reporting that we want to eschew. you can find that too.
So we choose to be subscriber-funded, to live within our means, to hire when we can afford it, etc. And we spell out two realities: subscribers have made it possible for us to do things like hire Edgar, and grow our coverage. But without continued growth, there's no safety net, so we need to encourage free readers (we're committed to keeping The Pillar's news coverage free) to become paying subscribers. Both things are true.
And thanks for being a subscriber.
and some of of your ideas are great ones!
Is there a way that I can buy someone, as a present, a 6 month subscription? Then after that the recipient is invited to continue.
There are some distinct advantages to living under the Sword of Damocles.