Tracking publishers’ relationships with generative AI companies
Toolkits’ database detailing which publishers are licensing their content to generative artificial intelligence companies and which are taking legal action.
Publisher brands with the most digital subscribers
The Toolkits ranking of the top English-language publisher brands, ordered by the total number of paying subscribers with access to their digital subscription products.
The Toolkits Show: More publishers license content to AI, marketers are ‘going direct’ again
Introducing The Toolkits Show, our new podcast making sense of the major themes, trends, and developments shaping the business of content.
Research: Consumer attitudes to publishers’ subscription products
Consumer attitudes to publishers’ subscription products are evolving as media companies place greater emphasis on generating revenue directly from their audiences.
‘Lifting all boats’: Publishers explore total revenue optimization
Publishers are thinking carefully about how monetization opportunities should be prioritized to extract as much revenue as possible from their audiences.
News publishers broaden target audiences in search of subscriber growth
Publishers including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are broadening their target audiences in an effort to grow their subscriber bases.
Publishers are rethinking their definitions of “audience”
Some publishers are accepting that their actual “audiences” may be much smaller than they’ve previously chosen to believe.
Publishers test new Offerwall monetization tool from Google
Audiences unlock access to content by selecting from a range of options such as purchasing a subscription, viewing a video ad, sharing data, or making a micropayment for short-term access.
Subscription insights from New York Times publisher A. G. Sulzberger
NYT’s publisher, A. G. Sulzberger, provided some valuable insights into how NYT is thinking about the subscription model.
‘Transparency first’: Publishers align subscription practices more closely with their editorial promises
News publishers are becoming more transparent and direct about their subscription products and practices in an attempt to boost their credibility with audiences.
Tracking publishers’ relationships with generative AI companies
Toolkits’ database detailing which publishers are licensing their content to generative artificial intelligence companies and which are taking legal action.
Publisher brands with the most digital subscribers
The Toolkits ranking of the top English-language publisher brands, ordered by the total number of paying subscribers with access to their digital subscription products.
U.S. publisher brands with the most digital subscribers
Top U.S.-based publisher brands ranked by total number of digital subscribers.
Research: Consumer attitudes to publishers’ subscription products
Consumer attitudes to publishers’ subscription products are evolving as media companies place greater emphasis on generating revenue directly from their audiences.
Paywalled content is deemed higher quality and more trustworthy
Consumers believe publishers’ content is generally higher quality and more trustworthy when they have to pay to access it, new research finds.
Introductory discounts drive subscription purchases, consumers say
73% of consumers say they’re more likely to subscribe to digital publications when offered introductory discounts.
Over half of readers attempt to circumvent publishers’ paywalls
58% of digital publication readers say they regularly attempt to circumvent paywalls, down slightly from 63% in 2022.
Satisfaction with publishers’ subscription products is growing
More consumers are satisfied with the value for money they get from publishers’ digital subscription products now than in 2022, according to new research.
Subscribers say they’re less likely to cancel now than they were in 2022
Consumers may be spending on subscriptions less cautiously than they were last year, when fears of a recession were more acute.
No sign of peak subscription: Consumers continue to grow their subscription portfolios
29% of subscribers say they hold more digital publication subscriptions than they did 12 months ago, while just 7% have fewer, according to new research.
Consumers say they would buy more subscriptions if canceling was easier
Two-thirds of U.S. consumers say they would be more likely to subscribe to digital publications if the process of canceling subscriptions was easier, according to new research conducted by Toolkits and National Research Group.
Publishers adapt as scrutiny of subscription cancellation practices mounts
Publishers are responding as it becomes clear that trapping consumers in unwanted subscriptions will not prove a viable long-term strategy.
Four subscription themes are top of mind for publishers in Q4
A handful of key subscription themes are top of publishers’ minds as they look to maximize revenue for the year and chart paths for 2024.
How subscription publishers are navigating economic instability
A new Toolkits report explores how publishers are adjusting their approaches to drive subscription success despite challenging market conditions.
Reducing passive subscriber churn
Tactics for mitigating passive subscriber churn and minimizing lost revenue from payment failures.
Limiting password sharing for subscription products
Tactics for limiting password sharing activity and using it as a growth opportunity.
Managing “sleeper” subscribers
What to do when subscribers aren’t actually using the products or services they’re paying for.
SEO strategies for paywalled content
Strategies and tactics to ensure optimal search performance for paywalled content.
Comparing server-side and client-side paywall technology
Each approach comes with advantages, drawbacks and unique considerations.
Onboarding subscribers
Implementing highly effective onboarding processes that help minimize churn and boost subscriber engagement, retention and revenue.
Publishers adapt as scrutiny of subscription cancellation practices mounts
Publishers are responding as it becomes clear that trapping consumers in unwanted subscriptions will not prove a viable long-term strategy.
The New York Times grew digital subscription revenue nearly 13% in 2023
The company added 300,000 paid digital subscribers in the fourth quarter, which is more than it added during any quarter for the previous year.
What publishing leaders expect from subscriptions in 2024
We asked publishing executives what trends and challenges they believe will shape the year ahead for content-based subscription businesses.
An eventful news cycle could fuel subscription growth in 2024
A busy news cycle presents an opportunity to reach and engage new paying subscribers and deepen relationships with existing ones.
Paywalled content is deemed higher quality and more trustworthy
Consumers believe publishers’ content is generally higher quality and more trustworthy when they have to pay to access it, new research finds.
MailOnline will begin paywalling portions of its content
The news publisher will begin charging for access to portions of its content in January as it attempts to reduce its reliance on advertising revenue.
Subscription themes that shaped 2023
Approaches evolved and matured as subscriptions became a more central part of publishers’ audience offerings and business models.
FTC plans hearing on proposed ‘click to cancel’ subscription rule
The Federal Trade Commission will hold a hearing in January during which six organizations will explain their opposition to proposed “click to cancel” subscription rules.