Comments on: Some meaningful numbers on the Times paywall http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/some-meaningful-numbers-on-the-times-paywall/ Where to find Malcolm Coles, reviews, and tips on how to do things I couldn't do. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:22:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Chris H http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/some-meaningful-numbers-on-the-times-paywall/#comment-15840 Chris H Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:07:04 +0000 http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/?p=5108#comment-15840 Given the marketing spend and capital costs as well as the not insignificant running costs (some of which would be shared with the print edition), I think this represents a hidden disaster. Less than a few hundred thousand eyeballs a month would also seriously hurt a brand as big as the times in terms of advertising potential so I fail to see the good news in this. Given the marketing spend and capital costs as well as the not insignificant running costs (some of which would be shared with the print edition), I think this represents a hidden disaster. Less than a few hundred thousand eyeballs a month would also seriously hurt a brand as big as the times in terms of advertising potential so I fail to see the good news in this.

]]> By: Wildfire Tech PR Blog – Business and Consumer Technology Public Relations : Blog Archive : Should PR abandon the sinking (reader)ship? http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/some-meaningful-numbers-on-the-times-paywall/#comment-15837 Wildfire Tech PR Blog – Business and Consumer Technology Public Relations : Blog Archive : Should PR abandon the sinking (reader)ship? Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:08:29 +0000 http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/?p=5108#comment-15837 [...] the publisher has advanced the debate by revealing official measurement of over 150,000 ‘paid-for sales’ across their digital products. However, sceptics are questioning how many of [...] [...] the publisher has advanced the debate by revealing official measurement of over 150,000 ‘paid-for sales’ across their digital products. However, sceptics are questioning how many of [...]

]]> By: Mark Goodge http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/some-meaningful-numbers-on-the-times-paywall/#comment-15829 Mark Goodge Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:27:59 +0000 http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/?p=5108#comment-15829 Of those 150,000, though, only 50,000 are contributing to the site's income (since the 100,000 print subscribers who have activated their online account aren't paying any extra for it). And we don't know how many of that 50,000 are on the "pound for a month" trial and didn't (or won't) renew when it expires. I think that what's more telling here is the dog that didn't bark - the fact that they haven't told us how revenue compares to the previous free to view, but advertising funded, site. Because that's what really matters - readership figures are just marketing puffery, it's the bottom line that counts. And I'm sure if they had seen an upturn in revenue as a result of the paywall, they'd be falling over themselves to brag about it. Of those 150,000, though, only 50,000 are contributing to the site's income (since the 100,000 print subscribers who have activated their online account aren't paying any extra for it). And we don't know how many of that 50,000 are on the "pound for a month" trial and didn't (or won't) renew when it expires.

I think that what's more telling here is the dog that didn't bark - the fact that they haven't told us how revenue compares to the previous free to view, but advertising funded, site. Because that's what really matters - readership figures are just marketing puffery, it's the bottom line that counts. And I'm sure if they had seen an upturn in revenue as a result of the paywall, they'd be falling over themselves to brag about it.

]]> By: Neil Jackson http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/some-meaningful-numbers-on-the-times-paywall/#comment-15828 Neil Jackson Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:07:36 +0000 http://www.malcolmcoles.co.uk/blog/?p=5108#comment-15828 Any idea on break even numbers? Any idea on break even numbers?

]]>