If your goals are to double or triple Facebook fans the fastest way is to deploy a few mega Facebook-first contests. Here are contest ideas with examples around the country that have resulted in increases from 1,000 to 76,000 fans. more

More merchants are interested in building a fan base, or linking promotions to their fan page on Facebook. Selling Facebook services is doing very well - from contests, to custom pages, to calenders of posts. But what is the value of a Facebook name and other key statistics to sell these programs? Here are four key stats to use with sources and weaknesses. more

These pros and cons - and do's and don'ts - of using QR Codes are based on field-tested experiences from local media companies, including print and broadcast as well as advice from mobile experts at Centro. Before launching a QR code initiative, understanding these do's and don't will save time, money and resources. more

LMI's surveyed members to find best local uses of QR code looks at how radio and television stations to create edgy promotions and build revenues. This report looks at two companies we found with the most experience in this sector, CBS radio in West Palm Beach and Entravision, a group of Hispanic radio and TV Stations, plus one talk show host who uses them onair. The full report also shows numerous visual examples and resources. more

Growing e-mail lists is a new basic skill for revenue-oriented local media executives. Second Street Media, provider of deal and contest platforms, trains its media partners by sharing best practices. Here are the top seven recommendations for increasing the list. more

With the rise of group deal revenue, the size of the e-mail list is a new metric driving revenue. So what's the value of an e-mail name? Use this calculator to find the value, plus recommendations on how much to invest and which lists are most important. more

Beyond in-house data that every online publisher generates on a monthly basis, there are four top free onlines sources to gain information on how your site stacks up against others competing for the same audience and advertisers. How much more could your sales teams close if they had this data? What is your sites local market position? Do competing sites have more referring links, and if so, from whom? Here's how to find out, for free. more

E-mail data is now driving daily deals, new business models and even advertising campaigns. But even using a simple platform, consolidating databases is complex and time-consuming. Here is a simple step-by-step outline to put your company on the right course. more

As more advertisers shift budgets to promotions more e-mail registrations mean more dollars. Here is a check list of what you can do to build lists faster. more

Here are nine take-aways from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies' 2011 Web Conference about who Millennials are and what they want as local media consumers and employees. more