A simple planning guide can simplify the process for families to place obituaries, and funeral homes to help them. Here's a real world example from Bay Area News Group, with a break down of what to put in your guide and simple instructional guidelines families use daily. more

Merchants are more interested than ever before in ROI. In fact, a BIA Kesley survey shows they are planning to increase spending in digital marketing, but in fewer channels - keeping those that show measurable results and cutting out those channels that do not. Use this quick list of measurement tactics, shared by Amie Stein, Director of Training and Development at Local Media Association at the 2013 Digital Agency Summit, and turn them into ROI estimates. more

Company: Chattanooga Times Free Press Market: Chattanooga, TN Key Executives: Jason Taylor, President; Angela Doggett, Marketing Events manager; and Lyndsi Sebastian, Marketing … more

Summary: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's simple launch strategy - a 15% forced-price increase to print subscribers that includes digital, plus a metered model for online-only subscribers - uses a … more

Taking full advantage of political advertising requires a strategic plan. Even broadcast sites with sold-out onair inventory can create more digital inventory and sell new audiences (email, opt-in, etc.) via partnerships. This white paper gives a step-by-step go-to-market battle strategy, and a worksheet to create a political advertising plan. Included are case studies from two local media companies who have successfully ramped up revenues and and a slide deck of statistics to use in competitive messaging. Get ready for the 2014 political season. more

Just getting started? These ten basic steps to a winning strategy mobile are gleaned from the smartest sellers of mobile advertising in 2012. They boil down product, pricing, packaging, sales teams and target accounts, and partnerships. A lot of moving pieces, but this is what makes good programs work. more

What numbers are the most successful local media companies tracking - and achieving? The first is an audience dashboard that tracks all new audiences: Facebook, Email, Mobile, Text and Online. However these dashboards are almost too big to allow managers to focus in on what's important. Key metrics allow your teams to track both against short term targets and long range, transformative goals. This report gives you a start by showing a few that should be on the new dashboard, worksheets included. more

These top recommendations for 2012 were generated  both for - and during - seminars  at American Press Institute's December 2012 revenue conference for small media.  They include … more

Back to basics means a healthy sales department that can "block and tackle" to increase digital revenues. Here are 15 basic steps from Robert Granfeldt, VP Digital Media, who recently executed an 85% year over year gain in 2011. Included are four worksheets to calculate a realistic assessment of your site sales - and sales reps contributions - plus metrics for pricing your site that show its full potential. These metrics are applicable across media more

Interested in real information about products and services your advertisers would buy from your sales representatives? Ask them. Plug this simple ten question survey into Survey Monkey or another vendor, and email to advertisers and prospects. more