Insight to drive subscription growth

Join

Dana E. Neuts

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Editorial Director, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, premium content, and reports. Dana is also a writer, editor, marketer and communications professional. Her work has appeared in AARP Bulletin, The Seattle Times, Seattle Business, 425 Business, 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel and more. Her specialties include business writing, community news, senior issues, travel and, of course, subscriptions!

Dana E. Neuts

Five on Friday: GDPR Prep, Metrics and Subscription Jobs

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Data and IoT, Entertainment and Streaming, Freemium, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Only, Subscription Business Marketing /

Before you settle in to watch the Final Four match-ups this weekend, take a look at this weeks Five on Friday. In todays edition, MarTech Today offers suggestions for companies who have procrastinated their GDPR preparations, Billboard reports that the U.S. music industry has the highest revenue now than it has in a decade, thanks to subscriptions, Inc.com shares performance metrics every company should be tracking, Shopify suggests tools for managing your Instagram accounts, and last but not least, everyones favorite Five on Friday feature – subscription job opportunities!

Five on Friday: GDPR Prep, Metrics and Subscription Jobs Read More »

The Denver Post Cuts 30 Newsroom Jobs

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, Metered Subscription, News, Paywall, Product Development /

The Denver Post announced earlier this month it plans to cut 30 newsroom jobs, or 30 percent of its news staff. The cuts will include both managers and union-based employees, The Post said, and the first 25 cuts will come by April 9. The remaining positions will be cut by July 1. Thus far, it is not clear which positions will be eliminated, and employees will have one week to apply for a severance package.

The Denver Post Cuts 30 Newsroom Jobs Read More »

Google News Initiative Makes It Easier to Subscribe to News

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Customer Service, Industry Announcements, Metered Subscription, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition /

As part of its Google News Initiative, Google is making it easier to subscribe to premium content. The new tool, called Subscribe with Google, allows consumers to purchase a subscription using their Google account on participating news sites. If the publisher is part of the program, they’ll click ‘Subscribe’ and can pay securely using any credit or debit card they’ve used on Google in the past.

Google News Initiative Makes It Easier to Subscribe to News Read More »

Mercedes-Benz to Launch Flexperience Auto Subscription in Germany

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition /

Mercedes-Benz is the latest automaker to hop on the subscription bandwagon, launching its ‘Mercedes me Flexperience’ program in Germany, reports Motor Authority. Like similar auto subscription programs, subscribers will pay an all-inclusive monthly fee that covers insurance, maintenance, repairs and tire wear. With Flexperience, subscribers can drive up to 12 different cars per year for a total of 36,000 kilometers, or just over 22,000 miles, annually. Motoring reports that, if the subscription trial is successful in Germany, a pilot program will be tested in the U.S. next.

Mercedes-Benz to Launch Flexperience Auto Subscription in Germany Read More »

Meredith Announces Layoffs of 1,200 as Part of Time Inc. Acquisition

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Strategy, Consumer Media and Publishing, Consumer Services, FInance, Industry Announcements, Magazines, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, Revenue and Sales /

Less than two months after Meredith Corporation’s (NYSE: MDP) acquisition of Time Inc. closed, Meredith announced an aggressive plan to integrate Time Inc. into its portfolio of media brands. The company is focused on four major initiatives: review media assets and sell off those not essential to Meredith’s core business, improve advertising and circulation of Time Inc. properties, grow revenue and increase profits, and consolidate operations to save between $400 million and $500 million in the first two years.

Meredith Announces Layoffs of 1,200 as Part of Time Inc. Acquisition Read More »

Weekly Subscription News: Coconuts, Kahoots and Kits

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Media and Publishing, Entertainment and Streaming, Industry Announcements, Mergers and Acquisitions, Metered Subscription, News, Paywall, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps, Subscription Boxes, Subscription Gaming /

Spring has sprung, and the subscription economy is blooming everywhere. In this week’s subscription headlines, The Skimm raises $12 million to expand its subscription services, online media publisher Coconuts launches a metered paywall, and merger talks with Viacom could be a big boon for CBS. Also this week, Blue Apron is moving meal kits into grocery stores to expand its customer base, YouTube announces a music subscription (again), and education quiz app Kahoot raises $17 million.

Weekly Subscription News: Coconuts, Kahoots and Kits Read More »

Chargebee Raises $18 Million in Series C Funding

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Services, Business Strategy, FInance, Industry Announcements, News, Payment Processing, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Technology /

The first day of spring was a bright one for Chargebee, a SaaS-based subscription management and recurring billing solution provider, who announced they had raised $18 million in Series C funding. Led by Insight Venture Partners, the funding round also included investments from past investors Accel Partners and Tiger Global Management. Total funding raised to date is now $24.7 million. The new capital will be used for product R&D, sales, marketing and aggressive expansion into newer markets and segments.

Chargebee Raises $18 Million in Series C Funding Read More »

Five on Friday: Subscription Features, Facebook and Fake News

Business Services, Consumer Services, Data and IoT, Entertainment and Streaming, Industry Announcements, News, Paywall, Product Development, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Only, Subscription Apps, Subscription Business Marketing /

Spring has sprung, and if you are stuck inside because of the spring rains, weve got some subscription insights to keep you occupied. In this edition of Five on Friday, Facebook steps up its video game to compete with YouTube, Information Week asks how valuable is your data, Hubspot shares sales questions to help you identify your customers core needs, Google pledges big bucks to support news organizations and to stop fake news, and Deloitte reports that more than half of U.S. households subscribe to a video streaming service.

Five on Friday: Subscription Features, Facebook and Fake News Read More »

Lyft Tests All-Access Subscription Plans Starting at $199 a Month

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps /

Last week at a press event, Lyft CEO Logan Green announced that ride-sharing service Lyft was testing all-access subscription plans for high-frequency users, reports The Verge. Pricing for all-access passes starts at $199 a month. For example, a pass for 30 rides may range in price from $199 to $300 a month. A pass for 60 rides is $399 a month. Rides included in the all-access pass are those priced at $15 and under. It is not clear how pricing would work for rides that would normally cost more than $15.

Lyft Tests All-Access Subscription Plans Starting at $199 a Month Read More »

Rosetta Stone Reports Net Income as Pivot to SaaS Model Continues

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, FInance, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscription Apps /

Earlier this month, language software company Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) reported total revenue of $44.8 million in Q4 2017, a 13 percent decrease over Q4 2016 income of $51.7 million. Despite lower total revenue in the fourth quarter, Rosetta Stone reported net income of $2.4 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, a significant increase over a net loss of $5.6 million, or $(0.25) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Rosetta Stone Reports Net Income as Pivot to SaaS Model Continues Read More »