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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

AmEx-Costco Divorce Could Cause Involuntary Churn for Subscription Businesses

Auto-renew Subscription, Best Practice and How To, Business Operations, Business Services, Consumer Services, Customer Service, Industry Announcements, News, Payment Processing, Subscriber Retention, Technology /

American Express and Costco are officially divorced and all Costco-issued AmEx cards are being replaced with Citigroup Visa cards. This could cause involuntary churn for subscription companies, but there are ways for subscription businesses to lessen the impact, including assessing the potential impact, proactively reaching out to AmEx customers, monitoring response rates and using Account Updater.

AmEx-Costco Divorce Could Cause Involuntary Churn for Subscription Businesses Read More »

Spotify Shifts Strategy to Focus on Growing Ad Revenue

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Freemium, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales /

As competition in the streaming music industry heats up, Spotify is shifting its focus, reports Business Insider. Spotify will concentrate on growing its advertising revenue to support its operations. According to Business Insider, Spotify issued an internal mission statement to staff a few weeks ago, outlining the new strategy and asking the company’s tech and product employees to try Spotify’s ad-supported freemium service for five days. Find out what they learned.

Spotify Shifts Strategy to Focus on Growing Ad Revenue Read More »

Birchbox Angers Subscribers with Big Changes to Popular Points Program

Auto-renew Subscription, Consumer Services, News, Subscription Boxes /

Last week Birchbox announced changes to its popular points program, angering many subscribers who have threatened to cancel their subscriptions.Birchbox made a number of missteps in its decision and announcement of the changes. Digiday calls the move ‘business suicide.’ Subscribers, who were notified of the pending change via email, are upset about the devaluation of the current point system, reports Consumerist.

Birchbox Angers Subscribers with Big Changes to Popular Points Program Read More »

New York Times to Launch Ad-Free Digital Subscriptions to Fight Ad Blockers

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, News, Paywall, Revenue and Sales /

As ad blocking continues to grow, the New York Times is preparing to meet consumers halfway by offering an ad-free digital subscription, reported the Wall Street Journal. New York Times CEO Mark Thompson confirmed this plan on Monday at the Cannes Lions advertising festival. Will this new strategy be the right balance between readers’ needs and the Times’ need for subscription and advertising revenue?

New York Times to Launch Ad-Free Digital Subscriptions to Fight Ad Blockers Read More »

$2 Netflix Price Hike Starts in July

Auto-renew Subscription, Consumer Services, Customer Service, Entertainment and Streaming, News, Paywall, Subscription Apps /

It’s finally happened. We knew the Netflix rate change was coming. They’ve been talking about it for months, but it is official. Effective July 18, 2016, some subscribers’ rates will go up $2 a month. The streaming video company explains it clearly in this email notice sent yesterday. In a second email, also sent yesterday, Netflix explains that the standard plan (two screens at a time + HD viewing) will be $9.99, effective July 18, 2016. It directs users to their online accounts for additional information about their membership and to the Help Center for more information. Yet none of the links in the two emails direct subscribers to an explanation for the rate change or the terms.

$2 Netflix Price Hike Starts in July Read More »

Honolulu Civil Beat Becomes Nonprofit, Drops Paywall, Adopts Membership Model

Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Memberships, News, Paywall /

Last week Honolulu Civil Beat, a news outlet focused on public affairs reporting, turned six years old. To celebrate, the digital news site announced big changes to its structure: it is becoming a nonprofit, it removed its paywall, and it has adopted a membership model. It has also joined the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). Until the IRS approves Civil Beat’s nonprofit status, INN is serving as its fiscal sponsor so any new contributions to Civil Beat are tax deductible.

Honolulu Civil Beat Becomes Nonprofit, Drops Paywall, Adopts Membership Model Read More »

Weekly Subscription News Round-up for June 17

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In this week’s subscription headlines, Visa focuses on fraud, The Economist’s Espresso goes beyond the headlines, Spotify plots to become profitable, and Forbes’ Sales Chief says ad blocking is an ‘existential threat.’ In addition, we’ve got headlines from Apple, IAB, Snapchat and the Washington Post. See what we’re reading this week at Subscription Insider.

Weekly Subscription News Round-up for June 17 Read More »

Vogue Introduces Members-only VIP Program for $200 a Year

Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Magazines, Memberships, News, Product Development /

Last Wednesday Vogue magazine, part of the Condé Nast media empire, introduced its first members-only program, called Vogue VIP, giving members special access to the world of Vogue. The membership includes a limited edition Clare V. clutch, subscriptions, insider access and more. Vogue VIP is available by invitation only and is reserved for “friends of Vogue.” There’s no word on when (or if) the offer will be open to the public.

Vogue Introduces Members-only VIP Program for $200 a Year Read More »

The Weather Channel Joins Sling TV, Launches Mobile App

Consumer Media and Publishing, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Subscription Apps /

This spring Sling TV bolstered its line-up by adding The Weather Channel’s geo-targeted Local Now service to its “Best of Live TV” subscription package at no additional cost. This makes the over-the-top TV service the first pay-TV provider to offer Local Now, which includes local, geo-targeted updates on news, weather, sports and traffic. In addition, The Weather Channel announced last week that it is launching a mobile app for all Weather Channel TV subscribers, and later this summer, it will launch Local Now on another web-based TV service.

The Weather Channel Joins Sling TV, Launches Mobile App Read More »

Microsoft to Buy LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion in Cash

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Media and Publishing, Business Operations, Business Services, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscription Apps /

In its largest deal ever, yesterday Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced that it is buying professional network LinkedIn for $26.2 billion, or $196 per share, in an all-cash transaction. According to the announcement, LinkedIn “will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence,” and Jeff Weiner will remain CEO. He will report to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Microsoft to Buy LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion in Cash Read More »

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