User-generated revenues may become the annuity that classifieds used to be. Director of Interactive at the PostGazette.com, Pat Scanlon, is leading the charge: “We’ve neglected this category for 15 years." Here are his top four initiatives that promise to yield at least six figures each, plus five more, with vendors suggested. Understanding this source of new revenues is one key to creating a successful local media business model. more

in 2017, Gatehouse rolled out self-serve advertising across a variety of verticals including obituaries, recruitment, and private party. First year revenue growth of more 1.5 million, and FTE savings, point to a major win once the program has been deployed throughout its markets. more

This case study shows eight steps taken over several years that tripled obituary revenues at a Northern California newspaper group. Veteran manager at the Bay Area News Group, Liz Naughton, shows "how she did it" from reorganization of the department, new policies and programs, self-serve options, pricing and how to secure relationships with funeral homes. Please log-in to see all eight steps. more

As newspapers and other local online media battle for dominance in their communities, obituaries hold a special place. Tributes.com has a new model, and television sites are capitalizing. more

Here's another way to monetize a category that has been traditionally strong for local print media: By providing back end services to funeral homes, essentially making them partners in selling obituary announcements and daily text alerts for obituary notices, the Houston Herald built a solid new revenue stream and anchored the franchise as an important community service. Here's the full case study: more

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

LMI editors endorse Memoriams from AdPay, as a way to increase obituary revenues and for the newspaper industry to grow the franchise overall. Included in this review: How it works, costs, metrics and current partners. more

Executing a few new strategies, Gatehouse and iPublish media successfully grow the traffic of Tributes sections. more

Here are the 2014 best of obituary strategies. Please log in to view. more

Obituaries are a changing franchise with much at stake. In some major markets like Boston and Dallas, they are worth millions. But the category, like others, is also on the move. Funeral homes - not newspapers - have the first contact with customers and a lot of control over memorial spending and customers are demanding memorial sites. Here's a review of one new "frenemy" for Legacy, with new options in the obituaries marketplace. more