SODP Dispatch - 23 May 2024

Lightning Lesson: How to Navigate SGE and the Future of SEO for Publishers

June 6, 2024 (Thursday) at 2 PM ET | 11 AM PT | 8 PM CET
Free 45-minute session

Next month, I’m hosting a free lightning lesson on Maven. In light of the numerous developments in 2024 that have had a massive impact on publishers’ SEO strategies, I will discuss how to navigate the new era of search that AI Overviews promises to catapult publishers and audiences into.

Grab your spot – it’s going to be an information-packed session.

Last Chance to Register: Monetization Week

My 27-31 at 3 PM CET
5 sessions, 5 days, 1 hour each

You still have time to register for our virtual summit – Monetization Week!

• How do you monetize content through partnerships with ecommerce platforms and affiliate networks?

• How do you connect offline events to online offerings?

• What are the dos and don’ts of native advertising?

• What should you look for in your monetization team?

These and many more answers will be answered by our expert panel of speakers.

By Vahe Arabian

📣 Driving traffic and revenue through Apple News+

The recent shift in traffic dynamics—stemming from Facebook’s reduced focus on news and Google’s fluctuating algorithms—has left many digital publishers scrambling for alternatives.

Amidst this, Apple News+ has emerged as a crucial revenue stream, exemplified by The Daily Beast's projected $3-4 million earnings from the platform alone this year.

For publishers like Condé Nast, Vox, Hearst, and Time, Apple News+ represents a significant source of direct revenue. A Time spokesperson highlighted its importance, revealing that Apple News delivers 7-figures of revenue annually and attracts millions of unique visitors.

However, this partnership isn’t without its challenges. It necessitates reliance on Apple’s platform, potentially cannibalizing direct subscriptions and shifting editorial strategies to align with Apple’s content preferences.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Data Transparency: One of the key issues is the lack of direct subscriber data from Apple News+, which limits publishers' ability to build direct relationships with readers. Publishers should advocate for more transparency and data sharing to understand their audience better.
  

• Revenue Distribution: With Apple taking a significant revenue cut, publishers need to evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the costs. Diversifying revenue streams and not solely relying on Apple News+ can mitigate this risk.
  

• Editorial Independence: The influence of Apple News+ on editorial decisions is another concern. Publishers should strive to maintain editorial independence while leveraging the platform's benefits. Creating unique, high-quality content that stands out can help achieve this balance.

Despite these concerns, the advantages of Apple News+ are evident. It provides a platform for quality journalism and offers a discovery tool for new audiences. While growing its membership business, Slate's approach to using Apple News+ for audience discovery showcases a balanced strategy.

For publishers navigating these changes, maintaining a multi-platform presence and advocating for better terms with Apple can ensure sustainable growth. The digital publishing landscape is evolving, and adapting to these shifts is crucial for continued success.

Here are the Key Takeaways:

1. Apple News+ can be a significant revenue source, but reliance on it requires careful consideration of its impact on direct subscriptions and editorial strategies.
   

2. Publishers should push for more transparency from Apple to build direct relationships with their readers.
   

3. Diversifying revenue streams and maintaining editorial independence are essential to leverage the benefits of Apple News+ effectively.

Credit to Semafor for originally covering this.

🗓️ FIPP World Media Congress

The FIPP World Media Congress is an annual global junction for leaders in media and related tech and advisory sectors. Participants from more than 40 countries join Congress each year to share, reflect, validate, connect, do business, and enjoy what the location has to offer.
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💰 The Digital Revenue Playbook for Local News Publishers

This playbook explores digital revenue opportunities for local publishers, whether you represent a legacy print newspaper looking to generate more digital revenue or startup digital-only news outlet trying to build a sustainable business.
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SEO job listings down 37% in Q1 – bad omen or blip? | Search Engine Land

We're living through a disruptive moment due to AI – and more turbulence is expected in the SEO job market.
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Meta walked away from news. Now the company’s using it for AI content. | Washington Post

“Meta’s new chatbot, Meta AI, is happy to scan news outlets and summarize their latest stories and headlines for anyone who asks. It’s even doing it in Canada, where the company banned links to news sources on Facebook and Instagram in August to get around a law that could require it to pay publishers.”
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OpenAI’s News Corp deal licenses content from WSJ, New York Post, and more | The Verge

The multi-year agreement gives OpenAI access to current and archived articles from News Corp publications for AI training and to answer user questions. This is the latest in a string of licensing deals OpenAI has inked with major media companies and outlets.
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Google threatens to pause Google News Initiative funding in U.S. | Axios

This is the second time this year Google has threatened to pull investment in news in response to a regulatory threat in California — but this time, hundreds of publishers outside of California would also feel the impact.
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Microsoft debuts a new AI feature for Edge to translate spoken content via dubbing and subtitles live, on YouTube, news sites like Reuters, LinkedIn, and more | The Verge

As part of this year’s Build event, Microsoft announced that the new AI-powered feature will be able to translate spoken content through both dubbing and subtitles live as you’re watching it.
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