When does a newspaper need an app?

Today, we’re highlighting a piece by  David Tvrdon over at The Fix about the viability of mobile apps for small to mid-size publishers.

The article, “Does your news outlet need an app? Depends on your business model and resources,” discusses the costs and benefits of creating an app based on a publication’s size and audience. It’s important to know what your goals are before investing in a dedicated app.

“An app is considered your own property, even though you go through Apple and Google’s stores. The tech and users are your own. It can be a one-stop-shop for all your content.”

– said David Tvrdon

Here are a few of our big takeaways:

• Apps can typically load faster than websites and have push notifications which abre both great for increasing subscriptions and reader retention.
• Apps that deliver written, audio, and video content can serve as one-stop “super apps” that your readers will go to for more than just news.
• Before building an app, do some market research o see if it’s something your audience would be interested in and to find out what features they prefer.

No matter how big your publication is, a dedicated news app could help to boost engagement, revenue, and brand awareness. Because of this, Our Hometown offers iOS and Android apps to all of our customers, giving them an opportunity to tap into all of these opportunities.

Thanks for watching Today in News Tech, the podcast where we discuss innovations happening in digital journalism. Remember to like and subscribe to keep up with everything happening in online media.