Revenue that comes directly from readers in the form of subscriptions, memberships, donations, events and more is crucial for the long-term sustainability of news organizations — especially those serving local communities.

To help create that future, the American Press Institute offers practical guides and resources to help publishers get started or go to the next level with their reader revenue strategies.

In addition to API’s reports and research, check out the work news organizations are doing with Better News to generate consumer revenue.

–How the Akron Beacon Journal has increasingly served Black readers – expanding its audience and revenue. Grow your audience and paid online subscription base by bridging significant gaps in reaching key segments, including Black readers.

–How The Salt Lake Tribune developed Mormon Land to grow its national audience. Consider reaching a national audience that cares about a topic your newsroom covers well. The national audience may not subscribe because the rest of your reporting isn’t as relevant to them. How could you get them to read, interact with, and most importantly, financially support your coverage.

–How a 1-pound bag of coffee helped the Keene Sentinel reduce its digital subscriber churn. Develop a program that bundles locally produced goods from local businesses with subscription offers. For example, you can work with a local coffee roaster, purchasing 1-pound bags of coffee, at half-price, to combine with an online-only subscription or weekend print delivery and full online access.

–Save digital subscriptions by killing “zombies.” When subscribers don’t read content, they’re far more likely to cancel their subscriptions. Hunting “zombies” to reduce churn should be part of any healthy subscription revenue strategy.

–How a small-town North Carolina newspaper became digital-first to save its 123-year-old legacy. The News Reporter of Columbus County, N.C., built a digital-first workflow, established a metered paywall and consolidated its subscription plans. The result was an increase in its circulation and subscription revenue.

Question you need answered? Something missing? Are your own reader revenue initiatives and projects proving successful and you want to share? Reach out to Gwen Vargo, VP of communications and operations, at gwen.vargo@pressinstitute.org.