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MEL Magazine’s Cofounder On How The Brand-Supported Media Model Weathers A Pandemic – Forbes

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Under coronavirus quarantines and lockdowns, people are consuming more media than ever, from streaming video to online news to ebooks. But that’s not good news for most news sites, thanks to a heavy reliance on advertising.

Ads are leaking away faster than pageviews are growing, for two big reasons: First, advertisers hate bad news, so they’ll avoid anything pandemic-related, and second, many of the businesses are themselves struggling, and their advertising budgets are the first thing on the chopping block.

For some media publishers, the best solution is to ask their readership to subscribe directly. “The digital paid content debate is over—if people want it, they’ll purchase,” says Joe Hyrkin, CEO at digital discovery and publishing platform Issuu. “We first saw the shift with music, where consumers essentially agreed to pay for content through platforms like Apple and Spotify. In terms of movies and shows, most major media companies have launched their own programming and platforms (e.g., Disney+) over the last six months, while cord-cutting has reached an all-time high.”

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But subscriptions aren’t for everyone: Brands need a lot of name recognition to reach the scale needed to operate as a subscription-powered business. In news media, that’s the New York Times, which added half a million new subscribers in just the last quarter. But every new subscriber they add is, potentially, a subscription lost to another competing publisher.

Some services sell directly to the consumer, like the audiobook industry, which has the added benefit of an all-digital product. “Unlike traditional publishers who have been delaying new book releases because their model is still heavily reliant on physical retail, independent publishing is 100% ecomm and as a result it’s in an accelerated growth state,” Scott Dickey, CEO at Podium Audio, tells me. “Interestingly, sci-fi and fantasy genres are trending particularly well as it appears consumers are consuming more escapist content than pre-COVID periods.”

But none of that helps news organizations and magazines, which face tanking ad revenue and few paths towards a subscription model. Is any media model functional amid the 2020 pandemic?

The brand-supported model is one answer: A company operates its own magazine on the side, using it as a loss leader to engage its audience.

MEL Magazine, an online publication backed by Unilever’s Dollar Shave Club, offers an example of what this looks like in practice. It makes sense that this model would thrive as pageviews soar even while advertisers bail, since it never relied on advertisers to start with.

I ran a few questions past MEL Magazine’s cofounder and editor-in-chief Josh Schollmeyer to learn more about how MEL is doing these days.

Have you seen changes in your readership or in how people are consuming media?

There are definitely a lot more eyeballs out there. We just completed our best traffic month ever, and posted two of our best days ever in April as well. Overall, our traffic is up about 30 percent since sheltering-in-place began more or less nationwide. 

It seems — depending on the time of the day — people are looking for two types of content: 1) Something highly relatable about the pandemic (for example, how do I wear a face mask without fogging up my glasses?) or almost voyeuristic about the ways in which other people are spending lockdown (for example, the people throwing raves for one to pass the time); or 2) something as far from the epidemic as humanly possible (for example, a longer read on the forgotten Tiger King of Harlem, or anything that’s off-topic but also kinda fun and lighthearted). 

The morning is when interest in health/corona coverage seems highest; then by early afternoon, everyone is sorta burned out on it and wants something different; and as the day draws to a close, it’s all about what we call “sin and sloth,” a mix of entertainment/binge-watching suggestions, sex and drugs/booze posts.  

How has the current situation changed how you cover culture?

Not that much really. For starters, we’ve covered COVID and quarantine like we would anything else — by channeling our own fears, anxieties and intellectual curiosities. So most everything is drawn from our own lives and from our own questions about what we’re living through. Frankly, it’s helped quell a lot of our worry, because sorting through our own neuroses has given us a measure of control we wouldn’t otherwise have. (It’s also validating to see with the traffic being what it is, how many people are thinking about the same things, making us feel less alone, too). I’ve always joked that the site is me working through some sh*t, and I don’t know if it’s ever been more true than now. 

We’ve also tried to keep our coverage aligned with our core topic areas — dating, mental and physical health, digital and pop culture, money and work, etc. We have sharpened our focus a bit more on the class issues that this crisis has put front and center, especially with regard to “essential” workers at big box chains and who’s really getting bailed out by the government. But that’s also always been a big part of the brand ethos, as well as a major pillar of our much larger look at modern masculinity since so much of what’s affecting men today is economic (particularly as it pertains to the blue-collar guy).  

If anything, we’ve taken a newsier approach than normal — if only in the volume and type of posts we’re now doing — but we’re probably still more focused on the zeitgeist and bigger picture than we are necessarily chasing the newscycle. 

With so many media businesses struggling during this time, how is MEL thinking about its long-term business and goals?

Step by step. We’ve had a lot of interesting opportunities for monetization as we really have been paving the roadmap for brand-incubated journalism for a few years now, and a number of brands have approached us about how they might do something similar. We’ve developed a reputation as an innovator that’s definitely made a significant impact on men’s lifestyle content, and that’s generated the kind of IP that’s attracted interest from studios and networks here in L.A.

Of course, right now, I’m thankful that we have the kind of funding model that lets us focus on continuing to pile up traffic wins — and build a completely organic, highly compelling audience — as well as high-quality work that keeps letting us stand out. That should also help us weather this storm, because eventually, some degree of normalcy will return, or something different altogether will arise, and we want to be at the front of the line and firing on all cylinders when that happens.   

How has being a brand-backed media business impacted your business during this time? 

That’s honestly been the beauty of our model. It’s insulated us from the pressures that many other traditional media companies are experiencing — not just now, but over the last few years — and given us the room and time to really think innovatively about what our model could be in the future and how it can be sustainable enough to even get through a global pandemic.

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Bitcoin halving, Trump Media stock falling, and banks rising: Markets news roundup – Quartz

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Donald Trump

Photo: Marco Bello (Reuters)

Trump Media & Technology Group said it will issue millions more shares, sending its stock plunging again.

The company behind former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it is registering the resale of up to almost 21.5 million new shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants, up to about 146 million shares of common stock, and up to about 4 million warrants to purchase common stock. Certain shares held by insiders may still be restricted from trading until the expiration of a lock-up agreement 5-6 months after the date of the IPO.

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Trump Media warns Nasdaq of suspected market manipulation – CNN

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New York
CNN
 — 

Trump Media, the parent company of the former president’s Truth Social, alerted Nasdaq Inc. on Thursday of what the company suspects is illegal activity driving down the price of its shares.

In a letter to the exchange, Devin Nunes, the CEO of Trump Media (DJT), laid out what he believes could be deemed “naked” short selling.

Naked short selling involves someone selling shares they don’t own or have not borrowed. They will often then try to buy shares at a reduced price to cover themselves. This practice is generally illegal. Whereas legitimate short sellers, people who seek to benefit from declines in the value of a company’s shares, borrow the shares before selling.

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The letter was made public Friday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Nunes also noted in the letter that shares of the company were on a list the Nasdaq maintains that’s “indicative of unlawful trading activity.”

“This is particularly troubling given that “naked” short selling often entails sophisticated market participants profiting at the expense of retail investors,” he said.

Representatives from Nasdaq and Trump Media did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The company, which is majority-owned by former President Donald Trump, is down by around 50% from the all-time high it set on March 26, the day after it merged with a blank-check acquisition company to go public.

Shares of company have been on a wild ride since.

Although the company is still worth billions of dollars, it is struggling to make money and needs cash. Experts have warned investors to be careful if they choose to trade the stock, because the company doesn’t have the fundamentals to back up its sky-high valuation.

Trump Media lost $58 million in 2023 and made just $4.1 million in revenue.

Shares of the company ended Friday’s session about 9.6% higher.

This story has been updated with additional developments and context.

CNN’s Nicole Goodkind contributed to this report.

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Social Media Tips for Event Profs – BizBash

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Social media changes rapidly—and what worked last year might not work in 2024. (Just look at X’s, or Twitter’s, dramatic revenue loss after many major platforms have stopped posting or advertising on the platform.) So what does work on social media right now, particularly for event professionals?

“We don’t just want our audience to understand what we do—we want them to know who we are,” says Zoe Haynes, the sales and marketing coordinator for PlatinumXP who oversees the event planning agency’s digital marketing. “Social media has evolved into a space for cultivating relationships and building trust. We utilize various platforms to tell stories—the story of an event transformation, behind the scenes with our production crew, or maybe even some fun office shenanigans with our CEO.”

Haynes’ focus on maintaining a consistent, authentic brand presence was a common theme among event professionals we spoke to about how they’re using social media right now. It’s all about “fostering an ongoing connection with our followers,” agrees Elias Contessotto, social media manager for event production company 15|40.

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But remember: Not every platform is created equal. Contessotto stresses the importance of tailoring your approach with each platform—but also not being afraid to experiment a bit to ensure you’re staying ahead of trends and maximizing audience engagement. “By creatively testing new tactics, we gauge audience response and efficacy, gradually integrating successful approaches into our channels,” he explains. “This iterative process empowers us to refine our content strategy continuously, adapting to evolving trends and audience preferences.”

In short, “It’s all about meeting your audience where they’re at,” says Taylor Elliot, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Shepard Exposition Services. “Social media is such a great tool to amplify your brand voice. I always say as marketers we need to create a system that works for our brand even when we are sleeping, and social media is one of the tools to help achieve this.”

LINKEDIN & INSTAGRAM

From our conversations, LinkedIn and Instagram quickly emerged as the two top platforms in the event industry. “Instagram is our go-to for showcasing stunning event photos—however, LinkedIn holds equal if not greater importance in our strategy,” explains Haynes. “While Instagram captures attention with its visual allure, LinkedIn allows us to dive deeper into industry conversations and build relationships with our peers.”

Contessotto likes to target a B2B audience with 15|40’s LinkedIn presence, posting content that focuses on industry insights, professional networking, and collaborations with studios. “We often share static posts similar to those on Instagram, tagging relevant studios to expand our reach,” he says, noting that LinkedIn posts are often reshared by team leaders and executives. “LinkedIn [also] serves as a prime platform for spotlighting press coverage, award nominations, and industry highlights.”

On Instagram, meanwhile, Contessotto expands 15|40’s content to cater to both B2B and B2C audiences. “We share visually engaging posts that highlight our expertise, industry leadership, and collaborations, appealing to a wider range of followers,” he says. “Instagram will have ‘POV’ content, which is much more personal and requires less high-quality tools to tell our story. I came to 15|40 from an influencer background, and from experience, I notice that more amateur content does better on that platform, like using an iPhone for reels rather than a DSLR camera.”

Heather Rouffe, director of sales at Atlas Event Rental, also appreciates the more personal touch that can come with Instagram. “Through that platform, we strive to educate the industry, create brand awareness, and most importantly to us, show the personal side to our company, brand, and rentals,” she explains. “With so much of the human side of things lost in a digital age, being personable and showing the people behind the brand is very important to us. We find the clients really appreciate the behind-the-scenes content and becoming familiar with the Atlas crew.”

On the flip side, though, that doesn’t mean LinkedIn can’t get a little personal. Al Mercuro, senior account director at trade show display company Genesis Exhibits, prioritizes LinkedIn due to the connections he’s been able to make with marketing directors and event directors at companies he’d like to do business with.

“I try to not promote my company as much as my brand by sharing information that will help them in their jobs—I find I get many referrals this way,” Mercuro notes. “I believe it is also a living resume; before I meet with someone, they will often check out my LinkedIn page to learn more about me. The more you can build up your profile and the number of connections you have adds to your value and makes it attractive to have them want to work with you.”

Jonathan Kazarian, the founder and CEO of Accelevents, also uses LinkedIn to build up his personal thought leadership—and therefore, build awareness of his event management software company. “Ninety-nine percent of what I share on LinkedIn is professional,” he says. “I’ll share something about my personal life to build connection, but that’s not my focus with LinkedIn.” 

FACEBOOK, TWITTER (X), TIKTOK, & MORE

In a sign of changing times, most of the event professionals we spoke with are not investing much in Facebook or Twitter (now known as X)—though many are still updating them. 

“We push out all of our Instagram content to our Facebook, to ensure our followers and intended audiences on both platforms are receiving similar content,” says Contessotto. “We also maintain our Twitter, or X, channel to share some of our event photos, as well as retweet content that clients we work with post that are captured at our events.”

Mercuro finds that Facebook is still an effective way to reach older generations—but for younger generations, he’s found some success marketing events on TikTok. “I am a board member of a nonprofit concert venue, and we needed to attract a younger audience,” he remembers. “I suggested we work with a local university and their marketing classes to take on a project like our organization to give them real-life experience. They chose to use TikTok to reach the younger demographics in our area, and it has been extremely successful.”

Contessotto agrees that TikTok is naturally very Gen Z-oriented, so content should be tailored accordingly. “We’ve noticed that we typically receive high engagement when our content is celebrity-focused,” he says. “Our team is constantly working to balance out our TikTok pages to include viral content, as well as videos that highlight our diverse portfolio of work to attract the right kind of audience.”

Haynes says she’s still exploring TikTok’s potential for Platinum XP. “I’ve noticed its popularity as a discovery platform,” she says. “It’s a great tool for driving awareness, but we should also consider whether our target audience is active on TikTok.” One tool that Haynes does invest time in? Pinterest. “It’s a powerful tool for SEO purposes. Its visual nature allows us to drive awareness to our website through captivating photos. By sparking curiosity, we encourage users to click through and explore further.”

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