Well folks, we have finally gotten to a place that we can announce our 1st big announcement: WE HAVE DOUBLED OUR CIRCULATION! Yes, that’s right. We have double the amount of newspapers that are being circulated in Yellowstone County!
Do you remember four years ago in October 2014 when it was announced that the newspaper was sold? I remember when Becky Robison, former publisher of the newspaper for 20 years, came to me asking if I was going to buy her newspaper which I said I don’t have time. After three years, she convinced me that I was the right guy to take “her baby” and carry it to the next level. She cared enough for the future success of the Yellowstone County News that she offered support in the transition because she wanted it to succeed and wanted us to succeed. Well, I can assure you that Becky has done her part in supporting the transition. Since the initial transition, it’s been on us to try to take it to the next level.
Becky gave me some direction and advice in things that she would do with this paper. Some we have done already and we are still working on the other goals she recommended. We’ll announce those future changes at the right time.
Because of the increase of circulation, we have divided our delivery route in two. In fact, I’m already starting to think we might need three delivery routes. However, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
This is what I hope to accomplish in this column! First, what this increase means for our readers, advertisers, and supporters. Secondly, I’ll explain our focus, and third is how you can help our cause.
First, as we are a hyper-local newspaper covering the fiscal issues in Yellowstone County that affect you, the reader, we will keep it local as we are doing. If the story or article does not have to do with Yellowstone County, then it won’t be in our newspaper. If it is statewide or national news information, then you can get that somewhere else. We want to find the human element of each story that connects the reader to this community, local events, news and/or activities whether it be through the local schools, organizations and/or individuals. Hence the name Yellowstone County News.
Even though we doubled our circulation, I don’t intend to raise our advertising rates in our newspaper. I want to keep the advertising rates as affordable, local and current as possible. This newspaper is not about making millions of dollars but staying affordable, reasonable and focused on the hyper-local issues that we face in Yellowstone County. However, we are not free as we have to pay staff, bills and taxes like you! Yes, we are a fiscal newspaper so yes, you will probably see a lot more articles that affect the reader’s pocketbook, health or way of life than what Nancy Pelosi spews in D.C.. In regards to the paper, there needs to be a connect to Yellowstone County for a story to be in YOUR newspaper, and I hope to continue to keep it that way.
Yes, this is YOUR weekly newspaper. I hope you will take hold of sending us letters to the editor each week. Did you notice we had 3 pages of letters to the editor? Did you know the letters to the editor show the vibrancy of a newspaper? This is not the first, second or third week we’ve had these many letters to the editor. I hope you will send your letters to us at info@yellowstonecountynews.com and let us know what is on your mind or if you agree or disagree. We won’t get too offended.
I hope that with the increase our circulation, businesses, individuals and advertisers will see the value in advertising in YOUR local weekly newspaper. In fact, did you know that we conducted a survey over two years ago and found that about 70% of our readers don’t even get the Billings Gazette? It just goes to show that we have a different readership and mentality of readers that follow our newspaper for a number of different reasons. First, our focus is different than the Billings Gazette. Second, we are the publication of record for the City of Billings so all legal advertisements are placed only in our newspaper each week. In addition to that, we have other legal ads that are placed in our newspaper from within Yellowstone County. Third, we are your hyper-local weekly newspaper in the area. Fourth, we cover the local school district meetings in our paper. Fifth, we publish the Shepherd and Huntley Project School pages each week in our paper, and we will start publishing the Lockwood school pages (due to the new high school) this fall. We’ll have more to announce for the local schools and kids along with grandparents in the future, but I’m grateful for all the help and support we’ve received to this point.
Now, here is how you can help us continue to be successful with YOUR local paper. Send us any news items you have from YOUR organizations, businesses, and children. We will publish that earth shattering news in YOUR paper for the masses to celebrate.
My staff and I cannot be everywhere at the same time so please help our staff and reporters out by sending YOUR news and info to news@yellowstonecountynews.com (this is a new email we are now releasing to the masses).
We hope you will tell all the businesses, entities and those advertisers out there about us as advertising your events, businesses, services and products is what keeps our newspaper in business. We hope that you will support the advertisers in our newspaper. Tell them that you saw their information in the paper. Refer them to a friend, especially those who you have used. We hope the value is out there and the new advertisers will jump in and show their support of your LOCAL newspaper. I can’t tell you how many times people tell me we don’t have any more local news. Well, I’m here to say yes, you do! Right here in the Yellowstone County News.
Do you know of a business that doesn’t get our newspaper? Give me a call at 406-672-5941 and let me know who it is; I’d be happy to stop by and see if they would like us to drop 5, 10, 20 or 50 newspapers each week. We now have banks, dealerships, healthcare facilities, offices restaurants, funeral homes, auctions, real estate offices, clinics, hotels, coffee shops, and more that receive our paper each week. More will come as we continue to execute the plan.
I know it’s a big task and it’s not perfect, but I assure you that we are trying to develop a hyper-local product that you are proud of.
I’m humbled by the warm reception I’ve received by many out there in supporting what we are trying to achieve. In this day and age of the said dwindling newspaper industry, that might be true for the nationals and dailies but one thing for sure, the weeklies are not going away. For us to double our circulation, that is huuge! At least I feel that way because I know the recipe to succeed is hard work, dedicated staff, focus, support, prayer and a pinch of good luck!
Finally, (if you made it this far), can you see the tip of the iceberg now? Now that you see this much in where we are going, imagine what you can’t see?
Until then,
See you in the paper!
JDM
