Ten things newspaper publishers could do to boost sales of newspapers

1. Pay an incentive to newsagents are above average sales growth.

2. Turn your back on product display rules from yesteryear and help newsagents display product more efficiently and attractively at the counter.

3. Reward loyal over the counter customers for more than, say, 5 purchases in a week.

4. Run marketing campaigns focused on engaging your customers with your product.

5. Provide electronic posters for newsagents with LCD displays to display relevant promotions.

6. Provide newsagents with a behind the scenes DVD from the newsroom – retail theatre sells products.

7. Offer newsagents flexible pricing with bonus rewards for up-selling a customer to purchase a newspaper.

8. Eliminate irrelevant outlets from the retail roster: Starbucks, Gloria jeans.

9. Support newsagents in a campaign of theatre surrounding newspapers: paper throwing competitions (through
to national championships); paper plane flying competitions; papier-mâché making competition; general knowledge quiz based on news; most creative use of newspaper content; etc. The more people engage the more they will feel good about the product.

10. Work with other traffic generating suppliers to newsagencies – lottery agencies, magazine publishers and greeting card companies.

I appreciate that the halcyon days of newspapers are over. That does not mean that we can soften the fall not only for the product but also for those who rely on newspaper sales for core traffic. While Rupert Murdoch may have a strategy for the future of News Corp., the channel his company helped create in Australia, newsagents, are yet to develop relevance for the digital age.