The Weekly Bulletin | April 8, 2025

Hi SODP community,

Let’s recap on what’s been happening, the new content, industry updates, tips, and more.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Interactive content has evolved from a novelty to a fundamental strategy for publishers aiming to enhance audience engagement in 2025.

As readers increasingly seek immersive experiences, publishers are incorporating gamification elements, such as quizzes, polls, and interactive narratives, to transform passive consumption into active participation. This approach not only captivates audiences but also fosters a deeper connection with the content.

Polls, for instance, are a powerhouse tool. Embedded directly into articles, they turn passive readers into active contributors, boosting time spent on-page and uncovering preferences traditional analytics miss. These insights enable publishers to refine their content strategies while fostering a sense of community, a win-win for trust and relevance.

Publishers like The New York Times have pioneered this approach for over a decade. Their iconic "How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk" dialect quiz, launched 10 years ago, became the most-read article in the outlet’s history at the time and remains a blueprint for hyperlocal publishers. By leveraging regional dialects, it transformed linguistic curiosity into a nationwide conversation while fostering micro-community connections—proof that localised interactive tools drive sustained engagement.

Hyperlocal publishers are now building on this legacy. For example, TribLive’s 2023 “Can You Pass This Pittsburgh Slang Quiz?” became a viral sensation in Western Pennsylvania, testing readers’ knowledge of phrases like “yinz” and “jaggerbush.” This playful interactive piece not only celebrated regional identity but also drove record traffic and social shares, showcasing how dialect-driven content strengthens community ties.

Also, incorporating game-like elements taps into readers' intrinsic motivations, such as the desire for achievement and competition. This strategy enhances user satisfaction and encourages repeat visits, thereby increasing engagement and loyalty.

Here are the key takeaways for publishers:

1. Implement Interactive Elements: Integrate features like quizzes and polls to create engaging content formats.

2. Understand Audience Preferences: Tailor interactive components to align with your readers' interests and behaviors.

3. Measure and Optimise: Regularly evaluate the performance of interactive content to refine strategies and maximise engagement.

Interactive content is shaping the future of digital publishing. By embracing gamification and incorporating tools like polls into editorial strategies, publishers can craft compelling experiences that not only attract but also retain readers.

SODP POSTS

The Top Customer Data Platforms (CDP) Reviewed

Want to understand your readers? A customer data platform (CDP) collects customer data from multiple points (including your website, apps, CRM, and other third-party tools). It puts it together to give you a unified view of your entire customer journey.

You’ll know what your readers like, what they click on, and how they act. With that, you can send them stuff they will love to engage with, show ads that align with their preferences, and unlock revenue streams you didn’t even know you had.

The best CDPs are fast, keep your data safe, and help you cash in quickly. However, with so many choices out there, picking the right customer data platform can be overwhelming.

Don’t worry; this guide breaks down what matters most in a CDP and spotlights the best customer data platforms that check every box. Let’s dive in to gain customer insights that keep your readers happy and profits growing.

READ MORE

JOB BOARD

➡️ The Sun is looking for a Newsletter Editor who will combine a variety of editorial and data analysis skills to produce highly engaging newsletters for their loyal readers and create tailored newsletters across a broad range of subjects. (London). SEE MORE

➡️The Australian Financial Review is looking for a community engagement editor who will sit within the audience engagement team and will be at the forefront of connecting their audiences with content, journalists, and their core values. (Australia). SEE MORE

COMMUNITY BUZZ

Industry News

➡️ WordPress hosting provider Kinsta announced an automated plugin updater that detects and recovers from bad updates by rolling back the plugin to its previous state and preventing downtime from affecting website performance. Failed plugin updates are prevented from going live and publishers are immediately notified. READ MORE

➡️If ever there was an example of PressReader’s commitment to spread quality content as far and wide as possible, you’ll find it amid the frozen surroundings of the planet’s most remote continent. Since 1999, the digital newspaper distribution and technology company has brought award-winning journalism to research centres as far as Antarctica, as well as oil drilling platforms, rural libraries, hotels and many other far-flung locations on land, sea and air. READ MORE 

Social Media Discussions

➡️ Aljaž Fajmut on LinkedIn:

We built 4 high-value SEO flows that help justify ongoing work to high-ticket clients.

Yes, they can all be done manually — but when you can run them on the fly with SEO Agent, the value scales exponentially.

So, what are they?

🌍 1. Multi-Market Keyword Research with SERP-Intent Clustering Analyze keyword trends across multiple markets (different languages and locations), uncovering niche clusters with high growth and strong commercial intent. Get SERP-intent clustering that actually reflects market behavior.

🔗 2. Internal Linking Opportunities by Custom Cluster Logic Different clustering = different linking strategies. This flow lets you test topical vs SERP-based clusters and automatically find new, high-impact internal linking opportunities.

CONTINUE READING

These are the highlights for the last week.

Until next!

Vahe Arabian and the editorial team at SODP