Apple News+ Growth: How to Get the Most Out of Your Content
If you’re a publisher looking to explore additional monetization opportunities and extend your reach to new audiences, Apple News+ can play a valuable role in your distribution mix. However, it’s not as simple as uploading your content and watching the money pour in (we wish!). But it’s also not an overly complex process. It’s about understanding how the platform works and where thoughtful editorial and design choices can make a difference.
As an Apple News Preferred Provider, we’ve developed a strong understanding of how publishers can position their content effectively within the Apple News ecosystem. So whether you’re already publishing on Apple News or just getting started, this article shares practical considerations that can help you make more informed decisions about your approach.
Drive Reader Engagement
Stand out with quality content
In Apple News+, quality plays a significant role in how content is surfaced and consumed. Apple’s editorial team curates content, which means well-designed and visually considered articles are better positioned for editorial consideration. Investing in strong visual presentation can help your content stand out and support discoverability within the platform.
Feature Article Enhancements
Apple News+ has many special features and ways to enhance your articles. You can use effects like parallax motion and fly-in text and include videos or GIFs for the article background. Creating a thumb-stopping, engaging article with these features can grab readers’ attention and help to catch the eye of Apple’s editorial team.
Image Editing
Optimizing images for Apple News is an important but often overlooked step. Consider removing backgrounds, resizing assets to match platform dimensions, and colour-correcting for both light and dark modes. If you haven’t already, check out this article on getting the most out of photography and graphics in Apple News for a deeper dive.
Image Treatments
Present images using carefully cropped and well-paced mosaics, galleries, or vertical collections. These layouts can help guide readers through visual storytelling without overwhelming the page.
Maximize dwell time
Dwell time is an important factor in how content is valued on Apple News+. Make sure your articles are visually appealing so readers enjoy consuming your content. Focus on capturing and retaining their attention, encouraging them to linger. More time spent with content can support how it performs within Apple News+.
Break Up Long-Form Text
Instead of presenting large, uninterrupted blocks of text, consider introducing imagery, pull quotes, charts, sub-articles, and audio or video embeds. Breaking content into digestible sections can make articles feel more approachable and may encourage readers to continue through the piece rather than drop off early.
Custom Media Units
- Embedded video: direct embedded Apple video player or embed streaming services like YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia and JW Player
- Embedded audio: direct embedded Apple audio player or embedded Apple Music and Apple Podcast widgets
- Dynamic Apple Maps viewer
- Facebook, Twitter and other social media viewers
- In-article animations
- Sliders: horizontal or vertical charts that slide to within a static article. Good for timelines, data tables and product or content comparisons
Internal links
Include internal links within your articles to direct readers to related content you’ve published. Not only does this enhance user experience, but it also can extend the time readers spend across your Apple News content.
Improve Discoverability
Just like with images, you need to optimize your headlines. Craft SEO-friendly headlines specifically for Apple News to support content discoverability in searches and attract more readers.
Create a buzz
Create custom table of contents and marketing index pages for Apple News. Utilize beautiful images and teaser content to encourage Apple News readers to explore paid content on Apple News+.
Target specialized audiences
Repurpose one-off printed magazines from the newsstand to create special interest publications and commemoratives for Apple News+.
Drive Audience Monetization
Introduce Print Subscriptions
Leverage the global reach of Apple News to introduce print subscriptions in markets that otherwise might not have access to your print content.
Promote Newsletters
Encourage readers to sign up for newsletters through your Apple News articles.
Embed Social Channels
Promote your social media accounts to expand your online presence and engagement on those channels.
Upgrade Print Ads
Bring your print ads to life by transforming them into live links within Apple News+. Interactive ads offer additional ways for readers to explore advertised products or services.
Affiliate Linking
Develop affiliate opportunitiesfor your legacy print publications by creating affiliate links and ‘Buy Now’ buttons.
Apple News is a new and unique publishing platform, so the old rules don’t apply. If you only publish your content into basic ANF templates, you’re missing out on capitalizing on all of the opportunities that Apple News+ has to offer. With a small investment, your content can be introduced to a global audience, supporting borader reach and additional commercial opportunities.
As an Apple News Preferred Provider with experience working on 175+ publications across North America, the UK and Australia, we’re here to help.
If you’re looking to take a more considered approach to how your content is managed and presented on Apple News+, we’re happy to share what we’ve learned and talk through potential next steps. Contact us to start a conversation.
