Robert M. Williams, Jr.

Robert M. Williams Jr. is a longtime community newspaper publisher from Blackshear, Georgia. He was NNA president in 2013-14 and is now acting as NNA director of creative resources. He is available for consultation on how to create more revenue, help you deal with inevitable newspaper issues or be a sympathetic ear for NNA members looking for an experienced publisher to listen. Email him at robert@nna.org or call at (912) 281-5438 from 10 a.m -3 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday.

Strong editorial content can lead to great ad revenue

This column is going to devote itself to the combination of innovative, creative, editorial content to accompany related advertising content.

‘Elf magic' can be a great tool to boost your holiday ad sales

Being creative is a vital key to boosting your local ad sales revenue! And Deborah Farmer, ad sales manager for the Adel News Tribune in Adel, Georgia, has two extraordinary, innovative ideas that have ...

Are you offering customers enough creative options?

If you want an example to follow for out-of-the-box thinking, take a look just across the state line in the small Florida town of Macclenny. There you’ll find a not-yet veteran newspaper publisher ...

Are you searching for the new sales opportunities hiding in your market?

One of the secrets to building more ad revenue is hiding in plain sight right there in your own community.

Offer your advertisers many ways to reach potential customers

Paul Keane, editor and publisher of the Wayne County News in Waynesboro, Mississippi, has a reputation for creative and innovative thinking when it comes to newspaper advertising ideas. Whether it’s ...

The most powerful photos show the people we love

A story I hope you'll read before the holidays arrive

Georgia paper scores a rarity with $100k+ ad buy

Davis’ paper is the Monroe County Reporter, a 5,000 circulation weekly in Forsyth, Georgia, a county of roughly 30,000 where Donald Trump has won big in the past and is expected to again.

The best ad ideas are the simplest

I can see a continuing ad series springing off from this special section to satisfy the desire of the community to know more and read more!

It’s our job to remind communities of the gratitude we owe

An old friend in central Kentucky called [recently] to ask for a copy of a special section we published to salute our community’s first responders.

Cute, adorable faces are an easy sell in most communities

"At The Walton Tribune (in Monroe, Georgia), we have been producing "The Cutest Calendar Ever!" since December of 2019, and the average this product does is around $3,000-$4,000 in advertising revenue ...

Sig Pages and Special Sections are a sure-fire way to boost local revenue

“Asking our small businesses to pay what we charge for a full–page color ad is a waste of time. While they may not spend the large figure for a full page, they will gladly spend a smaller amount ...

Learn as much as you can to better help your customer sell their products

Jeff Cott has a simple philosophy for success in ad sales and that involves careful study of your customers so your knowledge of them, their personality and their business is thorough and complete.

Why not help your press association share great ad ideas?

Carrie says the contest is a popular item her newspapers have been running for four years, and her community “loves it.”

Finding a great story is an easy way to help your advertisers excel

One of newspapers’ great strengths is in (1) recognizing a good story when you see one, plus (2) tying that story-telling ability into solving an advertiser’s problem.

Old ideas can still interest our readers and please our advertisers

Missouri publisher Peggy Scott of Leader Publications says she can’t accept the credit, however, because the idea was reincarnated by the marketing team for one of her better customers.

Quality editorial content makes for great newspapers, as well as for the most interesting ad ideas

Part of what can be overlooked is how intriguing content can be enjoyable reading AND also provide the springboard for paid advertising.

Remember, YOU are the custom ad agency for the merchants in your market! Just ask Carrie Pitzer

It didn’t take me long to find Carrie because she was the one with a crowd of fellow publishers around her, hoping to learn her “secret” to producing such quality newspapers.

Turning tradition on its head

There’s much to be said for being open to new ideas, new ways to do things, being innovative — even if someone suggests something a bit zany.

Names and faces are always sure winners for just about any advertiser

It’s refreshing to be thumbing through one of my “exchange” newspapers from a small weekly only a few miles south of my hometown, deep here in south Georgia, and find an exceptionally ...