Case Studies
Website Strategy and Design
An international health publication contracted with a reputable company to improve their website. After a few months of meetings, memos, and phone calls, work was progressing when the Publisher realized that all was progressing without a "game plan" for the site. An IA and wireframes were created, but they did not tie to specific business goals.
At the same time, Sabatier was teaching a business development seminar for websites/digital and the Publisher was in attendance. Shortly fter the seminar, Sabatier Consulting was hired to bring business planning skills to the redesign project and ultimately Sabatier's team was asked to take over the redesign and bring it to completion.
This consumer publisher has a great track record for creating quality content and engaging loyal readers and customers at sponsored events. They think big, but have a small staff to execute across multiple channels. The business strategy created for this client is built on three stages of implementation, each with new or expanded ways to generate revenue. The plan and design is not a template, boilerplate or cookie cutter: they fit the brand, clearly present numerous topics (and hundreds of pages of content), is easy to navigate and search and will bring new sources of revenue to the company.
Case closed.
Reposition Content
A prestigious business association faced new competitors in print and online. At the same time, the organization was undergoing a strategic shift and a name change. Management planned to redesign the publication and website, but the content of the publication posed a challenge. What should the relaunched title cover editorially and how?
Sabatier’s team conducted in-depth interviews with senior management, prepared a thorough independent competitive analysis, followed by facilitating a full day onsite content strategy planning meeting. The session was documented to serve as a guide for editorial planning. After two issues were published, a wrap-up review session was held with all participants. Eighteen months have passed and the content is meeting reader needs and creating an engaging environment for advertisers.
Advertising Review and Strategy for a Young Publication in a Crowded Field
Sabatier Consulting provided much needed industry expertise at a critical time for our magazine. They quickly assessed and understood our culture and gave us good advice that was readily achievable for our small firm.
Emergency Assistance after Katrina
Three days after Katrina hit New Orleans, a former client called on a Friday night to report that they had to evacuate. They asked if there was anything we could do to help them. Within one week, Sabatier found a custom publisher willing to step-in to ensure the next few issues were published while the magazine’s management regrouped.
“We are back in New Orleans, working upstairs and living in an RV next door. What a mess, but we can’t thank you enough for your help.”
Increase Sales of Advertising on Web Site
Management of a national weekly magazine wanted to grow advertising revenue on the brand’s website. The in-house sales team had a great deal of success with print, but the move to include online options as well as integrated solutions was not something they were well versed in. They had recently hired a dedicated online sales account executive, but experience at that time was under a year.
Sabatier interviewed management to quickly become familiar with the publication and sales goals and then put together a four hour onsite internet advertising training session for the sales team. Two years later, online sales continue to rise at a healthy pace.
Align Strategy and Resources to Relaunch Brand
Sabatier Consulting did a top-to-bottom evaluation of our magazine and the results more than paid for the study. The outcome is a “new” redesigned, updated exciting magazine that will be the catalyst to re-brand this organization and set the course for long-term growth.
Help a Regional Multi-title Publishing Operation Plan for Growth
Lou Sabatier and her outstanding team of consultants did groundbreaking work which is enabling us to shift paradigms and take our company to a whole new level of business. With their expertise, we have been guided to engage in next level thinking and restructure various organizational and operational components of our company. They put us in the position to strengthen market share and seize new business opportunities.
Association Publication Business Plan
Sabatier Consulting's ability to gather top-flight expertise within the narrow disciplines that make up the publishing world makes them an invaluable resource to our firm, which is focused on custom publishing, but more generally, on solving problems for our clients. The speed with which Sabatier works is astonishing. We've worked with their team on developing a business plan for an association client that they pulled together within five days, including a weekend. This plan is being followed to success right now.
Branding for Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle is the leading publisher of print and online information to the higher education community. Intitial assignment included media influential research, branding and positioning development, and a launch advertising campaign. The Chronicle launched the branding effort with advertising and a new positioning that captured the must read quality of their editorial: "Essential Reading for Higher Education." Advertising revenues are up in a difficult marketplace.