The UK’s third biggest regional newspaper publisher Local World claims it has nearly doubled its website traffic since it was launched a year ago.
Local World was formed out of the merger of the Northcliffe and Iliffe regional newspaper groups and comprises 115 titles with a combined print circulation of more than 5m copies a week.
It revealed today that total monthly unique web users across the group has increased by 94.3 per cent to 14,273,396 in December 2013 c14ompared with 7,345,334 in December 2012.
Average daily unique browsers is said to be up by 92.2 per cent to 721,615 in December 2013 (compared with 375,371 in the same period a year earlier).
In statement Local World noted that a year ago then chairman David Montgomery said: “Demand for local content remains as high as it has ever been. The correct strategic approach can transform a local media business focused on that opportunity.”
Now chief executive Montgomery said today: “In the last 12 months we have proved this. There is a palpable sense of optimism in the business, as we are leading the industry in digital audience growth through our relentless focus on content. “
He added: “We enter our second year with strong momentum. Our focus during 2014 will be to build on these strong foundations to:
- deliver a fully transformed digital transactional business that engages with our readers, customers and commercial partners every minute of every day
- further develop our print newspaper circulation sales through continuous product enhancement and relaunches
- reinforce our growing position as the turn-to media for our local markets, through the community leadership demonstrated by our editorial teams and centre managing directors.
“This united print and online publishing approach, underpinned by investment in technology and training, will enable us to fulfil our ambition to drive strong revenue, as well as audience growth.”
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