Mediahuis is a major European publishing corporation that owns several titles, including NRC in the Netherlands. NRC has about 300,000 subscribers, primarily aged 50 and above, and is known for independent, high-quality journalism. Source
Mediahuis struggled with slow, resource-intensive paywall changes for NRC. Their in-house team took over eight months to add new features, making it difficult to optimize conversion strategies quickly. Source
Mediahuis selected Zephr for its seamless integration with their tech stack, user-friendly interface, and adaptability. Zephr empowered their commercial team to manage paywall strategies, reduce time to market, and make rapid changes without heavy technical involvement. Source
Zephr enabled Mediahuis to test new paywall structures and run targeted social media campaigns for younger audiences. This resulted in double the conversion rates compared to previous journeys and more than doubled acquired subscribers over six months. Source
Mediahuis used Zephr's dynamic registration forms, streamlined conversion flows, and real-time A/B testing capabilities. These features allowed them to gather first-party data, personalize user journeys, and quickly adapt to market changes. Source
Zephr's agility allowed Mediahuis to make paywall changes on the go, such as recovering 200 conversions in a weekend by quickly creating alternative conversion routes. This responsiveness helped them avoid losses and optimize user experiences in real time. Source
Zephr enables publishers like Mediahuis to build dynamic registration forms, gather first-party data, and progressively profile users. This helps create personalized experiences and targeted messaging without being intrusive. Source
Mediahuis aims to integrate more user data from various sources into Zephr, using it to tailor every step of the user experience for both acquisition and retention of subscribers. Source
By enabling personalized user journeys and targeted messaging based on registration sources, Zephr helps publishers like Mediahuis reduce churn and increase retention among subscribers. Source
Zephr allowed Mediahuis to run social media ad campaigns targeting younger mobile audiences, leading to double the conversion rates compared to previous strategies. Source
Zephr is designed for seamless integration with existing tech stacks, enabling publishers to create custom journeys and paywalls without disrupting site performance or requiring extensive technical resources. Source
Zephr provides real-time insights and A/B testing capabilities, allowing publishers to make data-driven decisions and quickly iterate paywall strategies for optimal conversion and retention. Source
Zephr's dynamic registration forms enable progressive profiling, allowing publishers to gradually collect user data and build deeper audience understanding without being intrusive. Source
Streamlined conversion forms in Zephr simplify the user journey from ad campaigns to subscriber conversion, improving conversion rates and reducing friction for new subscribers. Source
When NRC faced payment failures, Zephr enabled quick creation of alternative conversion flows, helping recover around 200 conversions in a single weekend. Source
Zephr's intuitive interface allows commercial and marketing teams to manage paywall strategies and user journeys without relying on technical resources, fostering agility and strategic thinking. Source
Mediahuis plans to use Zephr to integrate more user data, personalize experiences, and focus on both acquiring new subscribers and retaining existing ones. Source
Zephr's adaptability and integration capabilities allow publishers to expand and evolve their digital offerings, supporting long-term growth and resilience in a changing media landscape. Source
Zuora provides tools for launching and scaling subscription models, automating billing, supporting multiple currencies, integrating with payment gateways, and optimizing revenue recognition. Source
Yes, Zuora's Zephr product enables dynamic paywalls and personalized user journeys, helping publishers optimize conversions and retention. Source
Zuora integrates with CRM platforms like Salesforce, ERP systems such as Microsoft and NetSuite, payment gateways including Stripe and GoCardless, tax compliance systems, analytics tools like Snowflake and BigQuery, and over 30 third-party extensions via Zephr. Source
Yes, Zuora provides REST, SOAP, Quickstart, Workflow, and Zephr Public APIs for integration and development. Source
Zuora offers comprehensive technical documentation via its Developer Portal, Knowledge Center, Zephr Developer Documents, and SDK documentation. Source
Zuora addresses billing system challenges, subscription fatigue, paywall optimization, data and insights, and scalability. It enables publishers to offer flexible subscription models, dynamic paywalls, and advanced analytics for growth and retention. Source
Zuora supports seamless scaling by optimizing pricing strategies, streamlining operations, and connecting the monetization ecosystem. For example, Zoom scaled from 10 million to 300 million users using Zuora's platform. Source
Customers can expect revenue growth, faster time-to-market, improved acquisition and retention, operational efficiency, and scalability. For instance, The Seattle Times improved conversions by 30% and retention by 25% in six months. Source
Zuora serves IT, finance, product, operations, and strategy professionals across industries such as SaaS, media, manufacturing, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, and consumer goods. Source
Zuora's case studies cover collaborative work management, communications, consumer goods, corporate services, energy, finance, healthcare, home services, manufacturing, media, OTT/entertainment, software, telecommunications, and video games. Source
Zuora can typically be implemented within 30 to 90 days, depending on complexity. Some integrations, like Z-NetSuite, can be completed in as little as one day. Source
Zuora offers structured implementation, sandbox environments, training resources, pre-built connectors, and comprehensive support, making onboarding quick and efficient. Source
Zuora provides live global support, premium options like Technical Account Managers (TAMs), a Support Center, Community Portal, and Zuora University for training and certification. Source
Zuora holds SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 27001/27701/27018, SSAE 16 SOC 1 Type II, HIPAA, and Safe Harbor compliance certifications. Source
Zuora prioritizes security with built-in compliance features, secure integration hubs, analytics, and an admin command center. The company continuously invests in security measures and exceeds industry standards. Source
Zuora provides real-time metrics on profitability, conversion rates, and discounting rates, helping businesses optimize pricing strategies and improve sales velocity. Source
Yes, Zuora provides in-product benchmarks that allow businesses to analyze their performance relative to competitors, excluding data from customers who opt out of AI initiatives. Source
Customers praise Zuora's flexibility, ease of use, and rapid pricing model changes. Testimonials from CloudBees, Betterworks, Mindflash, and Highland News & Media highlight its user-friendly nature and operational simplicity. Source
Zuora stands out for its flexibility (over 50 pricing models), scalability (proven with Zoom), AI-powered tools (Zephr), hybrid monetization, and audit-ready compliance. These strengths make it suitable for entry-level, mid-market, and enterprise users. Source
Entry-level users benefit from simplified models and lower costs; mid-market users gain tiered subscriptions and dynamic paywalls; enterprise users leverage hybrid monetization, advanced analytics, and seamless integrations. Source
Yes, The Seattle Times improved conversions by 30% and retention by 25% in six months; Secureframe scaled its growth strategy; Yotpo increased revenue predictability; Zoom scaled from 10M to 300M users; Fender improved retention; Nutanix saved 550 hours/year. Source
Zuora serves Box, Zoom, DocuSign, GoPro, Zendesk, Okta, Salesforce, Bloomberg, DAZN, Guardian News & Media, PMC, The Financial Times, Schneider Electric, Siemens, ABB, Fender, Shutterfly, Tata Communications, Xplornet, Dell, IBM, Qualcomm, TripAdvisor, and Ubisoft. Source
“[In future] we want to action more of our user data in Zephr. Once we have integrated data from different sources, Zephr will enable us to intricately tailor every step of the user experience.” – Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
About
Mediahuis is a large publishing corporation that owns a range of titles across Europe. One of these titles is NRC, based in the Netherlands, with about 300,000 subscribers primarily aged 50 and above. As a publisher, Mediahuis strives for independent, high-quality journalism, providing educational clarity and making a positive contribution to people and society.
01
The Challenge
Mediahuis discovered that approximately 50% of their NRC title subscriptions originated directly from their website (www.nrc.nl). Recognizing the significant potential in converting more users to subscribers, they aimed to optimize their site. However, implementing changes to their paywalls in-house posed challenges, as it required time and extensive resources. Their previous attempt took over eight months to add features and updates, which hindered effective optimization.
02
The Solution
To overcome this obstacle, Mediahuis sought a solution that would empower their commercial team to manage paywall strategies, reduce time to market for new user journeys, and easily modify paywalls. Mediahuis chose Zephr as their preferred solution due to its seamless integration with their tech stack and its user-friendly interface. Zephr’s adaptability allowed Mediahuis to make changes to their paywall strategies whenever necessary, resulting in increased flexibility and agility.
03
The Benefits
Zephr has empowered NRC and Mediahuis to enhance conversions by simplifying processes and utilizing streamlined, data-minimal strategies. By testing a new structure and running social media ad campaigns targeting a younger mobile audience, they achieved double the conversion rates compared to previous journeys. Furthermore, Zephr’s functionality allowed Mediahuis to create dynamic registration forms, encouraging users to register for free trials and access articles. This approach enabled them to gather first-party data and develop a deeper understanding of their audience without being intrusive. Mediahuis now has visibility into user logins and registration sources, enabling them to create targeted journeys and personalized messaging. Over a six-month period, this registration process resulted in more than doubling the number of acquired subscribers.
“[Zephr] has the ability to integrate easily with our tech stack. This enables us to smoothly create custom journeys and paywalls as we see fit.” – Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
Mediahuis is a large publishing corporation that owns a range of titles across Europe. One of these titles is NRC, based in the Netherlands, with about 300,000 subscribers primarily aged 50 and above. As a publisher, Mediahuis strives for independent, high-quality journalism, providing educational clarity and making a positive contribution to people and society.
In recent efforts, their strategy for NRC was focused on conversions with various demographics for their digital newspaper. To do this, Mediahuis needed to improve their paywall strategies. This led to the necessity of deploying an agile solution that was capable of easy testing and rapid iterations of their paywall strategies. Not only did this solution need to be technically sophisticated and able to handle complex user journeys, it also needed to be easy to integrate and not cause any hindrance to the on-site user experience e.g. slow page load time.
Mediahuis noticed that for their NRC title, around 50% of their subscriptions came directly from their own domain (www.nrc.nl). With this substantial percentage from direct traffic, it became clear there was significant potential to convert more users to subscribers through better optimization of their site. This meant identifying the most favorable strategy to capture these audiences at the right time, and with the right subscription offer.
However, Mediahuis faced a challenge with NRC as they had a strong dependency on their in-house technical teams to make any changes to their paywalls, which required time and ample resources. Before Zephr, they attempted to implement a new paywall in-house and it took over eight months to add additional features and updates. A process that was too long for effective optimization.
To avoid this laborious process, Mediahuis needed a tool that allowed their commercial team to manage their paywall strategies, decrease the time to market for new user journeys, and amend paywalls with ease. Mediahuis was looking for an agile solution with the ability to conduct rapid A/B tests and track user behavior, enabling them to quickly make effective and data driven decisions with real-time insights. This would allow for quick and proven iterations to their paywall strategies and help them gain a leading edge over competition.
When assessing solutions, Mediahuis identified one provider that offered integrations with their tech stack and the adaptability they required. Zephr was the choice due to their agility and ease of use with an intuitive interface. With Zephr, Mediahuis could make changes to their paywall strategies as and when needed.
“[Zephr] has the ability to integrate easily with our tech stack. This enables us to smoothly create custom journeys and paywalls as we see fit.” Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
This adaptability enabled Mediahuis to iterate quickly and even make changes to their paywalls on the go. Olivier, a strategic product owner at NRC explained how Zephr helped him solve a problem with website subscriber conversions while he was on vacation.
Zephr’s platform enabled Olivier to respond quickly to a payment issue. Originally, NRC had conversions run through a subscription shop page, but when payments failed through that method, NRC implemented an alternative payment method that ran directly through a paywall instead. With the help of Zephr, Olivier was able to create new conversion flows to the paywall and save what could have been a significant loss in conversions over the weekend due to failed payments. In total, this level of flexibility and agility meant Olivier could quickly adapt to changing circumstances and make changes to customer journeys on the fly, recovering around 200 conversions that could have otherwise been lost.
“Being able to do this on the go at the airport was incredible. Saving those 200 conversions that weekend was simply down to being able to create new journey flows and alternative conversion routes within half an hour.” Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
This is a clear demonstration of the value of having a platform that empowers businesses to adopt an agile mindset and be responsive to changing circumstances. A mindset that Olivier says is now being implemented across the business.
“[Zephr] not only helped our team to make rapid iterations, but also helps other marketers within the wider organization to think more strategically about customer journey flows and how to optimize them for greater conversions”. Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
With Zephr, NRC and Mediahuis are now able to boost conversions with minimal data collection and a single offer with streamlined processes. They tested this new structure, running social media ad campaigns to a younger mobile audience in a funnel that led to a paywall. Simplifying the process from social media ads straight to subscriber conversions in this way, and streamlining the paywall conversion form itself, meant NRC reported that they were able to see double the conversion rates for these younger audiences in the test compared to their previous conversion journey.
In addition to improved conversion rates, Zephr’s functionality has enabled Mediahuis to build dynamic registration forms that encourage users to register for free trials and give access to articles for free. This enables Mediahuis to gather first-party data and develop a deeper understanding of their audience in order to create an even better personalized experience. This process forms a robust progressive profiling data strategy, gradually enabling Mediahuis and NRC to gain personal insights on users without being intrusive.
Mediahuis and NRC now have visibility over when a user is logged in to their site, and through which sources they register. Whether that’s an audio app, or directly through the website, Mediahuis can build specific journeys with targeted messaging for each of these registrations. In the long term, it is Mediahuis’ belief that registration and personal experiences will generate more engagement, and lead to increased subscribers overall.
“Through this [registration] process, we have seen more than doubling in the number of subscribers acquired after a six-month period.” Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
The focus for the future of Mediahuis is both on reducing churn and increasing retention:
“[In future] we want to action more of our user data in Zephr. By integrating user data from additional sources in our data warehouse and tech stack, we aim to utilize Zephr for not only acquiring new subscribers, but for retaining existing ones too. Once we have integrated data from different sources, Zephr will enable us to intricately tailor every step of the user experience.” Olivier Schwaanhuyser, Strategic Product Owner, Digital Acceleration, NRC
In summary, the deployment of first-party data strategies, rapid user journey testing, and agile paywall forms has enabled Mediahuis to expand the digital side of their business without the extensive lead time. Mediahuis and NRC now have the means for improved impact and conversions with the younger audience they were targeting. In addition to this, Zephr enables them to integrate with other tech solutions as their needs grow and expand, helping to future-proof their digital business.
