Our work / 285 South
A small newsroom with a growth problem, not a journalism problem.
285 South was producing work its community valued. Reach and newsletter growth weren't keeping pace — and there was no roadmap saying which lever to pull first.
What we did
Sharpened the messaging so a first-time reader understood the publication's angle in one line.
Reworked the reading experience and subscription path to remove friction between an interested reader and a signup.
Built an SEO and distribution plan the team could execute without a growth hire.
Defined KPIs for reach, engagement and subscriber growth so future decisions had a baseline.
Why it worked
Nothing here required rebuilding the platform. The wins were sequencing and prioritisation — a short list of changes ordered by effort against impact, so a small team could start on Monday.
“ Product on Point's team was a delight to work with
They were incredibly accommodating, helpful, and smart. What struck me most is that they had really spent time understanding our news site and our mission, and they seemed genuinely excited about what we are trying to do as a news organization.
Product on Point identified quick and easy ways we could enhance user experience immediately, with our own skills, and helped us identify where we would need to hire out. We were so pumped after our call with them, we immediately implemented several of their suggestions that day
and even got new donors after those quick fixes!.
Sophia Qureshi
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, 285 South