smartocto
@smartocto.com
We're basically the smartest editorial analytics system in the world. Go to smartocto.ai and find out how we'll lead you to the next chapter.
What can we learn from the local newsroom of Blog Preston?
1️⃣ Even smaller outlets can benefit enormously from editorial analytics support.
2️⃣ Choose a business structure that suits the community.
3️⃣ Niche is not only nice, it’s essential. Know your audience.
Read the blog on our website 👇
1️⃣ Even smaller outlets can benefit enormously from editorial analytics support.
2️⃣ Choose a business structure that suits the community.
3️⃣ Niche is not only nice, it’s essential. Know your audience.
Read the blog on our website 👇
Innovation and brand clarity in this local newsroom
Can you be too small to embrace cutting edge editorial analytics? Blog Preston shows that data is essential - and transformative - for all newsrooms.
smartocto.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 PM
What can we learn from the local newsroom of Blog Preston?
1️⃣ Even smaller outlets can benefit enormously from editorial analytics support.
2️⃣ Choose a business structure that suits the community.
3️⃣ Niche is not only nice, it’s essential. Know your audience.
Read the blog on our website 👇
1️⃣ Even smaller outlets can benefit enormously from editorial analytics support.
2️⃣ Choose a business structure that suits the community.
3️⃣ Niche is not only nice, it’s essential. Know your audience.
Read the blog on our website 👇
As a data-minded team we also track what people search on our site. One term keeps leading: digital first 📊
So @stefantt.bsky.social asked the real question: what does digital first mean in 2025, and how should newsrooms adapt?
So @stefantt.bsky.social asked the real question: what does digital first mean in 2025, and how should newsrooms adapt?
From digital first to audience first in newsrooms
More than a decade after newsrooms first embraced the idea of going digital first, the slogan is still widely used. But what does digital first mean in 2025?
smartocto.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
As a data-minded team we also track what people search on our site. One term keeps leading: digital first 📊
So @stefantt.bsky.social asked the real question: what does digital first mean in 2025, and how should newsrooms adapt?
So @stefantt.bsky.social asked the real question: what does digital first mean in 2025, and how should newsrooms adapt?
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐛 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬? 💁♀️
By pulling insights from different dashboards and reports together, turning them into a few clear lines, and adding practical guidance on what action would help the newsroom most.
By pulling insights from different dashboards and reports together, turning them into a few clear lines, and adding practical guidance on what action would help the newsroom most.
November 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐛 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬? 💁♀️
By pulling insights from different dashboards and reports together, turning them into a few clear lines, and adding practical guidance on what action would help the newsroom most.
By pulling insights from different dashboards and reports together, turning them into a few clear lines, and adding practical guidance on what action would help the newsroom most.
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are introducing smartocto Decisions, a new AI-powered feature, designed to support editors and journalists in making smarter, faster and more confident decisions.
Read more and get in touch when you're interested 👇
We are introducing smartocto Decisions, a new AI-powered feature, designed to support editors and journalists in making smarter, faster and more confident decisions.
Read more and get in touch when you're interested 👇
Introducing smartocto Decisions: an AI-powered newsroom assistant
Introducing smartocto Decisions, a new AI-powered feature, designed to support media and newsrooms to make smarter, faster and more confident decisions.
smartocto.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are introducing smartocto Decisions, a new AI-powered feature, designed to support editors and journalists in making smarter, faster and more confident decisions.
Read more and get in touch when you're interested 👇
We are introducing smartocto Decisions, a new AI-powered feature, designed to support editors and journalists in making smarter, faster and more confident decisions.
Read more and get in touch when you're interested 👇
As we get to the end of smartoctober, we’re wrapping up our annual deep dive into something timely and important for the news media.
@stefantt.bsky.social's latest blog explores trust in media – a theme that has come up in congresses lately.
Read it 👉 smartocto.com/blog/thought...
@stefantt.bsky.social's latest blog explores trust in media – a theme that has come up in congresses lately.
Read it 👉 smartocto.com/blog/thought...
October 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM
As we get to the end of smartoctober, we’re wrapping up our annual deep dive into something timely and important for the news media.
@stefantt.bsky.social's latest blog explores trust in media – a theme that has come up in congresses lately.
Read it 👉 smartocto.com/blog/thought...
@stefantt.bsky.social's latest blog explores trust in media – a theme that has come up in congresses lately.
Read it 👉 smartocto.com/blog/thought...
Reposted by smartocto
Nieuwsmedia vragen zich af hoe ze het vertrouwen terugwinnen. Met name jongeren grijpen naar social media of chatbots voor actuele informatie. Welke lessen trekken we daaruit? Na het bijwonen van twee mediacongressen heb ik mijn gedachten op papier gezet (Engels): smartocto.com/blog/thought...
October 16, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Nieuwsmedia vragen zich af hoe ze het vertrouwen terugwinnen. Met name jongeren grijpen naar social media of chatbots voor actuele informatie. Welke lessen trekken we daaruit? Na het bijwonen van twee mediacongressen heb ik mijn gedachten op papier gezet (Engels): smartocto.com/blog/thought...
One of the biggest challenges for data science-led editorial analytics tools is how to make them useful and usable to their non-technical end users.
Large Language Models help systems like smartocto a lot, @stefantt.bsky.social writes for International News Media Association (INMA). 👇
Large Language Models help systems like smartocto a lot, @stefantt.bsky.social writes for International News Media Association (INMA). 👇
AI’s potential role in data storytelling empowers decision making
One of the biggest challenges for data science-led editorial analytics tools is how to make them useful — and usable — to their non-technical end users.
www.inma.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
One of the biggest challenges for data science-led editorial analytics tools is how to make them useful and usable to their non-technical end users.
Large Language Models help systems like smartocto a lot, @stefantt.bsky.social writes for International News Media Association (INMA). 👇
Large Language Models help systems like smartocto a lot, @stefantt.bsky.social writes for International News Media Association (INMA). 👇
Get ready for a brand-new webinar.
Our CEO, Erik van Heeswijk, will discuss this in depth with Goran S. Milovanovic, our Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
📍 Join the webinar — and see how data can talk back.
👉 Register here: smartocto.com/webinar/next...
Our CEO, Erik van Heeswijk, will discuss this in depth with Goran S. Milovanovic, our Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
📍 Join the webinar — and see how data can talk back.
👉 Register here: smartocto.com/webinar/next...
October 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Get ready for a brand-new webinar.
Our CEO, Erik van Heeswijk, will discuss this in depth with Goran S. Milovanovic, our Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
📍 Join the webinar — and see how data can talk back.
👉 Register here: smartocto.com/webinar/next...
Our CEO, Erik van Heeswijk, will discuss this in depth with Goran S. Milovanovic, our Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
📍 Join the webinar — and see how data can talk back.
👉 Register here: smartocto.com/webinar/next...
While many media organisations are rightly preoccupied with the pressure artificial intelligence puts on their creative control and distribution strategies, data tools are quietly moving in a different direction: translating dashboards into messages that aid real decision making.
AI & editorial analytics: the next step
Data tools are translating dashboards into messages that aid real decision making. This is the focus of smartoctober this year.
smartocto.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM
While many media organisations are rightly preoccupied with the pressure artificial intelligence puts on their creative control and distribution strategies, data tools are quietly moving in a different direction: translating dashboards into messages that aid real decision making.
For everyone who wants a recap of the Media Innovation Week in Dublin...
The talks on stage showed how innovation in news media is dividing newsrooms.
Still, one common thread stood out: both INMA and the publishers agreed that the human side of journalism must stay at the centre.
The talks on stage showed how innovation in news media is dividing newsrooms.
Still, one common thread stood out: both INMA and the publishers agreed that the human side of journalism must stay at the centre.
News Media Innovation Week: Faster, but above all more human
At Media Innovation Week in Dublin, one theme stood out: as newsrooms speed up digital change, the challenge is to keep journalism human.
smartocto.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
For everyone who wants a recap of the Media Innovation Week in Dublin...
The talks on stage showed how innovation in news media is dividing newsrooms.
Still, one common thread stood out: both INMA and the publishers agreed that the human side of journalism must stay at the centre.
The talks on stage showed how innovation in news media is dividing newsrooms.
Still, one common thread stood out: both INMA and the publishers agreed that the human side of journalism must stay at the centre.
For any online newsroom, A/B testing editorial articles should be high on the agenda.
It’s low-hanging fruit 🍇 : a small investment of time which will consistently deliver long-term gains in website performance.
Want to know why? Read our latest blog 👉 smartocto.com/blog/why-new...
It’s low-hanging fruit 🍇 : a small investment of time which will consistently deliver long-term gains in website performance.
Want to know why? Read our latest blog 👉 smartocto.com/blog/why-new...
Why newsrooms should A/B test all headlines
Discover how A/B testing headlines with smartocto improves clicks, loyalty and engagement. Practical insights for data-driven newsrooms.
smartocto.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM
For any online newsroom, A/B testing editorial articles should be high on the agenda.
It’s low-hanging fruit 🍇 : a small investment of time which will consistently deliver long-term gains in website performance.
Want to know why? Read our latest blog 👉 smartocto.com/blog/why-new...
It’s low-hanging fruit 🍇 : a small investment of time which will consistently deliver long-term gains in website performance.
Want to know why? Read our latest blog 👉 smartocto.com/blog/why-new...
At our consultancy partner FT Strategies, they are also convinced of the value of the User Needs Model.
In last week’s Growth Hacks webinar, Aliya Itzkowitz demonstrated why this framework is more relevant than ever and why now is the perfect moment to put it into practice. 🎥
In last week’s Growth Hacks webinar, Aliya Itzkowitz demonstrated why this framework is more relevant than ever and why now is the perfect moment to put it into practice. 🎥
September 12, 2025 at 1:01 PM
At our consultancy partner FT Strategies, they are also convinced of the value of the User Needs Model.
In last week’s Growth Hacks webinar, Aliya Itzkowitz demonstrated why this framework is more relevant than ever and why now is the perfect moment to put it into practice. 🎥
In last week’s Growth Hacks webinar, Aliya Itzkowitz demonstrated why this framework is more relevant than ever and why now is the perfect moment to put it into practice. 🎥
Do you know which goals really matter most for your newsroom? And which growth hack will get you there fastest?
Thanks to Antti Karvanen from A-lehdet, we saw how just a few graphs from a baseline report can already tell you a lot.
You can catch the full recording here. 👇
Thanks to Antti Karvanen from A-lehdet, we saw how just a few graphs from a baseline report can already tell you a lot.
You can catch the full recording here. 👇
Webinar: the user needs growth hacks
It’s time for the next chapter in the user needs approach. Use in-depth data analysis to come up with growth hacks. Show your colleagues how it’s done.
smartocto.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Do you know which goals really matter most for your newsroom? And which growth hack will get you there fastest?
Thanks to Antti Karvanen from A-lehdet, we saw how just a few graphs from a baseline report can already tell you a lot.
You can catch the full recording here. 👇
Thanks to Antti Karvanen from A-lehdet, we saw how just a few graphs from a baseline report can already tell you a lot.
You can catch the full recording here. 👇
Have you already signed up for tomorrow’s webinar? 🎥
Here’s why you should:
✅ Discover fresh ways to grow your news site
✅ Put your audience at the heart of your reporting
✅ Get inspiration from proven experiments you can use right away
Register in the link below! It's free.👇
Here’s why you should:
✅ Discover fresh ways to grow your news site
✅ Put your audience at the heart of your reporting
✅ Get inspiration from proven experiments you can use right away
Register in the link below! It's free.👇
Webinar: the user needs growth hacks
It’s time for the next chapter in the user needs approach. Use in-depth data analysis to come up with growth hacks. Show your colleagues how it’s done.
smartocto.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Have you already signed up for tomorrow’s webinar? 🎥
Here’s why you should:
✅ Discover fresh ways to grow your news site
✅ Put your audience at the heart of your reporting
✅ Get inspiration from proven experiments you can use right away
Register in the link below! It's free.👇
Here’s why you should:
✅ Discover fresh ways to grow your news site
✅ Put your audience at the heart of your reporting
✅ Get inspiration from proven experiments you can use right away
Register in the link below! It's free.👇
When you understand what user needs are meant for, you can use them to guide your journalism. And you can check if your audience truly values it. That is when growth hacks become part of your daily work.
Sign up for our webinar The User Needs Growth Hacks 👉 smartocto.com/webinar/user...
Sign up for our webinar The User Needs Growth Hacks 👉 smartocto.com/webinar/user...
August 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
When you understand what user needs are meant for, you can use them to guide your journalism. And you can check if your audience truly values it. That is when growth hacks become part of your daily work.
Sign up for our webinar The User Needs Growth Hacks 👉 smartocto.com/webinar/user...
Sign up for our webinar The User Needs Growth Hacks 👉 smartocto.com/webinar/user...
At our clients’ sites, on average almost one in three pageviews comes from visitors referred by Google. Let that sink in.
In this week’s newsletter, we refer to data research and invite publishers to tell us how they are dealing with Google traffic. Have you found your answer yet?
In this week’s newsletter, we refer to data research and invite publishers to tell us how they are dealing with Google traffic. Have you found your answer yet?
Newsletter: Google’s AI updates are showing effect: is your strategy ready?
Do you know what’s happening with your own titles? And do you have a strategy to deal with it? I’d love to hear from you, as I’m collecting inspiring examples.
smartocto.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM
At our clients’ sites, on average almost one in three pageviews comes from visitors referred by Google. Let that sink in.
In this week’s newsletter, we refer to data research and invite publishers to tell us how they are dealing with Google traffic. Have you found your answer yet?
In this week’s newsletter, we refer to data research and invite publishers to tell us how they are dealing with Google traffic. Have you found your answer yet?
Publishers are already reporting noticeable drops in traffic from Google Search. In our latest blog, we highlight an example from a DPG Media magazine focused on service journalism, where the decline after AI Overview’s launch is clearly visible.
Read the blog 👇
Read the blog 👇
Google Search and AI Overview: news publishers, stay alert
News sites could face challenges if Google continues to overhaul its search engine. Significant decline in traffic is yet to come. Newsrooms should stay alert.
smartocto.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Publishers are already reporting noticeable drops in traffic from Google Search. In our latest blog, we highlight an example from a DPG Media magazine focused on service journalism, where the decline after AI Overview’s launch is clearly visible.
Read the blog 👇
Read the blog 👇
Check this out!
@smartocto.com has examined data from more than 400 news outlets across the world, 70% of which are situated in Europe. So far, there is no clear decline in traffic from Google Search, but newsrooms would be wise to remain alert. @stefantt.bsky.social
Google’s AI Overview is not yet harming traffic, but publishers should remain alert
According to industry observers, news sites could face serious challenges if Google continues to overhaul its search engine. While smartocto has yet to see a significant drop in traffic, newsrooms wou...
www.inma.org
August 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Check this out!
The world of metrics can be a confusing one. If you want to truly understand data analytics you need to learn to read the stories hidden behind the numbers you see.
➡️ In our latest benchmark, we share practical tips to improve your metrics, which ultimately means improving your storytelling.
➡️ In our latest benchmark, we share practical tips to improve your metrics, which ultimately means improving your storytelling.
Media Metrics that matter in 2025: editorial analytics benchmarks
When it comes to editorial analytics, what’s a good result? Is 40% read depth ok? We’ve undertaken a huge data study to bring you some key industry benchmarks.
smartocto.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The world of metrics can be a confusing one. If you want to truly understand data analytics you need to learn to read the stories hidden behind the numbers you see.
➡️ In our latest benchmark, we share practical tips to improve your metrics, which ultimately means improving your storytelling.
➡️ In our latest benchmark, we share practical tips to improve your metrics, which ultimately means improving your storytelling.
Would you like to hit the ground running with fresh experiments after the summer? Then this webinar on so-called growth hacks is just what you need.
How do you actually come up with growth hacks? We’ll walk you through it step by step, together with two brilliant guest speakers.
Sign up now👇
How do you actually come up with growth hacks? We’ll walk you through it step by step, together with two brilliant guest speakers.
Sign up now👇
Webinar: the user needs growth hacks
It’s time for the next chapter in the user needs approach. Use in-depth data analysis to come up with growth hacks. Show your colleagues how it’s done.
smartocto.com
August 1, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Would you like to hit the ground running with fresh experiments after the summer? Then this webinar on so-called growth hacks is just what you need.
How do you actually come up with growth hacks? We’ll walk you through it step by step, together with two brilliant guest speakers.
Sign up now👇
How do you actually come up with growth hacks? We’ll walk you through it step by step, together with two brilliant guest speakers.
Sign up now👇
Baseline reports are a mirror that show you exactly what (and how) your newsroom’s doing. The results are often surprising.
But the real value in them comes from what happens next. Will you take action? Süddeutsche Zeitung did and in fact it prompted them “to look at [our] broader strategy.”
But the real value in them comes from what happens next. Will you take action? Süddeutsche Zeitung did and in fact it prompted them “to look at [our] broader strategy.”
How a baseline report sparked cultural change in the newsroom
Smartocto recently introduced the option to order a baseline report. This is a document that holds up a mirror to the newsroom, offering a clear snapshot of its strengths and weaknesses. Check out wha...
smartocto.com
July 29, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Baseline reports are a mirror that show you exactly what (and how) your newsroom’s doing. The results are often surprising.
But the real value in them comes from what happens next. Will you take action? Süddeutsche Zeitung did and in fact it prompted them “to look at [our] broader strategy.”
But the real value in them comes from what happens next. Will you take action? Süddeutsche Zeitung did and in fact it prompted them “to look at [our] broader strategy.”
We talk a lot about the importance of having editorial analytics that are actionable. There’s no point having access to all the data in the world if you can’t leverage it effectively. But what does this look like in practice?
smartocto.com/blog/actiona...
smartocto.com/blog/actiona...
July 24, 2025 at 10:24 AM
We talk a lot about the importance of having editorial analytics that are actionable. There’s no point having access to all the data in the world if you can’t leverage it effectively. But what does this look like in practice?
smartocto.com/blog/actiona...
smartocto.com/blog/actiona...
You probably know how many people read your stories, but do you know how many really read them? Or how much time they spend on your average article? We’ve crunched the numbers to give you solid benchmarks for page depth, read depth and attention time.
Metrics that matter: editorial analytics benchmarks, 2025
When it comes to editorial analytics, what’s a good result? Is 40% read depth ok? We’ve undertaken a huge data study to bring you some key industry benchmarks.
smartocto.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
You probably know how many people read your stories, but do you know how many really read them? Or how much time they spend on your average article? We’ve crunched the numbers to give you solid benchmarks for page depth, read depth and attention time.
Ready to transform your content strategy? FT Strategies and smartocto are here to help you tackle key challenges:
✅ Transforming readers into loyal subscribers
✅ Better connecting content with audience understanding
✅ Aligning audience engagement goals with tactics
smartocto.com/company/news...
✅ Transforming readers into loyal subscribers
✅ Better connecting content with audience understanding
✅ Aligning audience engagement goals with tactics
smartocto.com/company/news...
Smartocto partners with FT strategies to deliver global editorial analytics
Smartocto and FT Strategies partner to deliver a unique editorial analytics proposition for media publishers across the globe.
smartocto.com
April 29, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Ready to transform your content strategy? FT Strategies and smartocto are here to help you tackle key challenges:
✅ Transforming readers into loyal subscribers
✅ Better connecting content with audience understanding
✅ Aligning audience engagement goals with tactics
smartocto.com/company/news...
✅ Transforming readers into loyal subscribers
✅ Better connecting content with audience understanding
✅ Aligning audience engagement goals with tactics
smartocto.com/company/news...
smartocto x FT Strategies
Helping newsrooms turn data into action 🎯
A new four-part masterclass kicks off this September, packed with insights from the Financial Times and access to smartocto’s analytics for 16 weeks.
smartocto.com/company/news...
#journalism #newsinnovation
Helping newsrooms turn data into action 🎯
A new four-part masterclass kicks off this September, packed with insights from the Financial Times and access to smartocto’s analytics for 16 weeks.
smartocto.com/company/news...
#journalism #newsinnovation
FT Strategies and smartocto launch joint masterclass for newsrooms
In a bid to help publishers embed data at the heart of editorial decision-making, smartocto and FT Strategies are joining forces.
smartocto.com
April 23, 2025 at 10:16 AM
smartocto x FT Strategies
Helping newsrooms turn data into action 🎯
A new four-part masterclass kicks off this September, packed with insights from the Financial Times and access to smartocto’s analytics for 16 weeks.
smartocto.com/company/news...
#journalism #newsinnovation
Helping newsrooms turn data into action 🎯
A new four-part masterclass kicks off this September, packed with insights from the Financial Times and access to smartocto’s analytics for 16 weeks.
smartocto.com/company/news...
#journalism #newsinnovation