Now this is what we mean by getting creative

We all know that incremental changes won’t save newspaper classifieds. It’s time to try some truly innovative ideas and experiments. So check out the latest NewsInnovation blog post by publisher John Newby:

Now Here’s A Game Changer For The Industry?

I love this idea. OK, I haven’t thought Newby’s idea through carefully enough to say whether or not I think it’s a good idea. But I love the boldness of it!

This is not for the faint of heart, Newby warns. But, “Once you’ve practically lost the real estate category; why not just jump into the real estate game or business as a company?”

Sounds crazy, eh? A few years ago it would be totally nuts for a newspaper company to consider something like that. But times are tough for newspapers, obviously, and for those publishers who feel that their local real estate revenue has dipped so far and isn’t likely to come back, perhaps it’s worth consideration.

Writes Newby:

“I submit that it would actually be quite easy. Simply venture into your local market and find a good broker that doesn’t have the highest marketshare, meet with him and lay out your new business proposal. Simply let him/her know your newspaper company has decided to open a real estate brokerage and is seeking a broker/manager of the new operation. Explain that this new brokerage will spare no advertising expense and will reward the brokers and agents with outstanding commission splits, the best around. Lastly explain to the broker, he/she will be provided with a base salary along with a piece of the action.”

Read all of Newby’s blog entry for all his thoughts.

But I just have to say, bravo, John! It’s this kind of out-there thinking that just might save the newspaper industry. We need more “crazy” ideas, because some of them won’t turn out to be crazy and might just help save the day for the industry.

What crazy ideas do you have? Please share them with us here on ReinventingClassifieds.com.

Tags: Real estate