BizLab is here
WBUR launched BizLab in 2015, with funding from the Knight Foundation, believing it is critical that we invest in innovation and experimentation to identify new revenue channels to sustain public radio into the future. Given the changing landscape of journalism, media consumption, and digital advertising, there is an increasing urgency to test and measure the effectiveness of different funding models. Our collective concern is that public radio stations have not systematically explored options for increasing sustainability of their programming. At BizLab, we want to enable stations to uncover new avenues for revenue generation, distinct from traditional approaches including on-air drives, direct mail, and underwriting.
to our listeners, our partner stations, and business partners.
through ideation, brainstorming, and inspiration from parallel industries.
using the methods of lean start-ups, to evaluate desirability, feasibility, and viability.
when we see results. Build out an idea as a new line of revenue for public radio.
Team
JOAN DIMICCO
Sarah Bloomer
Cynthia Yue
Suzie Hicks
WENDI DING
WBUR
Latest news
Donation Personas: The Experiment Design
[This is the 3rd blog post on BizLab Fellow Wendi Ding’s project, the Persona Experiment.] With three personas in hand, we designed an experiment to test the effectiveness of communicating to WBUR’s audience by persona. We wanted to determine two things with an experiment: know if the personas reflect unique populations in our listener audience Read more about Donation Personas: The Experiment Design[…]
The Pop-Up Shop Experiment: The Findings
Hello! This is the final post in the Summer Pop-Up Shop blog series for Summer 2018. Our store closed at midnight on August 24th, 2018. In one month we received 194 orders for 216 items. Our Net Sales were approximately $8000. The last few days, with our most urgent messaging, made the biggest difference in our Read more about The Pop-Up Shop Experiment: The Findings[…]
Promoting the Summer Pop-Up Shop
Hello! If you’re reading this for the first time, welcome. This is the second blog post of the WBUR Summer Pop-Up Shop series, covering the marketing and promotions of the website. The store itself launched on July 24th, 2018, with an estimated run time of exactly one month. The promotion plan comprised of creating a Read more about Promoting the Summer Pop-Up Shop[…]
Creating WBUR Personas
[This is the 2nd blog post is written by BizLab Fellow Wendi Ding, sharing the discoveries from her Summer 2018 experiment.] There are 500,000 unique individuals listening to WBUR each week. How do we communicate effectively with each of them about why they listen to WBUR, what makes them loyal to the program, and what Read more about Creating WBUR Personas[…]
Creating the WBUR Summer Pop-Up Shop
Hey there! I’m Suzie, one of the BizLab fellows that worked this summer to find additional sources of revenue for WBUR, with the goal of identifying new opportunities for public radio funding. Merchandise has been a strategy for arts and nonprofit organizations for years. It gives companies with intangible products and services a way to become tangible Read more about Creating the WBUR Summer Pop-Up Shop[…]
The Persona Experiment: It is no longer just a radio experience
[This blog post is written by BizLab Fellow Wendi Ding, sharing the discoveries from her Summer 2018 experiment.] Whether it’s an interview on-air, a news story that caught someone’s eye on our website, an episode of a podcast with critical thinking, or a post on social media, public radio is no longer just a voice Read more about The Persona Experiment: It is no longer just a radio experience[…]
Bookshelf Experiment Results
[This blog post is written by BizLab Fellow Cynthia Yue, sharing the results from her Summer 2018 experiment.] As outlined in my last blog post, I spent my summer at WBUR following an iterative design process to design an experience that compels users to purchase books. In this blog post, I discuss the findings from an Read more about Bookshelf Experiment Results[…]
The Bookshelf Experiment & Our Design Process
[This blog post is written by BizLab Fellow Cynthia Yue, introducing her Summer 2018 experiment, focused on affiliate marketing and book purchases.] WBUR has participated in Amazon’s affiliate program since 2002. This program pays organizations a portion of the revenue earned from any consumers an organization directs to Amazon. What this means for WBUR is Read more about The Bookshelf Experiment & Our Design Process[…]
Long-time listener, first-time attendee… to a public radio conference
I just got back from my first public radio conference! The Public Media Development and Membership Conference (aka “the PMDMC”). This is the annual conference that talks about the revenue side of public radio and television. PBS and NPR are the major players and there are sessions on topics like how to transition one-time donors into Read more about Long-time listener, first-time attendee… to a public radio conference[…]
What is a BizLab project?
A BizLab project is a concept for new revenue that needs evaluation. Each project is comprised of multiple experiments and evaluations and is complete when a recommendation can be made to WBUR leadership for either suspending evaluation or investing additional resources for launching as a business. Each project should take no more than 3 months. Read more about What is a BizLab project?[…]