At that time, it became clear that our newspaper is unprofitable, no matter how hard we try. Punish publications were closed all over the world, the media business went online. The cost of printing was constantly growing, other expenses increased, and the price of advertising could no longer be raised-advertisers redistributed their funds from traditional media in social networks and online projects and raising prices would only accelerate this process. Since this year, we paid more attention to the events: there were many of them, due to their turnover, the newspaper and the newspaper and the newspaper were paid. We closed the travel agency, which did not bring already profit, closed two out of five companies, redistributing projects between the remaining three. Thus, they won the time and saved funds. But it was clear - the business should be rebuilt radically in order to preserve the "Bulletin of Cyprus", like a printed publication.
New model
That year has become a turning point. Over the previous few years, we managed to close all unprofitable magazines, to grow several profitable commercial projects, the income from which was immediately spent on printing and salaries for the publishing house. And if earlier the newspaper "Feed" the entire group of companies, now successful events "fed" the newspaper. We began to spend dozens of events a year, working even more than before. But the newspaper managed to save. And I'm proud of it!
The ability to change is the basis of survival
We had many innovations (as, indeed, always). Due to the fact that we are constantly changing, the Bulletin of the Cyprus - despite objective difficulties with liquidity - not only survived all the crises, but also came out of them more than before.
I am sure that the success of the newspaper "Bulletin of Cyprus", its "longevity", the scope of our activity and the possibility of constant growth are associated precisely with our ability to change. Naturally, these changes cannot be easily given: they cause unnecessary anxieties and even resistance to the company's employees, readers, and advertisers. Progress in the history of mankind (and not just within the framework of our small company) is always associated with the breakdown of the old, because only having left the comfort zone you can achieve any visible successes.
Digital transformation
We were preparing for serious changes in business processes for several years. It was clear that the Internet is gradually replacing the printed press: more and more people are watching the news on the screens of tablets and mobile phones. First, for this they used news sites, then newsletters from several sites and aggregators of the Yandex.NOVOSE type. Recently, the majority of the news of the Russian -speaking residents of Cyprus receive from social networks: according to statistics, this year already in 96% of people in Cyprus aged 14 to 30 years had an account on Facebook. And we began to learn social media even more intensively.
New projects: to study ourselves and teach others
In order to learn ourselves and help others to acquire new skills, we organized a Digital Marketing Conference, DMC-CY digital marketing conference several times. At first only Cyprus specialists were invited. Then the project grew up, and we could already bring foreign experts. This event has become a unique platform for communication and exchange of experience for those people who promote their business on the Internet.
To understand the trends and predict changes, we organized the conference The Future Is Today (“Future - Today”), inviting experts from different countries to participate. Communication turned out to be interesting and extremely useful for us.
We constantly searched for new ideas. So, for example, that year for the first time in Cyprus, a unique intensive course was held “Remember 300 foreign words over the weekend” according to a new effective Russian method of memorizing words, which doubled the study of any foreign language, improved memory and developed associative thinking. We knew that readers would evaluate such a project: after all, everyone in Cyprus needs to learn at least English, but it would be nice for Greek language.
Publisher's experience - for the good of business
Around the same time, the idea appeared to open a new direction: consulting services for the business community. Indeed, thanks to the extensive work performed by the forces of a relatively small team, the “Bulletin of Cyprus” has long become a kind of bridge between the Cypriots and the Russian -speaking community of the island. And due to the fact that I constantly had to take an interview and write articles for the “Successful Business” magazine, I began to understand the laws, rules, taxes, financial transactions related to Cyprus. After all, there were analytical articles on economics, law, finances, technologies, energy and ten other areas.
And since 2017, the VK still offers a package of services to those customers who are interested in cooperation with Cyprus and international partners in B2B and B2C formats. We conduct private consultations, help in establishing contacts at all levels - in business circles, in municipal and state structures - we advise about new business partners, ways to solve problems, organize the structure of the new business and move the existing business and families of employees to the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
Strengthening international ties
In December 2017, Vestnik Cyprus became a representative in the Cyprus of the Russian Business Council for Cooperation with Cyprus - an organization uniting large Russian companies that had representative offices in the republic or collaborated with Cyprus partners. The potential was huge, so much was to do together! But soon 2020 will come and the air traffic will be interrupted, then 2022 - and business contacts will be interrupted, so only two years of life were allotted this initiative. Looking ahead, I must say that we managed a lot in two years.
Natalia Kardash (a fragment from the book “20 years in Cyprus - in the center of events” published in 2019)
This article is part of a series of articles about the history of the "Herald of Cyprus" dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the newspaper. Read other materials by tag#History of the Herald of Cyprus and by links:
How in 30 years the "Bulletin of Cyprus" has influenced the life of Russian -speaking people
1995. Advertising booklet, which accidentally became the beginning of a new era
1996. The newspaper comes to life: the first headings, the first letters of readers
1997. They came here, "to talk in Russian"
1998. "Bulletin of Cyprus" - almost "Literary Gazeta"
1999. "Bulletin of Cyprus" united lovers of books and films
2000. Library "Vestnik Cyprus" and the first KVN
2001. Change of team: a new stage in the history of the newspaper
2002. Seven employees and a thousand guests
2003. Sturrent period: magazines, courses, reference books
2004. The largest regional media holding
2005. The anniversary year and the emergence of multinational holidays
2006. The editors received up to 500 visitors per week
2007. Uniting adults and children, newspaper employees established the Association
2008. Good traditions "Bulletin of Cyprus"
2009. How we went on the air: the story of "Televials" in Cyprus
2010. Invisible work, visible result
2011. Chess, business journal and economic diplomacy: year of great ambitions
2012. Studs, nesting dolls and helicopter: unforgettable year
2013. Lost almost all advertisers. But they did not give up!
2014: year of new formats and historical achievements
2015. 20 years with the reader: intuition and quick changes in the leg with the times
2016: "Bulletin of Cyprus" turned into a daily edition
