NYT Crossword Revenue Success
Share
Dictionary.com should expand into word games and puzzles, following the New York Times' successful games division model. The idea leverages Dictionary.com's existing traffic to distribute word games and create a new revenue stream.
Key Points:
-
Business Model:
- Take popular word games (word scramble, mini crossword, etc.)
- Reskin them as Dictionary.com branded games
- Distribute through existing Dictionary.com website traffic
- Convert site visitors and word-of-the-day email subscribers to game players
-
Distribution Strategy:
- Add pop-up promotions on Dictionary.com to download games
- Target existing Dictionary.com users who already show interest in words
- Even with 0.5% conversion rate, could drive significant revenue
-
Revenue Potential:
- Estimated to generate $8-10M per year
- Based on NY Times crossword success ($67M/year from subscriptions)
- NY Times charges $6.95/month for crossword access
-
Game Development Approach:
- Don't just copy existing games
- Reinvent games to be more engaging on mobile
- Add unique twists to classic word games
- Focus on simple, daily engagement formats
The idea capitalizes on Dictionary.com's existing audience and brand authority in the word space, while leveraging proven game formats that just need better distribution.
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.