Publishing Subscription Support
At Ant, publishing isn’t just another sector - it’s part of our DNA. We’ve been supporting leading titles, niche journals, and event-led media brands since the very beginning. Whether print or digital, consumer or B2B, we know what drives readers, what keeps them, and what brings them back.
Specialist Subscription Support from a Team That Knows the Industry
From growing new subscriptions to recovering lost ones, we deliver high-performing contact centre solutions that increase revenue, build loyalty and reduce churn - all while protecting your brand voice.
Subscription Campaigns That Deliver
We’ve built and delivered some of the industry’s most successful subscription support programmes. Our teams work across every stage of the customer journey, using proven techniques and sensitive, human-centred conversations.
Here’s what we deliver - and how we perform:
✔︎ Pre-expiry & mid-term calls - Focused on retention and payment methods = Conversion: 25% to 40%.
✔︎ Lapsed subscriber reactivation - Targeting 6–26 week lapses, up to 2 years = Conversion: 15% to 30%.
✔︎ Cancellation recovery - Win-back calls with tailored offers = Conversion: 10% to 20%.
✔︎ Bad debt follow-up - Post-invoice calls to secure or prompt payment = Conversion: 20% to 30%.
✔︎ Bounced payment resolution - Empathy-led calls to recover payment and update details = Conversion: 20% to 40%.
✔︎ Cross-sell / upsell - Adding value for existing subscribers = Conversion: 15% to 30%.
✔︎ New subscriber acquisition - Multichannel, data-driven approach = Cold call conversion: 4% to 15%.
✔︎ Lead generation - Converting free content users to paid subscriptions
✔︎ Inbound handling - Free issues, upgrades, renewals, and ongoing service = Conversion: 25% to 40%.
We also use email and SMS follow-ups to extend the life of each campaign and increase the chances of conversion - with SMS often delivering 35% to 50% success rates around key offers.
Case Study: Reducing Churn and Boosting Revenue for a Heritage Publisher
A long-established UK publishing house, known for its premium print titles in current affairs and lifestyle, approached Ant to help stabilise subscriber churn and re-engage lapsed customers.
Our team delivered a multi-phase campaign covering:
✔︎ Pre-expiry and mid-term calling to encourage early renewals and payment method updates
✔︎ Lapsed subscriber campaigns up to 2 years post-cancellation
✔︎ Bad debt recovery for uncollected subscription invoices
✔︎ Cross-sell offers for readers subscribing to multiple titles
In under six months, we delivered:
✔︎ Over 12,000 active subscriptions retained or recovered
✔︎ A 28% average conversion rate across all outbound campaigns
✔︎ A 43% reduction in subscription-related inbound complaints
✔︎ A significant uplift in revenue, with improved lifetime value per customer
Our client described Ant as “a seamless extension of our team - commercially sharp and editorially sensitive.”
A seamless extension of our team - commercially sharp and editorially sensitive.
Client Feedback
★★★★★
Events, Controlled Circulation & More
We’re especially well-known for our publishing event support - from delegate acquisition to live switchboard handling - and can scale quickly to handle peaks around launches and exhibitions.
Our experience also includes:
✔︎ Controlled circulation registration
✔︎ Delegate sales and reminders
✔︎ Speaker and sponsor management
✔︎ Pre- and post-event follow-up
No matter the campaign, our agents are trained to adapt their tone and approach to your title’s audience - from prestige editorial brands to high-volume generalist publications.
Why Publishers Trust Ant
✔︎ Deep sector heritage - decades of proven results
✔︎ Extensive experience with subscription, events and circulation
✔︎ Data-led, multichannel strategies that get results
✔︎ FCA-aware agents trained in regulated, sensitive conversations
✔︎ Proven campaign performance across every lifecycle stage
✔︎ Scalable, flexible delivery – from pilot to embedded teams
Real Results. Real Relationships.
Publishing thrives on loyal audiences - and we help you build them. Every campaign is built on empathy, efficiency, and your editorial values. We don’t just make calls - we make connections that last.
Looking to grow, retain or re-engage your subscriber base?
We’re ready when you are.
