Regular email services have size limitations, making them unsuitable for sending large files common to production work (like high-resolution images, pdfs, or design files).  That’s why the following services are better choices:

File-Sharing Services

Stand-alone Options

WeTransfer

• How it Works: Upload your files and WeTransfer generates a download link to share with our production team. Recipients don’t need a WeTransfer account to download the files.
• Pros: Super simple to use, no logins required, can send files up to 2GB for free.
• Cons: Files are only available for 7 days.

Cloud Options

Google Drive

• How it Works: Upload files to your Google Drive account and either share the files directly or generate a link for access.
• Pros: Seamless integration with Gmail, 15GB of free storage, excellent for collaboration.
• Cons: Recipients may need a Google account to view depending on your settings. (See note below).

Send Anywhere

• How it Works: Upload your files and receive a download link and/or a unique 6-digit code to share with the production team.
• Pros: Can send files up to 10GB in the free version, no account creation required, strong focus on security.
• Cons: Features have time limits in the free version.

Dropbox

• How it Works: Similar to Google Drive, upload files to your Dropbox and share them or create download links.
• Pros: User-friendly, great if you regularly need to share files, offers syncing across devices.
• Cons: Limited to 2GB of storage on the free plan. Similar permissions issue as Google Drive (see below).

Which One to Choose?

• Quick and Easy: WeTransfer wins for its simplicity and not requiring accounts.
• Large Files: Send Anywhere offers the largest free file size transfers.
• Google Ecosystem: Google Drive is a winner if your team already uses Google products extensively.
• Regular File Sharing Needs: Dropbox might be a good fit if you anticipate sending large files frequently.

As always if you run into any problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ops@our-hometown.com.

The post Send us a PDF! first appeared on Our-Hometown.

In this publisher interview the Our-Hometown team is joined by Alexis Tackett of the New Pine Plains Herald in New York. We hear about the onboarding process, website traffic, newsletters, and general feedback on features of the new website.

The post Alexis Tackett – New Pine Plains Herald | OHT Publisher Interview first appeared on Our-Hometown.

We’re excited to see the program expand to more states and Press Associations in 2023, continuing our goal of assisting every print newspaper in the country adapt to the ever-evolving digital landscape with a modern, mobile-friendly website and digital subscription options.

The Virginia Press Association

The Virginia Press Association was the first Press Association to partner with Our-Hometown to offer the Digital Initiative to publishers in Virginia.

The program has already allowed five publications to launch brand new websites equipped with all of the tools necessary for publishers to start earning digital subscription revenue.

Check out the following examples:

• The Virginia Star
• The Amelia Bulletin-Monitor
• The Courier-Record
• The Crewe-Burkeville Journal
• The Rappahannock Times

Last summer, we hosted a webinar interview with the Directors of the VPA to get their thoughts on the program and how it has helped their publishers:

The Illinois Press Association & Foundation

The Illinois Press Association & Foundation was happy to partner with Our-Hometown to launch the Digital Initiative in Illinois last summer. We were able to quickly equip several newspapers with new websites and revenue streams made possible by our platform.

Check out some of our publishers in Illinois:

• The Ford County Chronicle
• The Petersburg Observer & Menard County Review
• The Henry News-Republican
• The Southwest Messenger Press

Check out the videos below for some direct feedback from Will Brumleve of the Ford County Chronicle, or learn more about the program by watching the announcement webinar.

The Kansas Newspaper Foundation (KPA)

The Digital Initiative program expanded to Kansas last year when the Kansas Newspaper Foundation (the non-profit arm of the Kansas Press Association) partnered with Our-Hometown to provide newspaper publishers in Kansas access to the resources we provide.

The program was announced during a live webinar hosted by the Kansas Newspaper Foundation last summer.

A handful of publishers have expressed interest and have started the process of migrating to our platform to launch their new websites. We hope to have more information to share soon!

We’re excited to see the progress these publishers have made in the short-time since launching on our platform. We can’t wait to share more news on the expansion of the Digital Initiative, but for now, be sure to contact your local press association to ask if the program is available in your state — and let them know you’re interested!

The post The Digital Initiative in 2023 first appeared on Our-Hometown.

In this publisher interview the Our-Hometown team is joined by Keven Zepezauer, President and Publisher at Restoration NewsMedia in North Carolina. We hear about the onboarding process of multiple sites, as well as features customized for their needs, such as a source-based paywall, advanced newsletter design, print-digital subscription management via CircPro, and a new dark visual theme implementation.

The post Keven Zepezauer of Restoration NewsMedia | OHT Publisher Interview first appeared on Our-Hometown.

We’ve worked closely with the team at Restoration News Media over the past few months to fine tune the website and ensure a smooth transition for both readers and staff, even developing some new features and processes along the way. We are proud to be the new provider for all of their digital publishing needs, and look forward to working together for years to come!

Head on over to the Restoration News Media website today to check out the latest from each of their publications and help give them a warm welcome to Our-Hometown!

The post Restoration News Media launches new website for five newspapers first appeared on Our-Hometown.

The Rappahannock Times was without a modern web solution until the Virginia Press Association approached them with the Digital Initiative program, granting them the opportunity to launch a brand new, mobile responsive website on Our-Hometown’s WordPress Platform at a discounted price.

The website includes all of the features you would expect from a modern newspaper website, including Digital Subscriptions, Web Advertising, Newsletters and more!

Be sure to check out the new Rappahannock Times website today! Click here to visit!

The post Rappahannock Times launches with VPA Digital Initiative first appeared on Our-Hometown.

Locally-owned and published weekly since 1959, The Crewe-Burkeville Journal is the progressive voice serving the Southside Virginia counties of Nottaway, Lunenburg, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Brunswick, Charlotte, Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward.

To learn more about the OHT Digital Initiative at the Virginia Press Association or to apply, visit here.

The post Crewe-Burkeville Journal introduces new site through VPA Digital Initiative first appeared on Our-Hometown.

The Amelia Bulletin Monitor has been serving the citizens of Amelia County and surrounding areas since 1973 with news, commentary and as a vehicle for advertising, both display and classifieds. Through our homepage you can find the latest from each week’s Monitor…place a classified or display advertisement…order special publications of the Monitor…write a letter to the editor… inquire about printing services and prices for advertising.

To learn more about the OHT Digital Initiative at the Virginia Press Association or to apply, visit here.

The post Amelia Bulletin switches to WordPress through VPA Digital Initiative first appeared on Our-Hometown.

After testing the concept with our friends at the VPA, we’re excited to officially announce the launch of the Our-Hometown Digital Initiative — now open to all Press Associations across the country!

The goal of the Digital Initiative is to help newspapers take advantage of all of the additional revenue opportunities that exist on the web and expand their digital presence through the use of the tools and features included with Our-Hometown’s WordPress Publishing Platform — whether that means launching a newspaper’s very first website or migrating a newspaper’s existing content to our platform with a new, fully-responsive website.

The Our-Hometown Digital Initiative is seeking Press Associations partners to help expand our program. We are offering special pricing on our services to publishers who enroll through a partnered Press Association.

We’re excited to welcome all of the new publishers who will be joining us through this program in the months to come, and encourage any Press Associations interested in partnering with us to reach out today!

The post Our-Hometown expands Digital Initiative first appeared on Our-Hometown.

The award-winning Courier-Record is a weekly news publication in Blackstone VA.

Serving Nottoway, Lunenburg and surrounding counties, the Courier-Record newspaper has a weekly circulation of 6,150. With a reputation for honest and hard-hitting news reporting, excellent photography, and top-quality advertising and printing services, the Courier-Record is Southside Virginia’s top choice for local news and information.

To learn more about the OHT Digital Initiative at the Virginia Press Association or to apply, visit here.

The post Courier-Record launches new website through VPA Digital Initiative first appeared on Our-Hometown.