"The first 30 days of our relationship with a subscriber is crucial as this is when churn is at its highest. Subscribers are figuring out how they want to use our products and how the different platforms fit their lifestyle and add value to their day. Therefore, we must make quick and tactical work of the time we have to lay out the best welcome mat and create a Globe habit in the daily routines of new subscribers."

As we reflect on 2018, here are 12 valuable strategies (with the link to where they appeared), one from each month of SIPAlert Daily articles:

I just decided not to renew a certain subscription that I had to a cultural institution. In their last letter to me, they said here's what you'll be missing and listed a few benefits. That makes sense—I recall Jim Sinkinson telling us to remind subscribers of what they would be losing if they don't renew. "Great renewal copy threatens a loss—of security, well-being, opportunity, or all three."

"I never thought of myself as a business person or an entrepreneur. I just initially thought of myself as an editor and wanted to have a magazine to campaign against the Vietnamese War," said Richard Branson, on a Freakanomics Radio interview recently.

After I finally decided to try Netflix last week, a welcome letter quickly emerged, simple but direct, "Watch as many TV shows & movies as you want." That was followed by covers of popular Netflix shows and a red box that said in big letters, START WATCHING. I was officially engaged.

In a clever article titled How to Lose a Member in 10 Days on the MemberSuite site, marketing manager Kelli Eidson wrote, "Day Two: Have a lackluster welcome strategy. It is critical to personalizing the member's experience right off the bat and making them aware of their benefits. A good welcome packet will have everything a member needs to engage with [you]... Without it, they're likely to churn."

When I hear Comic Cons mentioned, I picture people dressed up like Wonder Woman, Princess Leia and one of the Trekees making that funny peace sign.