The site has attracted 52,000 unique visitors between January and March of this year. It's not cheap, but it is cheaper than if we went out and got all these pieces and put them together ourselves. The Tri-City Herald also works with online publishing and sales specialist Nando Media , in Raleigh, N.C., for content and support services. We would need editors. We would need programmers, content people and artists.
Some sites shy away from third-party vendors because of licensing fees.
Jensen says the services are worth the price if they are managed wisely. In 1996, the company created a separate Web site company, Connect Oklahoma, to produce Web sites for the newspaper and other companies. Last year, the 29-person company built and hosted 71 Web sites. In recent months, Connect Oklahoma reduced its staff to 25 people from 29 and is merging with the parent company, The Oklahoman. Along the way, the company has profited from its homegrown creations.