Five years ago, Column set out to transform the publication of public and legal notices—an industry standard that has long frustrated government agencies, law firms, and businesses. Eighteen months ago, we began offering free training to over 4,500 organizations required to publish these notices in local newspapers. These sessions are a complimentary service for our publishing partners launching self-serve technology in their communities, designed to make legal notice workflows more intuitive and efficient.
Feedback from participants highlights the value of our approach. As users navigate Column’s self-serve software—placing notices in just a few clicks—they consistently share what saves them time and delivers the most impact.
Uploading Documents in Any Format. Nearly 50% of participants highlight Column’s flexible document upload feature. Unlike competitors that limit users to copy-paste or Word-only formats, Column supports various formats, preserving formatting seamlessly. One law firm user said, “It’s like you designed this with us in mind.”
Seeing an Immediate Proof. Column’s upfront proof feature brings instant peace of mind to 25% of users. Before submitting, clients can review a precise preview of their notice as it will appear in print, eliminating back-and-forth edits. As one Texas official noted, “Seeing the final proof and catching errors saves so much time.”
Real-Time Price Transparency. Transparency matters. Integrated price estimates update instantly with each text change, giving clients a clear understanding of costs. One municipal clerk shared, “I like that I can see how formatting affects the price.”
3 More Ways Column Stands Out
Simplifying Invoicing and Payments. With bulk payments and stored invoices, Column streamlines accounting for nearly 30% of government clients.
Faster Affidavit Turnaround. Affidavits are delivered in just 1-2 business days—much faster than the industry standard of 7-10 days. Our automated, compliant affidavit process stands out, earning praise from over 25% of customers.
Timely Reminders. Email alerts for affidavit readiness and payment deadlines contribute to our 93% on-time payment rate, improving client workflows and newspaper cash flow.
Across 850+ publications, Column’s platform has increased newspaper staff efficiency by 270%, enabling reps to process 3.7 times more orders. Self-serve adoption even further boosts productivity, allowing legal reps to handle up to 67 daily notices. By simplifying workflows and improving client experiences, Column is helping newspapers achieve more with less.
Kevin King
Head of Sales & Marketing
kevin@column.us
Kevin Richman
Head of Customer Experience
richman@column.us
Schedule demo: column.us/schedule-demo
