Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

49 - Making 240K/Yr from ONE Newsletter with Ryan Sneddon

Aug 26, 2024

Ryan Sneddon, founder of a successful local email newsletter in Annapolis, shares his journey from mechanical engineer to media entrepreneur. He reveals how he grew his subscriber base to 19,000 and generated over $240,000 in revenue through targeted ads. Ryan discusses effective strategies for newsletter monetization, the power of community-focused content, and his plans to expand this model to other cities. He emphasizes that despite social media's rise, email newsletters remain a potent tool for local engagement and profitability.

56:23

Episode guests

Ryan Sneddon

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Quick takeaways

Ryan Sneddon achieved remarkable success by creating a hyper-local email newsletter in Annapolis, generating $240,000 annually with just 19,000 subscribers.

His innovative performance-based advertising strategy emphasizes return on investment for local businesses, reshaping how they perceive their advertising expenses.

Looking ahead, Sneeden plans to license his newsletter model to other cities, seeking local partners to adapt his successful blueprint beyond Annapolis.

Deep dives

The Rise of Hyper-Local Newsletters

Hyper-local newsletters are experiencing significant growth, catering to niche communities. In recent years, local groups on platforms like Facebook have increased by over 50%, leading to enhanced engagement compared to broader interest groups. Consumers exhibit a higher trust in recommendations from these small communities and micro-influencers, with statistics indicating that 86% are more likely to trust these sources. This trend demonstrates a shift in purchasing decisions, as more individuals prefer localized content over mainstream media.

Delegate and Curate for Efficiency

01:41

Location Matters: Choose Wisely for Growth

01:26

Learn from Mistakes to Build Lasting Success

00:52

Embrace the Flow of Delegation

01:10

Intro

3min

Local Newsletter Success Strategies

9min

Mastering Newsletter Metrics and Financial Management

14min

Crafting Community Newsletters

5min

Adapting Media for Local Audiences

4min

Scaling Hyper-Local Newsletters

12min

Building Community through Newsletters

9min

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I talk with Ryan Sneddon (https://x.com/lifeof_scoop), the founder of a thriving local email newsletter in Annapolis, Maryland. Ryan shares how he grew his newsletter to 19,000 subscribers in a town of 41,000, generating over $240,000 in revenue last year through targeted ads. We discuss his journey from mechanical engineer to successful media business owner, the power of email newsletters in a social media-driven world, and his plans to expand this model to other cities. The episode covers practical strategies for building a profitable newsletter and scaling it effectively.

Questions this Episode Answers:

How do you grow a local email newsletter to thousands of subscribers?
What are the keys to monetizing a newsletter through targeted ads?
How can you transition from a traditional career to a successful media business?
Why are email newsletters still effective in the social media age?
What strategies can be used to scale a local newsletter model to other cities?

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Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.
Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.
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This week we covered:

01:39 Meet Ryan Snedden: The Newsletter Entrepreneur

03:06 Building a Successful Local Newsletter

07:10 The Economics of Newsletter Advertising

12:16 Metrics and Growth Strategies

28:43 The Role of the Editor

02:24 Sponsor Message and Giveaway

29:44 Sourcing Stories and Replicating the Model

31:09 Challenges in Traditional Media

35:21 Scaling the Newsletter Business

43:59 Choosing the Right Cities for Expansion

50:00 Rapid Fire Questions

55:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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