105 - How to Build a 50k Local Newsletter in 6 Months Using AI with Jas Singh
Jan 8, 2025
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Jas Singh, the founder of a thriving local newsletter in Winnipeg, shares his remarkable journey of gaining 50,000 subscribers in just six months. He discusses the shift from an AI-focused newsletter to curating local content, emphasizing community over crime and politics. Singh reveals how he utilizes AI, like ChatGPT, for content creation while maintaining a personal touch. Strategies for organic growth, effective ad pricing, and the importance of community engagement are also key highlights, offering valuable insights for aspiring newsletter creators.
Jas Singh successfully grew his local newsletter to 50,000 subscribers in just six months by focusing on community-driven content and avoiding divisive topics.
The use of AI tools for content curation combined with effective advertising strategies enables sustainable growth and monetization for local newsletters.
Deep dives
Starting a Local Newsletter
Establishing a local newsletter can be a lucrative venture, especially in areas lacking digital local representation. A successful case in Winnipeg demonstrated rapid growth, achieving an audience of around 50,000 people within six months. The strategy involved creating a platform that catered to the community, providing them with pertinent events and news, which included avoiding topics like crime and politics. This localized approach ensures that subscribers feel a connection and ownership towards the newsletter, fostering a sense of community involvement in its development.
Navigating Content Creation
Content curation plays a vital role in engaging readers, requiring a structured approach to cover diverse topics relevant to the community. The newsletter focuses on various categories, including community initiatives, business news, and a dedicated section for local events, which can number between 30 to 50 each week. Each issue is strategically designed to maintain reader interest, placing the most sought-after content at the bottom to ensure that subscribers scroll through the entire newsletter. By leveraging tools like AI for summarization while ensuring manual content selection, the newsletter preserves its local flavor and relevance.
Subscriber Acquisition Strategies
The newsletter's growth strategy heavily relied on both organic and paid advertising channels, with Facebook being the primary paid ad medium. Initially, the newsletter attracted the first 200 subscribers through engagement on local subreddits, providing them with valuable event lists and inviting them to subscribe. As the subscriber base grew, more sophisticated marketing techniques, including referral programs, were implemented, rewarding subscribers for bringing in new users. This multifaceted approach to subscriber acquisition proved effective, resulting in approximately 16,000 subscribers within a short time frame.
Monetization Opportunities
Monetizing the newsletter involves forging partnerships with local businesses, allowing them to advertise through both the newsletter and its associated social media. Effective advertising strategies include packaging ads with promotional opportunities, ensuring advertisers understand the value of open rates and subscriber engagement. The monetization model primarily operates on a cost-per-thousand impressions basis, allowing for predictable revenue streams as subscribers increase. By emphasizing exclusivity and growth contracts to advertisers, the newsletter positions itself as a vital marketing partner within the community.
Join me Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik) as I sit down with Jas Singh (https://x.com/CreatingJas), to discuss his journey intolocal newsletters and how he grew his to 50,000 subscribers in just six months. Jas shares how he transitioned from an AI newsletter to a local newsletter focused on the city of Winnipeg, and how he leveraged his past experience in building a following of 35,000 followers to create a thriving community-based platform. He also explains why he chose to focus on local news, events and community initiatives instead of crime and politics.
In this episode, we explore the reasons why newsletters are becoming increasingly popular, focusing on how they allow creators to own the relationship with their audience, bypassing the limitations of social media algorithms. Jas also shares his strategies for content curation, using AI tools like ChatGPT to tailor his writing style, and his approach to ad sales, including how he prices ads for local businesses, and how he has scaled his business to 50,000 subscribers in 6 months.
Questions this Episode Answers:
Why did Jas decide to switch from an AI-focused newsletter to a local newsletter?
How did Jas grow his local newsletter audience to 50,000 subscribers in just 6 months?
How does Jas use AI in his newsletter creation process, and what aspects of the newsletter are curated manually?
What are the most effective strategies for acquiring subscribers, and how does Jas approach paid advertising on Facebook?
How does Jas monetize his newsletter, and what are some of the key selling points for advertisers?
What are the key elements of a local newsletter that make it a viable side hustle?
Enjoy the conversation! __________________________
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. __________________________
00:00 Introduction 00:45 Newsletter Journey and Growth 02:53 Understanding the Value of Newsletters 03:40 Local vs. Traditional Newsletters 04:40 Content and Structure of the Newsletter 06:14 Choosing the Right Newsletter Focus 10:03 Frequency and Content Management 14:55 Using AI and Manual Processes 20:01 Growing the Subscriber Base 22:52 Subscriber Acquisition Costs 23:56 Effective Ad Strategies 24:58 Subscriber Retention Insights 25:34 Exploring Acquisition Channels 30:23 Monetization Strategies 39:35 Revenue and Costs Breakdown 41:17 The Side Hustle Potential 42:54 Final Thoughts and Contact Info
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