Local Newsletter Insider Bootstrapping a Neighborhood Media Brand
Oct 3, 2025
Nick Roberts, the mastermind behind the NoHoNick newsletter in North Hollywood, shares his insights on building a local media brand. He delves into organic audience growth and the benefits of focusing on community-first curation. The conversation covers the advantages of TikTok over Instagram for local reach, how to effectively repurpose content for multiple posts, and the importance of engaging with followers through video replies. Nick also discusses monetization strategies, including co-branded events and leveraging listings for real estate agents.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Started From A Local Gap
- Nick started NoHoNick after finding the San Fernando Valley undercovered by local media.
- He branded it with his own name which helped because he shows up in person and on social media.
Prioritize Organic Local Distribution
- Grow organically on platforms where your audience already is instead of relying solely on paid ads.
- Use local subreddits and niche Facebook groups first, then scale with regular TikTok and Instagram posts.
Edit In-App For Speed
- Edit natively inside TikTok for speed by green-screening screenshots of event flyers.
- Post the best-performing TikTok posts to Instagram and invite the business as a collaborator.
