Local Newsletter Insider

Baltimore creator Matt Diehl explains how a spontaneous “cash-drop” video, just $80 taped to a harbor post, skyrocketed to 1.5 million views across Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. The 10-second clip added 10 K followers and 500 new email subscribers to his Eating Baltimore newsletter. He breaks down the tactics that made it pop: filming with zero polish, posting natively on each platform, and even embracing critics who wondered how you peel bills off duct tape. Matt also shares the numbers behind platform performance (Facebook shocked everyone), and why contrarian “mistakes” can actually juice engagement.Key takeaways: keep production frictionless, post natively, and drop a templated subscribe link early. Leverage comments, positive and negative, to feed the algorithm. Then convert the buzz by funneling viewers into newsletters and sponsorship deals.Connect with Matt Diehl:• Facebook: Eating Baltimore• Instagram: @eating.baltimore• TikTok: @eatingbaltimore#CashDrop#LocalNewsletter#BaltimoreEats#SocialMediaMarketing#EmailGrowth#RestaurantMarketing#GiveawayStrategy#ContentMonetization#SmallBusinessTips#MattDiehl

Discover eight powerful strategies for local media growth. Learn how to run cost-effective ad campaigns that yield quick results. Explore the effectiveness of cold DMs crafted with AI, specifically targeting custom home builders. Uncover engagement tactics like simple polls that encourage sharing and asking subscribers to reply 'Yes.' Hear insights on how slower subscriber growth can lead to better engagement metrics. Finally, find out about turning newsletters into multi-channel media brands with innovative print solutions.

Brian Skinner, the founder of the Marin Buzz local newsletter, shares his journey from inspiration to creation. He reveals how weekend events and quirky segments like 'Pet of the Week' helped build a loyal audience. The conversation dives into leveraging Instagram for sales, using AI tools like YapOver for content creation, and the importance of community engagement. Brian discusses effective outreach strategies via DMs and offers actionable tips on running local events to foster relationships and drive monetization.

Jas from Winnipeg Digest returns to talk growth, revenue, and diversification. In just three months, he's scaled up recurring events, coffee parties, and brought in steady advertising revenue—without burning out. He shares tactical insights into acquiring subscribers at under $1 through Facebook ads and optimizing creatives to keep costs low.Jas also previews his next business move: launching a Christmas lights installation company, built off the trust and reach of his audience. He explains how audience alignment and a seasonal services model open up new monetization paths without needing more advertisers.You’ll hear tips on maintaining creative freshness in paid ads, handling advertiser churn, and why content quality and trust remain the core of everything Jas builds.Contact Info:Jas – Winnipeg DigestInstagram: @winnipegdigestEmail: jas@winnipegdigest.com#LocalNewsletters#NewsletterGrowth#WinnipegDigest#CommunityEvents#EmailMarketing#FacebookAdsTips#MonetizationStrategy#CoffeeParties#SmallBusinessMarketing#CreativeTesting

Louis Nicholls, co-founder of SparkLoop and a newsletter monetization expert, shares impactful strategies to monetize subscribers quickly. He discusses 'zero-day payback' tactics, blending paid recommendations and trip-wire offers to turn new subscribers into profits almost instantly. Louis emphasizes creating irresistible offers and utilizing Facebook leads effectively. He also reveals how sending two welcome emails on the first day can enhance engagement and improve subscriber quality. This conversation is packed with practical insights for local newsletter operators!

Jacob Espinoza, creator of What’s Happening Salem, discusses how he built a successful local media presence through Instagram, newsletters, and podcasts. He shares tactics for growing an audience, like engaging short-form videos and local memes. Jacob emphasizes the blend of entertainment and education in content creation. He also reveals innovative monetization strategies, such as creating authentic promotional content and hosting local events to foster community connections. His insights are valuable for anyone looking to grow their local brand.

Frey Chu, an online directory builder and SEO expert, shares insights on transforming niche directories into streams of passive income. He explains the art of data scraping, optimizing for Google, and various monetization strategies like sponsored listings. Frey discusses how local media, particularly newsletters, can leverage directories to enhance advertiser engagement. The conversation dives into the importance of SEO and social media, and how directories can serve as valuable lead generation tools, opening doors to new business opportunities.

Geoff Matthews of North Shore Now joins TJ Larkin to unpack the real story behind launching a successful newsletter in a small geographic niche. Geoff candidly shares the challenges of selling local ads, testing paid subscriber models, and staying motivated despite uncertain ROI. With refreshing honesty, he outlines what worked, what flopped, and why feedback from his community keeps him going.From curating events across 100+ websites to running giveaways and launching merchandise, Geoff’s grassroots approach to content and engagement offers tons of lessons for creators in any market. He also breaks down his ad strategy evolution, from failed cold emails to drastically improving performance with expert help.Whether you're building your first audience or thinking about monetizing a niche project, this conversation is loaded with valuable insight. Want to connect with Geoff? Head to https://snowballclub.com/ to learn more about his private founder community.#NewsletterBusiness#LocalMarketing#EmailMarketingTips#ContentStrategy#DigitalEntrepreneur#NorthShoreNow#CommunityBuilding#MetaAds#MonetizingContent#VancouverBusiness

In this episode, TJ Larkin interviews Justin Gordon, the creator of two high-impact newsletters: Just Go Grind and LA Grind. Justin shares how his journey began with a podcast back in 2018, eventually transitioning into newsletters focused on startup founders, investors, and the LA tech scene. He walks us through how he built up an audience of over 20,000 for Just Go Grind and used his unique positioning and risk tolerance to go full-time as a creator.We dive into the strategy behind LA Grind, a hybrid local newsletter tailored to LA’s startup and VC community. Justin reveals how segmentation, events, and a deep understanding of his audience drive growth and monetization. He also touches on paid ads, social media, and how he maintains high open rates while cleaning his list regularly.Key takeaways include how to test newsletter concepts efficiently, monetize through sponsorships, and use events as an in-person moat against AI disruption. If you're building a newsletter or local media business, this episode is packed with actionable insights.👉 Connect with Justin at https://justgogrind.com and https://thelagrind.com. For serendipity calls and event access, check the top of each newsletter edition.#NewsletterMarketing#StartupCommunity#JustinGordon#JustGoGrind#LAGrind#FounderEvents#B2BMarketing#NewsletterGrowth#LocalNewsletters#VCandStartups

In this episode, TJ Larkin chats with Matt Deal, the creator of Eating Baltimore, a growing local newsletter focused on food, events, and community in the Baltimore area. With a background in financial newsletters and wine club marketing, Matt shares how he transitioned into building a hyperlocal media product from scratch.Matt dives deep into his strategies for acquiring subscribers—like using Facebook ads, giveaways, and leveraging Beehive. He explains how he built a restaurant directory using Replit for only $6, sourced thousands of listings with Outscraper, and is now using SEO and backlink campaigns to drive traffic and monetization.Listeners will gain actionable insights into building in public, testing content strategies, using local sentiment to drive engagement, and creatively pursuing revenue with limited resources. Matt’s transparency about subscriber growth, ad performance, and experimentation provides inspiration for anyone looking to build a local media brand.Guest Info: Website: https://eatingbaltimore.com Twitter: https://x.com/realMattDiehl#LocalNewsletters#NewsletterGrowth#EatingBaltimore#IndieMedia#NewsletterMarketing#Replit#DigitalMonetization#BuildInPublic#LocalSEO#BootstrapStartup