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📰 Your local newspaper is dying. Facebook killed community pages. Nobody knows what's actually happening in their own neighborhood anymore.
There's a massive gap between what people want (hyperlocal news they can trust) and what they're getting (national drama and algorithm-fed garbage). Meanwhile, local businesses are desperate to reach engaged community members but have nowhere to advertise. This is your opportunity to become the bridge.
Today’s Idea
Launch a local newsletter that covers what's actually happening in your city. Send it 3-5 times per week. Curate local news, events, business openings, and exclusive neighborhood stories people can't find anywhere else.
The numbers are wild. The Charlotte Ledger makes over 500K annually. Naptown Scoop pulls 200K from ads alone. 6AM City has 1.3 million subscribers across 31 cities. Most of these started as one-person operations you could launch this week.
Ideal Customer
Young professionals aged 25-45 who moved to your city in the past 5 years and want to feel connected to their new community
Local business owners who need an effective way to reach neighborhood customers without wasting money on broad social media ads
Parents with school-age kids looking for family-friendly events, school updates, and activities they might otherwise miss
Community-minded residents who care about local politics, development projects, and civic issues but don't have time to follow multiple sources
Retirees and empty nesters seeking social opportunities, volunteer events, and ways to stay engaged with their community
Why It Will Succeed
Premium ad rates: Local newsletters charge 50-100 CPM versus 20-40 for general newsletters. Businesses pay more for guaranteed local reach.
Insanely low startup costs: Launch for under 100. The median startup cost is 500. No office, no inventory, no employees needed to start.
40-60% open rates: Email crushes social media algorithms. You own the audience relationship, not Facebook or Instagram.
Easy content pipeline: Community members send you tips, stories, and updates because they want to be featured. Your readers become your reporters.
Simple sales process: Local advertisers know exactly who they're reaching. No explaining targeting or demographics. They get it immediately.
Getting Started and Building an MVP
Before we get started I HIGHLY recommend you use Beehiiv for this project. I built this entire newsletter on Beehiiv and it’s incredibly easy to grow and monetize. They are making a massive announcement soon, check it out below…
The Game is Changing
The internet was supposed to make it easier to build and connect. Somewhere along the way, we lost the plot.
beehiiv is changing that once and for all.
On November 13, they’re unveiling what’s next at their first-ever Winter Release Event. For the people shaping the future of content, community, and media, this is an event you can’t miss.
Core Features
Clean, mobile-optimized email template with consistent branding and easy-to-scan format
Daily or 3-5x weekly sends covering local news, events, business updates, and community happenings
Curated content sections like What's Opening, Community Calendar, Local Business Spotlight, and Need to Know
Simple subscription signup page with social share functionality
Basic analytics dashboard to track opens, clicks, and subscriber growth
Ad placement slots for sponsored content and banner advertisements
Archive of past newsletters on a simple landing page
Tools You’ll Use:
Newsletter Platform: Beehiiv (free for up to 2,500 subscribers, 49/month for Scale plan with monetization features). This is the gold standard for newsletter creators. Built-in ad network, analytics, referral programs, and growth tools specifically designed for publishers. Their monetization features make selling ads incredibly simple.
Website Builder: Beehiiv's built-in website (included in all plans). Automatically creates a clean landing page with newsletter signup, past issues archive, and about section. No extra tools needed.
Content Research: Google Alerts (Free) + Perplexity AI (Free tier available). Set up alerts for your city name, local businesses, government meetings, and key terms. Use Perplexity to quickly research and verify local stories.
Ad Management: Beehiiv's native ad tools (included in Scale plan at 49/month). Manage sponsor relationships, insertion orders, and campaign tracking. Plus access to their ad network to fill unsold inventory.
Graphics and Design: Canva (Free version works great). Create header graphics, social media posts, and sponsor assets. No design skills needed.
Step-by-Step Process:
Validate Your Market
Check if your city already has a dominant local newsletter (search your city name plus newsletter and daily email to see what exists)
Calculate the addressable market using 1-3% of your city's population as the target subscriber base
Survey 20-30 local residents on Facebook community groups about their local news consumption habits
Identify 3-5 local businesses that could be potential advertisers and gauge their interest informally
Set Up Your Tech Foundation
Create Beehiiv account and design your newsletter template using their editor
Pick a consistent publishing schedule (start with 3x weekly, scale to daily after you have systems)
Build your Carrd landing page with newsletter signup, sample issues, and basic info
Set up Google Alerts for your city, major neighborhoods, local government, and key business districts
Create Your First 5 Issues
Write and schedule your first week of content before you officially launch
Develop your unique voice and format (conversational, not stuffy journalism)
Include a mix of curated news, original reporting, event calendars, and community spotlights
Test different subject lines and send times to optimize open rates
Keep each issue between 500-800 words, takes 3-5 minutes to read
Launch and Seed Your List
Start with friends, family, and personal network (aim for 100 subscribers minimum)
Post in local Facebook groups, Reddit city subreddits, and Nextdoor (follow community rules)
Partner with 2-3 local businesses to include signup QR codes on receipts or in-store
Create a referral incentive like refer 3 friends, get featured in next week's newsletter
Attend local networking events and community meetings to spread the word
Build Content Systems
Create a simple content calendar tracking local events, government meetings, and recurring features
Develop relationships with local business owners, event organizers, and city officials who'll feed you stories
Set aside 60-90 minutes daily for research, writing, and curation (early morning works best)
Build a swipe file of interesting story angles and recurring segments people love
Use voice memos to capture story ideas on the go
Grow to 1,000 Subscribers
Run Facebook and Instagram ads targeting your specific city ($5-10 per day, expect $1-2 cost per subscriber)
Offer something valuable in exchange for signups (free local events guide, hidden gems list)
Cross-promote with complementary local accounts and newsletters
Add newsletter signup information to your email signature and social bios
Write one viral local story per month that people can't help but share
Start Monetizing
Build a simple media kit showing subscriber count, open rates, demographics, and ad options
Reach out to 10-15 local businesses with a soft pitch (coffee shops, real estate agents, restaurants)
Start with affordable sponsor rates ($200-500 for first few sponsors to build social proof)
Include testimonials from early advertisers in your pitch deck
Use Beehiiv's ad network to fill unsold inventory while you build direct relationships
Monetization Strategies
Sponsored Content: $300-1,000 per dedicated feature. At 5,000 subscribers, charge $500 for a 150-word sponsored section. Sell 2-3 weekly for $4,000-12,000/month.
Banner Ads: $50-100 CPM (per thousand opens). With 10,000 subscribers at 50% open rate, that's $250 per placement. Three spots per issue = $3,000+/week.
Paid Subscriptions: $8-12/month for premium content, early event access, or ad-free experience. Convert 5% of 5,000 free subscribers = $2,000-3,000/month recurring.
Event Sponsorships: $500-2,000 per local event for promotion and coverage. Host your own quarterly meetups sponsored by businesses for $1,000-3,000 each.
Classifieds: $50-150 per listing (jobs, real estate, services). Sell 5-10 weekly for $1,000-3,000/month extra revenue.
Marketing Strategies
Facebook Ads: Target your city with carousel ads showing newsletter screenshots. Start at $10/day, scale to $30/day. Expect $1-2 per subscriber. Best for reaching new residents.
Local SEO: Write blog posts about best restaurants, things to do, and moving guides. Rank for local search terms, convert organic traffic to subscribers.
Partnership Strategy: Cross-promote with local Instagram accounts, podcasters, and bloggers. Trade free ads for newsletter mentions. Leave QR code signup cards at coffee shops.
Referral Program: Use Beehiiv's built-in system. Reward referrals with local perks (coffee, gift cards, event tickets) at 3, 5, and 10 signups. Creates viral growth.
PR and Media: Pitch your unique local stories to regional media and journalism podcasts. Position yourself as the city expert. One feature drives hundreds of signups.
Expanding and Improving
Add AI-powered personalization that customizes content based on subscriber's neighborhood, interests, or engagement history using tools like Klaviyo or Mailchimp's segmentation
Launch city-specific mobile app with push notifications for breaking local news and real-time event updates
Expand to nearby cities using the same playbook, creating a regional network of local newsletters under one umbrella brand
Build a local business directory and marketplace where subscribers can discover and support neighborhood shops
Create video content covering local events and behind-the-scenes stories, distributing on YouTube and social media
Develop annual Best of Your City awards and guides that become major revenue generators through nominations and advertising
Offer white-label newsletter services to local organizations, schools, and neighborhood associations
Partner with local government and nonprofits for sponsored public service content and community initiatives
The best time to start was when your local newspaper still had reporters on every beat. The second-best time is right now.
Local newsletters are filling the gap left by declining traditional media, and some creators are generating six-figure revenues while working just a few hours per week. Your community is waiting for someone to tell their stories. Pick your city, set up Beehiiv, and send your first issue this week.
If you have any comments or suggestions on how to improve this newsletter, please let us know by commenting below.
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of various partnership programs, the owner of this publication may receive commissions to linked products or services in this newsletter at no additional expense to the reader.