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Hi newsletter operators!
So trying something new starting today. Going to start sending out a newsletter after each episode I release. Doing this for a few reasons:
It’s been super difficult time wise to focus on creating a specific newsletter with all the pieces I want in it. And so I’ve been slacking. So instead of doing nothing, I think giving quick ones with the takeaways from specific episodes should be valuable.
Plus notifying you when new ones come out. Win win here. And I do still plan on trying to put out more full newsletters with a lot of my thoughts that aren’t in the episodes, but this way I don’t have to stress about getting them out.
Let me know what you think about getting them this way a couple times a week (whenever I record really).
And make sure to let me know if you want to be a guest. If you read this, you likely would be great!
Last day of soccer. Getting too hot here in Austin already!
In this episode, I sat down with Landon from Wichita Life for our second chat to dig deeper into the business side of running a successful local newsletter. As the operator of a newsletter approaching its five-year anniversary with nearly 30,000 subscribers, Landon shared invaluable insights that can help you grow your own local newsletter business.
Top Takeaways
Strategically Structure Your Ad Inventory
Create a tiered ad system to maximize revenue potential
Landon uses three distinct positions:
Primary: Top placement with logo inclusion
Secondary: Mid-newsletter placement with image
Baseline: Text-only at the bottom before events section
Price points vary by position (primary costs ~25% more than secondary)
Landon: "I set it up just like I think most of us do. Have the primary ad at the top, secondary is a little bit further down, same format with an image. And then baseline is like kind of the bottom before I get to my events."
This approach creates natural upsell opportunities for advertisers
Job Boards Can Be Profitable With Minimal Effort
Landon generates thousands in net profit annually with minimal work
Using Nice Board platform ($179-229/month)
Two-tiered pricing structure:
Regular listings: $99
Featured listings: $199 (includes newsletter mention)
"It's just free money," Landon explained
Pro tip: "Seed" your board with existing job listings before promoting
Only takes 5 minutes to add jobs by importing from Indeed
Community Events Build Brand Recognition
Annual anniversary events deliver tremendous value through networking
His recent event:
Broke even financially
Distributed 110 branded hats to influential locals
"That's a net positive for me," Landon pointed out
Partner with established local event organizers to extend reach
Sponsor "best of" awards to get your logo displayed year-round in local businesses
The Power of Organized Ad Management
Biggest challenge: Managing ad inventory across four weekly newsletters
Current solution: Simple Google Sheet tracking system
For scaling operations:
Consider HoneyBook for streamlined workflow
Provides proposal → contract → payment systems
Keep flexibility in your schedule
"I don't have every ad slot filled up because sometimes you never know." - Landon
This allows for last-minute advertiser requests or self-promotion
Looking to the Future
Specialized real estate content opportunities. Having a full real estate section with multiple property listings in it:
High-end home features ($1M+)
Affordable properties
Interesting Airbnb listings
Multiple potential sponsors:
Real estate agents
Brokerages
Title companies
Mortgage businesses
Key to growth: Diversify revenue streams while providing genuine value
Another awesome episode with Landon sharing some great insights. Make sure to listen/watch and let me know what you think. Hopefully we’ll have him back on soon!
I remember using this stuff. Memory unlocked
How I Can Help You Succeed
Looking for more from me? Here are the ways I can help:
🎙️ The Podcast - Deep-dive conversations with successful newsletter operators sharing their playbooks and lessons learned | Link
📧 This Newsletter - Quick, actionable tips delivered straight to your inbox every week | Link
🧠 1:1 Consulting - Personalized guidance tailored to your specific newsletter challenges Link
🚀 Launch Accelerator - A structured program to help you go from idea to profitable newsletter in record time | Link
Discover all these resources and more at localnewsletterinsider.com
That’s all I got for this issue. If there’s anything you want me to cover or talk about for the next edition, reply to this and let me know!
And reply and let me know if you want to be a guest on the show. Just tell me what you’re up to, and assuming you’re a good fit, I’ll have you on (if you’re reading this, you’re most likely a good fit).
How'd I do?
Thanks for reading Local Newsletter Insider! Please reply and let me know what you think, or anything you think I could do better. Love to get some actionable feedback.
