📈 Local Newsletter Growth

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How’s your week going?

I’ve had two instances recently that have me thinking about the same thing - reading comprehension skills are truly undervalued.

Whenever I have an encounter with someone who proves to be lacking in this essential skillset, I’m always surprised and realize that I don’t value it enough.

Anyways, today I’m answering a reader question.

But first, pointing out that I’ve got another sponsor today. So, give ‘em a click to check out their offer and get entered to win ALL the ads earnings for the month.

Later in this email I’ll share how much the ads have brought in for August so far (minus the final two ad reports cause they’re still pending).

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Ways To Grow A Local Newsletter

Not too long ago I had a request to give more details on how I’m acquiring subscribers for my local newsletter.

I started with Facebook Ads by running a Leads campaign. This works by having the CTA button bring up a Facebook lead form where people enter in their name and email address.

I’ve also found the biggest local groups on Facebook and joined those as a way to promote the newsletter. But I have to be stealthy about it cause the admins all charge to promote a business in the group. And they consider pretty much anything with a link in it as a “business promotion.”

This means I have to resort to things like replying to other people’s posts and dropping a link (when relevant) and editing posts that have been approved.

It’s also really weird because all the big Vegas groups are run by local realtors.

So those are the two main ways that I’ve used so far.

I also was able to take control of a local subreddit because the moderator was inactive. Haven’t put that to use yet, but it’s definitely something that I will be doing.

I also drop links in the other local subreddits, when it feels relevant.

Once, before it got WAY too hot here for summer, we went to a local farmers market to network with people and got some signups that way. Here there are business that have booths with nothing to sell but promote other things, so we may get a booth in the fall or winter to see if we can get signups that way.

I’ve also considered running Google Ads, but haven’t done that yet cause we’re trying to stay lean until revenue increases.

Of course, there’s plenty of other ways to grow the list like partnering with local businesses and advertising in local publications. Or even paying for Beehiiv Boosts.

As I do more stuff like that, I’ll share how it’s working.

You like growth, right?

Beehiiv Ads Earnings Update

Okay, so overall I have more ads booked for August than in July. And I think the total July earnings were $399.20.

Keep in mind that earnings do not show up until it’s been at least 72 hours since an ad ran in a newsletter.

This is what my dashboard shows for earnings so far in August

Though I expected July to cross $400 (sooooo close), I think it’s clear that August will definitely sail past that amount.

And here’s something interesting - I had a request to consider NOT doing monthly giveaways of the money but INSTEAD give it away each year right before Christmas to one person.

Good idea or bad?

It would be only one winner, but that person would win way more.

I think it’s a bad idea since monthly means better chance of winning, but open to your thoughts.

Next Time…

Upcoming topics: more tips and ideas on Etsy and KDP, how it’s going with my chatGPT fiction ebook and the AI music thingie, and growing an ecomm site.

Otherwise, if you have a topic you want covered just reply and let me know.

Stay awesome,

Shawna

P.S. Beehiiv recently changed the newsletter game - you now get a custom app for your newsletter (in addition to the first 2,500 subs for free). Haven’t turned the app for this newsletter on yet though.

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