Local Media HQ

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

TJ welcomes Alec Kremins, Beehive's Partnership Manager and founder of the JLM Scoop, a local Jerusalem newsletter with nearly 6,000 subscribers. Alec shares his journey of starting the newsletter while onboarding at Beehive, how he validated the idea in a new city, and why local newsletters can open doors—even beyond revenue. From sponsor negotiations to delegation and audience building, this episode is packed with real-world tactics.

Alec offers deep insight into his monetization strategy, explaining how he secures sponsors like a real estate firm, manages a lean operation with freelance help, and focuses on sustainable growth. He also reflects on the limits of local newsletter revenue when treated as a side hustle and explains why ownership and strategic partnerships are crucial.

Tune in for ideas on expanding into lead gen, launching agency services, testing audience segmentation for monetization, and even using newsletters to support local matchmaking and events.

Reach Alec at:

🔗 Website: beehive.com/partners

💬 LinkedIn: Alec Kremins

🐦 Twitter/X: @AlecKrem

#LocalNewsletter

#NewsletterGrowth

#BeehiveNewsletters

#MonetizeYourNewsletter

#EmailMarketing

#JerusalemStartups

#SideHustleSuccess

#ContentMarketing

#NewsletterTips

#DigitalEntrepreneur

Feeling stagnant with newsletter revenue? TJ Larkin explains a new path: charge $300 for a half-day, face-to-face crash course on ChatGPT basics, marketed straight to the subscribers who already trust him.

The episode breaks down his market-validation call with another publisher, the city-government referral loop, and why timing finally favors beginner AI education. You’ll also hear a mini-tutorial on prompting ChatGPT to design your curriculum and v0 to spin up a sleek site that converts.

Takeaways: start small, iterate fast, and let each workshop seed future ad or consulting deals. Reach TJ directly via X/Twitter @TJLarkin23 to learn more or partner on local events.

#AI101 #LocalBusinessGrowth #NewsletterMonetization #FacebookAdsTips #NoCodeWebsites #SmallBusinessAI #DigitalMarketingStrategy #CreatorEconomy #WorkshopRevenue #TJLarkinPodcast

In this episode, TJ Larkin reconnects with John Apolinar of Scottsdale Scoop for a deep dive into practical strategies for growing a local newsletter business. They discuss what’s been working for John over the past two months, particularly his high-performing combination of Instagram DMs and in-person networking through the Chamber of Commerce.

John breaks down how he tailors quick, engaging Instagram messages to reach high-ticket local businesses like med spas, lawyers, and luxury home builders. He also shares how he builds meaningful relationships at local events without coming off as salesy—and why that authenticity pays off. The two also explore the value of exclusivity in ad deals and pitching annual sponsorships with real marketing ROI.

Whether you're building a local media brand or just looking to improve your ad sales approach, this episode is full of smart, actionable ideas. Connect with John Apolinar on Instagram @scottsdalescoop or learn more about his newsletter at Scottsdale Scoop.

#LocalMedia

#NewsletterMarketing

#ScottsdaleScoop

#AdSalesStrategy

#InstagramMarketing

#LocalBusinessGrowth

#ChamberOfCommerce

#PodcastMarketing

#ContentMonetization

#MediaEntrepreneur

In this episode, TJ Larkin is joined once again by Landon from Wichita Life—a returning guest and a pioneer in the local newsletter space. They dive deep into the operational side of running a successful local media business, including ad placement strategies, pricing models, and campaign management using simple tools like Google Sheets.

Landon shares his evolution from an Instagram account to a full-fledged media brand with 30,000 email subscribers and multiple recurring sponsors like the City of Wichita. He breaks down how he sells primary, secondary, and baseline ads, how he prices them, and how he juggles ad slots across four weekly newsletters.

He also details the process of launching a job board using Niceboard and how it contributes passive income while requiring minimal overhead. Plus, they talk event strategy—from annual meetups to innovative concepts like "Pitch a Friend" dating events—all aimed at increasing community engagement and brand visibility.

Contact Landon / Wichita Life:

Website: wichitalifeict.com

Job Board: jobs.wichitalifeict.com

Instagram: @wichitalifeict

#NewsletterBusiness

#LocalMedia

#WichitaLife

#CreatorEconomy

#EmailMarketing

#DigitalAds

#JobBoard

#CommunityEvents

#MediaMonetization

#ContentCreation

Local‑media veteran Kyle Scott joins TJ Larkin to unpack how a tiny beach‑town newsletter ballooned into a 17,000‑subscriber powerhouse—and why owning your audience matters more than ever in 2025. From his Philly sports‑blog roots to mastering Beehive, Kyle reveals the playbook for transforming passion projects into real businesses.

He breaks down the forks in the road every publisher faces: stay hyper‑local and become the town’s go‑to voice, spin off a related business, or roll multiple newsletters into a regional network that attracts five‑ and six‑figure advertisers. You’ll hear battle‑tested tactics with Facebook ads, savvy survey questions, and the surprising power of IRL events.

Key takeaways include using newsletters as leverage for partnerships, why B2B niches can out‑earn B2C, and practical ways AI can act as your research assistant—without dulling your original voice. Expect a candid look at revenue models, community building, and surviving algorithm shifts.

Guest contacts: Follow Kyle on X @KyleScottL, listen to the Monetize Media podcast, and explore his newest venture at BuyingSandlot.com.

#LocalNewsletter

#MediaEntrepreneurship

#BeehiveTips

#AudienceGrowth

#B2BMarketing

#YouthSportsBusiness

#KyleScott

#MonetizeMedia

#BuyingSandlot

#TJTalks

TJ Larkin shares a powerful concept that could revolutionize local newsletter monetization: the negative CAC model. Based on insights from a B2B newsletter called The Assist, TJ explains how strategic onboarding emails with affiliate-style offers can actually earn more than the subscriber acquisition cost in the first week.

He illustrates how this could work in the local context using examples like med spas and dentists—businesses with high customer lifetime value (LTV) that may be willing to pay for introductions to the right audience. Through hypothetical but compelling math, TJ shows how even a 1% conversion rate on a strong welcome offer could zero out your Facebook ad spend.

The episode finishes with practical advice on segmentation, automation, and surveying to match offers with the right subscriber demographics. This isn’t just theory—TJ is actively building and testing this model and invites others to collaborate or share insights.

📬 Contact TJ: localnewsletterinsider.com

#LocalNewsletter

#NegativeCAC

#MediaMonetization

#NewsletterGrowth

#CustomerAcquisition

#EmailMarketing

#DigitalMedia

#LocalAdvertising

#MarketingStrategy

#SubscriberGrowth

TJ Larkin interviews Ethan Realander about his journey from finance to entrepreneurship through his Rolling Suds power washing franchise and Westchester Weekly newsletter. Ethan shares how he's acquiring subscribers for just 20-25 cents each and his vision for creating multiple revenue streams through these complementary businesses.

The conversation covers newsletter design, content creation, and community engagement strategies. Ethan explains how he's building a team while TJ provides advice on advertising, networking, and scaling subscriber acquisition. Key takeaways include starting before you're "ready" and how local newsletters can serve as powerful marketing channels for related businesses.

Connect with Ethan Realander at Westchester Weekly or through his Rolling Suds franchise in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT.

#LocalNewsletter

#SmallBusinessGrowth

#ContentMarketing

#Entrepreneurship

#FranchiseOwnership

#LocalMedia

#NewsletterStrategy

#EmailMarketing

#CommunityBuilding
#BusinessNetworking

TJ Larkin interviews Phat Chiem, founder of The 518 newsletter serving Albany, NY. With a background from the Chicago Tribune and Yahoo, Phat combines professional journalism with content curation, creating original stories alongside local event listings. This approach built 2,300+ subscribers in one year without significant ad spend.

The 518's distinct branding draws on Albany's history, improving engagement and reducing acquisition costs. Phat shares growth tactics including leveraging Reddit communities, bartering with local businesses, and creating partnerships with events like First Friday Albany to build brand legitimacy.

The conversation explores monetization beyond traditional ads, including creative sponsorships and content collaborations that support other business ventures. Phat discusses how his marketing agency, StoryCraft, benefits from the newsletter's audience and outlines plans for expansion into events, podcasting, and niche newsletters.

Connect with Phat Chiem on Twitter @phatxchiem or at the518.com. Phat and his wife run StoryCraft, a boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation and brand storytelling.

#LocalJournalism #NewsletterBusiness #CommunityMedia #ContentCreation #LocalMarketing #MediaEntrepreneur #Newsletters #LocalBranding #AlbanyNY #HyperlocalNews

TJ Larkin interviews Phat Chiem, founder of The 518 newsletter serving Albany, NY. With a background from the Chicago Tribune and Yahoo, Phat combines professional journalism with content curation, creating original stories alongside local event listings. This approach built 2,300+ subscribers in one year without significant ad spend.

The 518's distinct branding draws on Albany's history, improving engagement and reducing acquisition costs. Phat shares growth tactics including leveraging Reddit communities, bartering with local businesses, and creating partnerships with events like First Friday Albany to build brand legitimacy.

The conversation explores monetization beyond traditional ads, including creative sponsorships and content collaborations that support other business ventures. Phat discusses how his marketing agency, StoryCraft, benefits from the newsletter's audience and outlines plans for expansion into events, podcasting, and niche newsletters.

Connect with Phat Chiem on Twitter @phatxchiem or at the518.com. Phat and his wife run StoryCraft, a boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation and brand storytelling.

#LocalJournalism #NewsletterBusiness #CommunityMedia #ContentCreation #LocalMarketing #MediaEntrepreneur #Newsletters #LocalBranding #AlbanyNY #HyperlocalNews