Nap Town Scoop - A local newsletter that generates $200k annually

Founded by Ryan Stanton, Nap Town Scoop is a local email newsletter focused on Annapolis, Maryland. It provides residents with curated news, events, and stories, aiming to keep the community informed and engaged.

Why It Works

The newsletter's success stems from its hyper-local focus, high-quality content, and effective use of Facebook ads for subscriber acquisition. By becoming a recognized voice in the community, Ryan has leveraged local events for visibility and engagement.

Revenue & Traction

Ryan has grown his subscriber base to about 18,000, which is roughly half the town's population. The newsletter has generated $200,000 in revenue annually.

Founding Story

Ryan started Nap Town Scoop in August 2020 after realizing there was a gap in local news coverage. With a background in marketing and no local connections, he turned to Facebook ads to build his subscriber base from scratch, quickly realizing the potential of local newsletters.

Business Playbook

1. Set up a landing page describing your version of Nap Town Scoop - A local newsletter that generates $200k annually to gauge interest. 2. Run small-scale ads to drive traffic to your landing page and collect email signups. 3. Reach out to people who signed up to understand their specific needs. 4. Build your initial offering based on the feedback from potential customers. 5. Launch with a limited-time founding member discount to create urgency.

Additional Information

Ryan recommends using tools like Notion for content organization and Beehive for newsletter management. He emphasizes the importance of having a referral program to incentivize current subscribers to share the newsletter. His first incentive was a birthday shout-out in the newsletter, which proved to be very popular.