Why is a city newsletter better than a niche topic for beginners?
Starting with a city newsletter results in much cheaper subscribers and higher engagement because neighbors are naturally curious about what is happening in their own backyard.
Chad explained this mindset during the Titanium Tech Call on January 9th, 2026. He noted that people generally care more about local restaurants and upcoming events than they do about very specific subjects like home maintenance or lawn care.
By focusing on the whole city first, you appeal to every resident in town. This approach allows you to grow your list much faster than if you only talked about one small subject that only a few people might be interested in.
What is the "Authority Foundation" and why do you need it?
The Authority Foundation is the trust you build by being the person who knows about local news, giving you the ability to launch other profitable topics later.
This was a major point during the Brian Anderson closing webinar on January 9th, 2026. Once you have a large community following, you can easily add "Sister" publications for things like food or local pet rescue.
Your audience will already trust your name enough to join these new projects. This foundation ends the struggle of trying to find a new group of people from scratch every time you have a new idea, giving you a network of newsletters that all support each other.
How does a city newsletter help you find business owners?
When you grow a general city newsletter, about 15 to 20 percent of your subscribers will be local business owners, which means you acquire your best leads for pennies.
During the Local Newsletter Hour on January 5th, 2026, Chad pointed out that business owners are residents too, and they read local news just like everyone else. Because they naturally join your list to stay informed about their town, the result is a goldmine of potential advertisers who already know your brand.
Instead of having to cold-call strangers to sell your services, you are now talking to people who already see your work every week. This relationship results in much easier conversations about sponsorships and helping them get more exposure for their own businesses.
What happens if your own town is very small?
If your hometown has a small population, you should consider building your newsletter for a nearby larger city or even the place you dream of living one day.
While some members have successfully dominated towns with as few as 9,000 people, the goal is usually to find a market with at least 50,000 residents. Picking a larger market results in more room to scale your business and find more advertisers.
Selecting the right location now gives you the ability to build a real asset. By establishing yourself as the local media expert in a growing area, you are building something that big media companies might want to buy from you for a high price in the future.
