How the Directory Score Works + Setup Checklist

The public directory is the list of all Letterman publications. It helps people find active newsletters in their town. The new score puts the most active publications near the top. That makes discovery simple, and it builds trust.

 

What “real activity” means

 

The score focuses on two things:

1. How often you send. A steady rhythm matters more than rare bursts.

2. Whether your list is growing. New readers coming in week after week.

 

No tricks. Send on a schedule. Grow a little each week.

 

Why this helps everyone

 

Readers can spot living publications faster. Sponsors can see who is active and worth a look. Publishers can cross-promote with confidence, because the score signals steady sending and real growth.

 

“We want to reward the teams who take care of their publication.”

 

Keep your stats honest: peers vs residents

 

Other publishers will subscribe to you (that is normal). They open a lot of emails, which can inflate your numbers. Keep peer activity separate from resident activity so your results stay clean.

 

1. Create a separate Gmail just for peer subscriptions (example: yourtownnews.peers@gmail.com).

2. Use the envelope “peer subscribe” inside the directory to subscribe to other publications. That flags you as a peer, not a resident.

 

“Use a newsletter-only email for peers so your resident stats stay true.”

 

Setup checklist (do these to rise)

 

1) Pick a steady send rhythm

 

Choose your days (for example, Tue–Thu or Mon–Wed–Fri) and protect them. If you can send only twice a week, that is fine—be consistent.

 

2) Plan one small growth action each week

 

Simple beats fancy. Add co-registration cards when they go live. Swap mentions with a friendly publication. Run a tiny local giveaway. Track what worked and repeat it.

 

3) Separate peers from residents

 

Make the peer Gmail now. Use the envelope button to subscribe to peers from inside the directory. This keeps your reporting clean and your decisions clear.

 

4) Check your city/location

 

Make sure your publication shows the correct city. The directory will be browsed on a map. Accurate location helps the right readers find you.

 

5) Let GC track sources cleanly

 

Global Control will mark whether someone joined from your sign-up page or from a co-registration card (and which publication sent them). Use that info to double down on channels that actually bring new locals.

 

6) Keep your site tidy (bonus for discovery)

 

This is outside the score but helps people find you. Rank high-quality guides on your root domain. Do not rank quick social posts. Link your best guides in your weekly email and on your /latest page.

 

What readers (and sponsors) will see

 

A fast directory with a simple list and a map. Active, growing publications float up. People can browse by place and topic. It feels alive because it is alive.

 

Quick FAQ

 

Does open rate affect the score?
Right now the focus is send frequency and list growth. Stay steady and keep adding new readers.

 

Can I opt out of the directory?
Yes. Auto-inclusion is planned so the list is complete, but you can remove your publication later if you prefer.

 

How do peers subscribe without skewing stats?
They use the envelope button inside the directory with a peer-only Gmail. Those subscribers are tracked separately from residents.

 

A simple example

 

BigTown News sends once a month. Growth is flat.
River Park Daily sends three short issues a week and adds new readers most weeks.

 

Even if BigTown has more total subscribers today, River Park should rank higher because it is active and growing. That is the score working as designed.

 

Next steps (today)

 

1. Choose and calendar your send rhythm.

2. List one weekly growth action (co-reg when live, a simple giveaway, a partner swap).

3. Create your peer Gmail and be ready for the envelope button.

4. Check your city and basics in settings.

5. In GC, look at source lines so you know where last week’s readers came from.