Earning $100k+ Running a Local Media Brand Part Time

Earning $100k+ Running a Local Media Brand Part Time

In this episode of the Local Media HQ Show, host TJ Larkin sits down with Andrew Smith, the founder of Huntsville Explorer, a hyper-local media brand based in Huntsville, Alabama. Andrew shares his journey of transitioning from a planned statewide blog network to running a hyper-focused city newsletter that currently boasts over 25,000 subscribers. The conversation breaks down the mechanics of local media monetization, organic and paid audience growth strategies, and how to effectively build authority within a specific geographic market. Andrew details the exact operational numbers behind Huntsville Explorer, revealing how the brand brought in $55,000 in revenue through the first six months of the year with a target of crossing six figures annually. He explains how he leveraged Facebook "Page Like" ads early on to build a massive 50,000-follower baseline, which served as a crucial psychological tool for establishing legitimacy with local business owners. Additionally, the episode covers the logistics behind his upcoming event, the Huntsville Food Fest, demonstrating how live events can generate substantial profit margins while providing free marketing opportunities for community restaurants. Listeners will walk away with actionable insights regarding local business outreach and advertiser psychology. Andrew explains why targeting companies with dedicated marketing budgets is vastly more efficient than selling to tightly run small businesses, and how naturally featuring brands before a pitch changes the sales dynamic. The episode emphasizes the necessity of automated low-ticket options for smaller local entities to protect your time while scaling your operations. The best place to reach Andrew is via email at andrew@hsv-explorer.com (or andrew@hsvexplorer.com) or by sending a direct message on the Huntsville Explorer Instagram account, where he remains highly active monitoring community outreach. Check out Greetform! https://greetform.com/ [https://greetform.com/] Build your own local media business:https://localmediahq.com/ [https://localmediahq.com/]  https://lightbreak.ai [https://lightbreak.ai/] Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter:https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe [https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe]  Join the Community (Discord):Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ [https://discord.localmediahq.com/] Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 [https://x.com/TJLarkin23] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin [https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1] Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ [https://tjlarkin.com/]  Work With MeFor brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries:tj@localmediahq.com [http://tj@localmediahq.com]   #LocalMedia #NewsletterGrowth #HuntsvilleExplorer #HyperLocal #DigitalMarketing #MediaEntrepreneur #FacebookAds #AudienceBuilding #LocalAdvertising #BusinessAutomation

How From Boise Reached $200k+ a Year Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of our masterclass with Marissa Lavelle, the founder of From Boise. In this segment, host TJ Larkin pushes past basic business theories to uncover the exact day-to-day operations, hiring systems, and backend frameworks that keep a six-figure newsletter running smoothly. If you have ever wondered how to step back from micromanaging your brand and actually delegate tasks to a team, this half of the conversation is for you. Marissa delivers a literal blueprint for recruiting raw talent right out of local university sales clubs, specifically highlighting her experience with Boise State University graduates. She reveals her exact commission structure—detailing why a $500 monthly base pay paired with a 25% commission rate creates the perfect incentive model for a new sales rep. Marissa discusses the critical necessity of setting up a clear two-month grace period to allow team members to properly populate their pipeline without overwhelming immediate pressure. Beyond hiring, Marissa details how she organized her entire workflow history into a dedicated onboarding system using Notion. By integrating tools like Google Docs, Notion, and Canva, her team can independently create content and seamlessly coordinate with corporate partners. She also provides an actionable strategy for client retention, explaining how to format clear sponsor "impact reports" that automatically lock in recurring advertising renewals. Guest Information: Connect with Marissa Lavelle and check out her hyper-local newsletter via the official website at fromboise.com. You can follow their local community updates on Instagram @from.boise or check out Marissa's business insights on LinkedIn and Instagram under Marissa from Boise. To explore the specific branding and in-person outreach strategies discussed in this episode, you can connect with her sales contractor, Leslie E. Johnson, on Instagram @leslie.e.johnson. Check out Greetform! https://greetform.com/ [https://greetform.com/] Build your own local media business: https://localmediahq.com/ [https://localmediahq.com/]  https://lightbreak.ai [https://lightbreak.ai/] Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter:https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe [https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe]  Join the Community (Discord): Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community 👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ [https://discord.localmediahq.com/] Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 [https://x.com/TJLarkin23] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin [https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1] Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ [https://tjlarkin.com/]  Work With Me For brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries:tj@localmediahq.com [http://tj@localmediahq.com]   #LocalMedia #NewsletterBusiness #EmailMarketing #FromBoise #HyperLocalNews #MediaMonetization #SalesContractors #OnboardingSystems #CreatorEconomy #BoiseBusiness

How From Boise Reached $200k+ a Year Part 1

In Part 1 of this episode, host TJ Larkin sits down with Marissa Lavelle, founder of the hyper-local media brand From Boise, to pull back the curtain on building a highly profitable local newsletter. Marissa shares her foundational journey, detailing how she grew her subscriber base to over 25,000 readers and an Instagram following of over 40,000. The conversation targets the financial realities of moving away from a casual solo side hustle to establishing a sustainable local business model pacing toward a six-figure revenue. Marissa highlights the massive growth that occurred after hiring her first dedicated sales contractor, Leslie. Instead of leaning into automated AI tools or digital agency spam bots, Leslie utilizes high-touch, hyper-personalized email outreach and active networking at local restaurant and venue openings to win over corporate sponsors. Marissa breaks down the exact sales mindset required to build relationships with local business owners and how in-person local presence serves as a primary competitive advantage. The core lesson of this first half focuses on simplifying your business structure to capture financial traction. Marissa candidly talks about the necessity of shifting out of a content writer's shoes and stepping into a true CEO mindset to better monetize local news. Her primary piece of advice for early-stage digital publishers is to stop obsessing over huge subscriber metrics, emphasizing that even a small list of 200 highly dedicated community subscribers offers incredible, pitchable value to local advertisers. Guest Information: Connect with Marissa Lavelle and check out her hyper-local newsletter via the official website at fromboise.com. You can follow their local community updates on Instagram @from.boise or check out Marissa's business insights on LinkedIn and Instagram under Marissa from Boise. To explore the specific branding and in-person outreach strategies discussed in this episode, you can connect with her sales contractor, Leslie E. Johnson, on Instagram @leslie.e.johnson. Build your own local media business:https://localmediahq.com/ [https://localmediahq.com/]  https://lightbreak.ai [https://lightbreak.ai/] Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter:https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe [https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe]  Join the Community (Discord):Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ [https://discord.localmediahq.com/] Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 [https://x.com/TJLarkin23] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin [https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1] Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ [https://tjlarkin.com/]  Work With MeFor brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries:tj@localmediahq.com [http://tj@localmediahq.com]   #LocalMedia #NewsletterBusiness #EmailMarketing #FromBoise #HyperLocalNews #MediaMonetization #SalesContractors #OnboardingSystems #CreatorEconomy #BoiseBusiness

How to Create 3 Monetization Buckets as a Local Media Brand

In this episode, TJ Larkin sits down with Ethan Brooks, founder of the Austin Business Review, to explore the mechanics of building a successful local media company. Drawing on his background as an editorial writer at The Hustle and a founding team member at Hampton, Ethan breaks down why scaling to multiple cities isn't the only path to a multi-million dollar media business. The conversation sheds light on why a deep, hyper-local focus can build massive authority and out-earn traditional ad-supported national models. Ethan shares the exact framework he used to replace his corporate six-figure salary within nine months of launching his local newsletter, shifting the focus from ad space sales to local consulting services. He walks through the "newsletter engine" model, which is a clear, three-part monetization blueprint consisting of free distribution, front-end entry products, and high-ticket back-end services. This breakdown illustrates how an audience of local business owners can yield significantly higher value per reader than traditional display advertising. Viewers will walk away with actionable advice on mapping out their own free, front-end, and back-end offerings to ensure robust business operations. Ethan explains how data on founder lifestyles reveals that business owners often overestimate the capital required to achieve financial independence, meaning localized operations are fully capable of funding a dream lifestyle. The episode provides a clear blueprint for entrepreneurs looking to build sustainable, deeply rooted media brands right in their own hometowns. To get in touch with Ethan Brooks or subscribe to his local business newsletter, visit the Austin Business Review website at austinbusinessreview.com or connect with him directly on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ethanbrooks. Build your own local media business:https://localmediahq.com/ [https://localmediahq.com/]  https://lightbreak.ai [https://lightbreak.ai/] Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter:https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe [https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe]  Join the Community (Discord):Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ [https://discord.localmediahq.com/] Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 [https://x.com/TJLarkin23] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin [https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1] Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ [https://tjlarkin.com/]  Work With MeFor brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries:tj@localmediahq.com [http://tj@localmediahq.com]   #LocalMedia #NewsletterStrategy #AustinBusinessReview #MediaMonetization #TheHustle #CommunityBuilding #BusinessGrowth #FounderMindset #Entrepreneurship #HyperLocal

Why AI is a Boon for Local Media

In this episode of the Local Media HQ show, host TJ Larkin sits down with Paul Gewuerz, founder of LocalPod and creator of LocalPod Studio. The conversation focuses on the modern intersection of AI technology and the legacy local media landscape. They discuss how traditional media companies are adapting to a rapidly changing digital ecosystem, the shifting dynamics of audience trust, and how new operational models can help older local brands survive. The duo shares insights into how artificial intelligence is changing operational workflows overnight, moving from simple assistance to comprehensive design and development capabilities. Paul breaks down how mission-driven career journalists are navigating the tension between investigative storytelling and the commercial realities of running a business. They highlight real-world success stories, including publishers using AI to run multiple publications and large legacy brands leveraging advanced coding setups to stay ahead of the technical curve. The key takeaway is that AI shouldn't be viewed as a threat to local journalism, but rather as an operational "lightsaber" that handles tedious backend tasks. By reducing time spent on administrative duties like database sorting, bookkeeping, and formatting, media teams can dedicate 100% of their energy to high-value reporting and community relationships. This creates a highly efficient business model where proprietary, ground-level local news remains irreplaceable by big tech models. To connect with Paul Gewuerz, learn more about his insights on local media, or try out his platform, visit the LocalPod website at localpod.co or email him directly at paul@localpod.co. You can also find him on LinkedIn under Paul Gowertz or listen to his podcast "Small Press, Big Ideas" on all major streaming applications. For those interested in utilizing the LocalPod Studio platform, Paul offers a 20% discount on the first month using the promo code TJ20 at checkout. Build your own local media business:https://localmediahq.com/ [https://localmediahq.com/]  https://lightbreak.ai [https://lightbreak.ai/] Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter:https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe [https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe]  Join the Community (Discord):Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ [https://discord.localmediahq.com/] Follow My JourneyTwitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 [https://x.com/TJLarkin23] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin [https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1] Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ [https://tjlarkin.com/]  Work With MeFor brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries:tj@localmediahq.com [http://tj@localmediahq.com]   #LocalMedia #Journalism #ArtificialIntelligence #Podcasting #Newsletters #MediaBusiness #ContentStrategy #SoftwareDevelopment #LegacyMedia #PaulGewuerz