Transitioning from Instagram Page to Media Company

Transitioning from Instagram Page to Media Company

Check out Greetform here: https://greetform.com/ [https://greetform.com/]  In this episode, TJ Larkin interviews Travis from What's on Goldie to discuss how he built a massive local media presence on Australia's Gold Coast. Travis shares his journey from managing the platform as a side project to quitting his full-time tech sales job to go all-in on his media business. The conversation focuses heavily on how local publishers can leverage organic Instagram growth, integrate automated event calendars, and transition from a simple social media page into a highly profitable, multi-channel local media empire. Travis breaks down the exact mechanics behind his explosive Instagram growth, revealing why unbranded, raw carousels using native Instagram text massively outperform highly polished, heavily branded corporate content. He also discusses his innovative approach to managing local content creators through a custom-built portal, solving the common headache of content creation while scaling up inbound advertising demand from local venues. Additionally, they explore a brilliant strategy for utilizing Facebook group onboarding questions to rapidly grow a high-open-rate local newsletter. Viewers will walk away with actionable insights on monetization, including how to price and structure guaranteed event listings, carousel inclusions, and long-term multi-channel media packages. Travis emphasizes the long-term value of building community brand equity first and leveraging automation tools on the back end to keep operations lean while scaling into new geographic locations. Connect with Travis and check out his work via the What's on Goldie website at whatsongoldie.com. You can reach out directly via email at travis@whatsongoldie.com, follow his updates on Instagram (@whatsongoldie), or connect with him directly inside the Local Media HQ Discord community. 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 #InstagramGrowth #LocalPublishing #DigitalMediaBusiness #Hyperlocal #ContentCreatorEconomy #InstagramCarousels #NewsletterGrowth #WhatsonGoldie #MediaMonetization

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