#36 - Ryan Sneddon: Building a Local Newsletter Empire
Listen Here: Apple | Spotify
My guest today is Ryan Sneddon. Ryan is the founder of Naptown Scoop, a local newsletter covering the goings on in Annapolis, Maryland. Ryan started the newsletter about a year ago and has grown it to over 6,000 subscribers. While Annapolis is Ryan's current focus, he has big plans. His vision is to own hundreds of local newsletters covering the important events in cities all across the United States.
In this episode, Ryan and I discussed the problems with most journalism. Ryan explained how to start a local newsletter. He shared everything from strategy to mechanics to money. We also talked self improvement, including the power of consistency, making friends on Twitter, and the unique strategy Ryan uses to appreciate important moments.
Selected links from the show:
Ryan's Twitter
Naptown Scoop newsletter, Instagram, and Twitter
John W Rich on Twitter
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse: A Chesapeake Bay Icon by David Gendell
Show notes:
01:30 - Why local newsletters are interesting
02:30 - What is The Naptown Scoop?
07:15 - What is the benefit of running a local newsletter
08:45 - Why journalism is broken
13:30 - How to add personality to your writing
16:35 - Ryan's relationship with local news publications
24:05 - How much journalism is involved with a local newsletter?
24:50 - How to start a local newsletter
27:25 - Determining what news is important
32:45 - Getting involved in local government
34:45 - Why you should publish even if you think your work isn't great
35:30 - Consistency is the key to improvement
39:10 - Can you start a local newsletter as a side hustle?
43:45 - Ryan's vision for building a local newsletter empire
48:40 - Are local newsletters a good business?
50:25 - The most fun part of publishing a local newsletter
53:25 - Why you should make friends on Twitter
57:51 - Ryan's advice to a recent college grad
58:02 - Ryan's favorite mental model
59:22 - Ryan's favorite Twitter follow
59:49 - Ryan's current read
1:01:24 - The kindest thing anyone has done for Ryan
1:04:30 - Where you can connect with Ryan
