Automating a $500k a Year Local Media Brand

Matt Moody breaks down how he built Salina 311 into a “community intelligence platform,” reaching over 30,000 members in a town of about 60,000, and generating north of $500,000 in annual revenue. Instead of treating it as “just a newsletter,” Matt explains how multiple distribution channels (email, web, Facebook, SMS) and heavy automation shaped the growth engine, plus why he focuses on objective community data to earn trust. They also dig into monetization: paid memberships, limited ad inventory with rising rates, sponsored coverage for teams/events, and a self-serve ad approach that increasingly drives inbound demand. Guest info: Matt Moody Fractals Network: fractalsnetwork.com Salina 311: salina311 Events platform: events.salina311.com Wilmington community example: communitydashboard.org Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: 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/ Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ Work With Me For brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries: tj@localmediahq.com #LocalNews #NewsletterGrowth #CommunityBuilding #MediaBusiness #MembershipModel #LocalAdvertising #CivicTech #Automation #SMSMarketing #EventsMarketing