Publisher Resource
Start a Local Newsletter in Your Community
Thinking about creating a local newsletter? Here is the publishing platform I use for my own local publication and what I have learned from actually doing it.
I use Letterman to publish my local newsletters. This page contains affiliate links.
Real Local Publication
The Madison Memo
A weekly local newsletter serving Madison, Alabama and the publication where I use Letterman in the real world.
Before the Software
What Actually Goes Into a Local Newsletter?
The technology matters but it is only one part of the publication. A useful local newsletter starts with a community and a reason for people to keep opening it.
Choose Your Community
Decide who you want to serve and which city, town or region you want to know well.
Create Useful Content
Give readers a reason to open every issue with information they can actually use.
Build Your Audience
Develop direct relationships with people who want to hear from your publication.
Choose Your Tools
Use technology to make publishing and managing the newsletter easier.
My Experience
I Was Using Letterman Before There Was an Offer
When I started building my own local publication I went through the same decisions every new publisher faces. What should I use? How should I organize everything? How do I keep publishing consistently?
I started with more traditional email marketing software and eventually moved my local newsletter to Letterman. It is the platform I continue to use today for my local newsletters.
That context matters. I did not start using Letterman because someone offered me an affiliate commission. I was already using the platform.
The developer behind Letterman now has an offer aimed specifically at people who want to build local newsletters. That makes it relevant to the people I already help through Find Local Newsletters.
The Platform
What Letterman Can Help With
Letterman is built around newsletter publishing rather than trying to make a general email marketing tool behave like a local publication.
Newsletter Publishing
Create, organize and send newsletter issues from one publishing workflow.
Web Publishing
Give newsletter content an online home that readers can visit outside the inbox.
Content Assistance
Use tools that can make researching and assembling a regular issue easier.
AI Assistance
Use AI to help brainstorm, research, organize and draft parts of the publishing process.
Local Directory
Add a local business resource as your publication and audience mature.
Monetization Tools
Create more ways to work with local businesses as your publication grows.
Some capabilities may be offered as optional upgrades. Review the current offer carefully so you know exactly what is included before purchasing.
Using AI Well
AI Can Help. You Are Still the Publisher.
AI can be useful for researching ideas, organizing information, summarizing source material, brainstorming sections and speeding up repetitive parts of publishing.
But your advantage as a local publisher is not that you can generate more words. Your advantage is knowing your community.
You notice the restaurant sign going up. You hear what neighbors are asking about. You understand which events matter and which issues keep coming up around town.
A Natural Extension
Newsletter + Local Directory
I like the idea of connecting a local newsletter with a directory because the two resources solve different local problems.
Newsletter
What is happening?
Help residents discover news, events, openings, changes and other useful local information.
Directory
Where should I go?
Help readers find restaurants, services, organizations and other useful places in the community.
You do not need a directory to launch your newsletter. Start with the publication. Add more when it creates real value for the audience.
The Part Software Cannot Do
Buying Software Does Not Give You an Audience
Good tools can make the work easier but they cannot replace the work that creates a publication people trust.
It will not choose your community.
You still need to decide who the publication is really for.
It will not earn reader trust.
Trust comes from being useful, accurate and consistent over time.
It will not build local relationships.
You still need to connect with readers, organizations and businesses.
It will not guarantee revenue.
Monetization works better after you have built something people value.
Is It a Fit?
Who I Think Letterman Makes Sense For
It May Be a Good Fit If…
- You are starting a local newsletter.
- You want tools built around newsletter publishing.
- You are interested in eventually adding a local directory.
- You want AI assistance without giving up editorial control.
- You would rather avoid piecing together too many separate tools.
You May Not Need It If…
- You already love your current newsletter platform.
- You only need a basic email sending tool.
- You want AI to run the entire publication for you.
- You expect instant passive income.
- You are not interested in consistently serving a local audience.
Keep It Simple
What I Would Do If I Were Starting Today
1. Pick a Community
Choose somewhere you know or genuinely want to serve.
2. Choose a Platform
Letterman is what I use but it is not the only way to publish.
3. Publish Something Useful
Do not wait for the entire business to be perfectly planned.
4. Find Your First Readers
Start with real people and real community relationships.
5. Keep Learning
Use the free resources here to improve as the publication grows.
The Platform I Use
Interested in Letterman?
I use Letterman for my own local publication and the developer now offers a package aimed specifically at people building local newsletters.
Take a look at the current package, what is included and any optional upgrades. Buy the pieces that make sense for the publication you are actually trying to build.
See the Current Letterman Offer
The purchase is processed through JVZoo. Letterman and its developer provide the software. If you purchase through my link I may receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Why I Am Sharing It
A Tool I Actually Use
Find Local Newsletters exists to help people discover local publications and help publishers start, grow and monetize their own.
Part of that is sharing useful tools. Letterman happens to be one I actually use.
That does not mean it is automatically right for everyone. My goal is to show you what I am using and give you enough context to decide whether it fits what you want to build.
If it fits, great. If it does not, keep learning and start with whatever tools make sense for you.
Rob
Founder, Find Local Newsletters
Start Where You Are
Your Community Already Has Stories
It already has businesses, events and people trying to figure out what is happening around them. A useful local newsletter can bring those things together.