My goal at the start of 2025 was simple… Get my local newsletter from 20,000 to 40,000 subscribers by the end of the year. Today we just crossed 41,200. And somehow, along the way, this little local newsletter also passed 6 figures in revenue… all from advertising for local businesses. Wild to think this started 20 months ago with no plan other than “let’s see what happens.” Now the new goal is even bigger! 75,000 readers by the end of 2026. And over $500,000 in rev. Do you think it's possible?

Part 8 of building my local newsletter to $1M in profit. The newsletter currently makes $10–12K/month. But a lot changed this month... I talked to Alex Hormozi for 8 minutes. Lost $6,000 and decided to give away $15,000. Here's everything that happened: (And what I learned) To catch you up, we currently have: • 40,000 email subscribers • And 80,000 social followers. I decided to start a Christmas lights company on the back of that audience. The problem? I was suddenly running two completely different businesses... All just to try and make $1M a year. So after the call with Alex, the decision became clear: shut it down and go all in on the newsletter. Here’s how it went down. I bought Alex’s $6,000 package and somehow ended up on a live call with him. And if that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, Leila joined too. Key takeaways from the call: • Don’t chase shiny objects (Christmas lights was one) • Don’t expand to other cities or niches • Focus only on growing Winnipeg Digest to 250,000+ subscribers first • Just by selling ads, and that alone can be a $1M/year business So the next day, I shut down the lights business. Gave away my clients to another local company in exchange for them doing the takedowns later this season. Lost about $6K in gear and materials. But gained clarity that’s worth way more. Now the focus is simple: Get Winnipeg Digest from 40,000 → 100,000 subscribers. How I’m doing it: • Self-liquidating offer • Sell local guides on the thank-you page and welcome sequence If it costs me $1 to get a subscriber, and I sell a $23 local guide... I just need 1 in 23 people to buy it to break even, and then I can scale infinitely. To go along with the SLO, we’re going all in on growth! We’re giving away $15,000 in prizes over 25 days... Partnering with 25 local businesses to run a new giveaway every single day this holiday season. The goal? Grow our social following fast... and use Manychat automations to convert those followers into newsletter subscribers. Overall, learned some tough lessons. But wouldn't do it any other way... Now, comment below what you think of the plan? And were the Christmas Lights a dumb idea? Tagging the boys for feedback: @WalkerDrewett @trentjhughes @CoFoundersNik @mhp_guy @MikeyPesto @AlexHormozi @businessbarista @sodacitysimpson

Christmas Lights Install Business Update: Got our first batch of: 50-yard signs + 300 Door Hangers. Ready to place and give out! I've heard these generate the highest ROI out of any form of marketing... So excited to see how much my phone rings! And yes, before you ask... I'll be answering all the phone calls myself!

This is Part 6 of building a Christmas Lights company… Using my local newsletter audience of 107,000 people. We’ve now closed over $5,000 worth of jobs... in the last week. With no paid ads. or even a website. And here's how we did it: • 3 jobs closed = $5,000 in revenue • 30% deposits upfront • All from 2 newsletter ads (after our giveaway) Our funnel now looks like this: A person sees ad in the newsletter. Books 10-min call via Calendly. We qualify them. Book in-person design consult. Then we go in person: • Build rapport • Show a mockup (before/after) • Break down the quote • Close the deal Last 7 days, here's the breakdown: • 10 consults booked • 3 canceled • 7 showed up • 3 closed • $1,666 avg job value • All before Oct 1 Christmas lights season typically runs Oct 1–Dec 10… Our goal: Extend the season, so we can get practice reps in + increase revenue. What do you think, will I hit $100,000 in my first season? And comment below any question! And thoughts you might have...

This is PART 5 of building a Christmas Lights Company... using my local newsletter of over 35,000 subscribers. UPDATES: • Aug 5: Our lights finally came in • Aug 7: We put up our first Christmas lights. (as a test, for free) And today, we ran our first newsletter ad: To start building a warm LEADS list. We positioned the ad as an EXCLUSIVE giveaway for the newsletter readers. Qualifying the leads through the following rules: Here’s who can enter: • You must own a detached home in Winnipeg • Your home must be accessible for a ladder install • You must be available for a short design consult in August • And you agree to let us take before & after photos for the Winnipeg Digest THE RESULTS? We sent out the newsletter 3 hours ago... And now have over 110 entries, with their: • Name • Number • Email • Home Address and more! What do you think, can we make this business work? Comment below any question! And your thoughts...

I just put in my first order for my Christmas Lights company... And here's what you need to know: I run a local newsletter with an audience of 34,000 subscribers. And 70,000 social followers. I'm starting a Christmas lights company using that audience... And here's update #4: • I bought a $4,000 CAD course from @adamrchap (based in Canada) • Ordered my first set of lights: 1,000’ starter kit + 500 reds + 500 greens. ($3,000 CAD) • And brought in my cousin since he’s got a truck (no need for a van) Plan is to test installs on friends’ and family’s homes before the season gets going. And the newsletter? I used it to test the idea. Asking folks what they think of us starting a Christmas lights company and 130+ people said they’re interested or know someone who is (screenshot below). Next steps: • Run FB ads • Run ads in the newsletter to get initial bookings • Use deposits to order the next batch of lights What do you think? Will this work out? Tagging some of the guys for thoughts: @WilsonCompanies @ItsJayBerard @mhp_guy @CoFoundersNik @trentjhughes @meetmikehiggins @MikeyPesto

I'm starting a Christmas lights company using my local newsletter... And here's update #3: After getting mixed feedback on the idea: • Some said “go for it,” • Some said “rev share,” • Others said “just stick to media.” I did a little digging. Turns out… There’s only one legit Christmas light installer in Winnipeg. Maybe more exist, but: • Nothing on Google Maps • Nothing on social • No one shows up when I search Even checked a 48.8k member local Facebook group that maps all the best Christmas light decorations... And not one person mentioned a single installer. It’s starting to feel less like a seasonal hustle… and more like a real opportunity.

Update: the business I’ll be starting using my local newsletter is… Christmas Lights! So if you know anyone that does Christmas Lights in a snowy area. Please let me know! Really appreciate all the help and looking forward to documenting my journey.

Question for all the home service bros on here... I have a local newsletter doing low 6 figures/year. With an audience of 104,000 people: • 32,500 email subscribers (55% open rate) • 72,000 social media followers 70% of my email subscribers are homeowners. With our core demographic being women between the ages 30-55. Making home services feel like an obvious choice: • HVAC • Roofing • Christmas/Permanent Lights • Landscaping and so on As a note, I have no experience in any of these, but lights seem the easiest to get into. So, comment below if you were in my shoes, what business would you get into? And why? Tagging all the avengers for some thoughts: @mhp_guy @CoFoundersNik @jcolesimpson @WilsonCompanies @MikeyPesto @Its_NoahScott @eduschesne1 @irentdumpsters @pestctrlguy

Warning: If you're in the local newsletter space... Be careful of scams like the following. I was just made aware of a local newsletter community/accelerator. Using the Winnipeg Digest as a testimonial without my permission. @lickletter is using not only mine, but also @MikeyPesto (Catskill Crew), Philip's (Orlando Signal) and many more without their permission. Making it seem like we are affiliated with the brand. So, please double-check with us if you see me or anyone in the space as a testimonial for any brand. As this shit isn't cool. Tagging a few more buddies who are being used as testimonials: @lifeof_scoop @Geoff_Sharpe

Almost at 24,000 subs for my local newsletter! Can we hit 40,000 by end of year?

Small update on the local newsletter: • 23,000+ Email Subs • 55,000+ Social followers • $60,000 realized rev • And $32,000 in booked revenue! Not bad for the first 11 months! Comment below any question, and I'll answer them. And should I make more content on here?

We're putting on over 5 markets this summer... Using our local newsletter. The idea is simple: • 80 vendors x $300 per vendor = $24,000 • $24,000 x 5 markets - $120,000 rev Our goal is to make about $9,000 in profit per market. Out of which I'm doing 30/70 split with the folks doing all the logistics and operations. I keep 30% of profits for doing all the marketing. While they keep 70% for: • Logistics • Vendor Management • Staffing • And everything operations What do you think of this idea? Any tips for me going into it? It feels like a no-brainer, as it'll also help bring our digital community in person and grow the brand even further locally.

If you're looking to learn more about local newsletters... I recently did a pod covering my whole journey with @CoFoundersNik Be sure to check it out! open.spotify.com/episode/10Y…

My 2025 Goals: • Grow my local newsletter to 35-40,000 subs. • $100,000+ rev • Run my first event! • And grow this account to 10,000 followers. These are pretty conservative. Might hit these in the first 6 months...

18,000 local newsletter subscribers in 8 months. 2025 Goal: 35,000! What's stopping you from starting this in your town? Comment below and I'll help however I can.

We neeed this! I really don’t want to build a whole other website… Putting this on my Christmas wish list!

My first product launch on my local newsletter. Made me $1,250 in 72 hours… and here are the details: The product: Discount Cards. The idea was: 10 different one time discounts, for 10 restaurants. Restaurants get free exposure, the audience gets to try new spots. And we charge $25/card. We ran a poll, and got 150 people saying yes… My thought process: 150 people said yes on 17,000 people newsletter. We also have 40,000 followers. I should be able to sell 250. Well I was wrong. We sold 50. But each one went out with hand written notes. And a personalized text to each customer. We hand delivered each one and the responses were mind blowing… We had customers in shock (in a good way) That they are actually talking to the person, they read a newsletter from. So despite us not selling out. It was a huge win for me, doing my first launch. But most of all it was a win for the local brand!