Welcome to Online Business Case Study #270!
Grab your coffee, it’s an 8-minute read you won’t want to miss!

In today’s letter, we’ll cover:

• How Ryan got to $200K/year 🚀

• Benefits of a Referral Program 💡

• Where you can learn to replicate his success in your own life 🔥

But before we dive in, let us show you a useful resource we discovered recently:

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Meco is a distraction-free space for reading and discovering newsletters, separate from the inbox.

What we like more about it is that it’s packed with features to supercharge your reading including:

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• Set smart filters.

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One more thing, at the bottom of the email, you will find some free resources and top job openings. Check it out!

Let’s get to the good stuff!

Meet Ryan*, a determined young man from the heart of Annapolis.

Ever since he was young, he dreamed of having more control over his finances and being his own boss.

Ryan always had a knack for telling cool stories about the stuff happening in his town.

People loved reading his stories on social media and even asked to take fan pictures with him at events!

Ryan realized his passion for storytelling could be more than just a hobby.

It could be a business!

That's when Naptown Scoop was born.

Instead of a traditional news website, Ryan decided to deliver his stories through a daily newsletter for free.

It felt more personal, like catching up with a friend.

And guess what? It worked!

People loved Ryan's friendly approach to local news.

But it wasn't all sunshine and roses.

Building an audience and monetizing a free newsletter took some work.

But he didn't give up!

He used some smart strategies to attract readers and found a way to generate lots of revenue.

Want to know exactly what Ryan did? We'll dive deeper into his secret sauce in the case study below

Ryan's success involved some digital marketing knowledge that contributed to the growth of Naptown Scoop.

It's interesting to note that this knowledge can be found in the free course at Max Business School.

Now, Ryan's making a cool $200,000 every year!

It all started with his passion for storytelling and his desire to be his own boss.

Without wasting time, let’s find out what Naptown Scoop is all about.

Case Study Analysis
(Local Newsleter: NaptownScoop)

What does this online business do? 🚀

In today's newsletter, say hello to an information hub providing local news with a friendly approach.

Naptown Scoop isn't your average news source, it's a vibrant community hub brimming with fresh, local stories.

This news hub delivers its content through a daily newsletter, rather than just displaying it on a website.

Naptown Scoop is not just about informing the community; it's a thriving business too.

The platform is raking in an impressive $200K every year

That's some serious money!

We'll take a look at how Naptown Scoop does it.

From money-making tactics, to what’s driving its success.

How does this online business make money? 💻

When it comes to making money, Naptown Scoop relies heavily on one key source: Sponsored Ads.

The platform offers different types of ads for local businesses and brands to choose from.

Here are the ad options Naptown Scoop has:

Top Ads: These are the best ads. They include a business's logo and up to 150 words. They cost $812.50, but you can get a discount if you buy a lot of them.

Featured Ads: These ads have a big photo plus up to 100 words. They're made to catch the readers' attention.

Baseline Ads: These are the most basic ads. They're just plain text, up to 70 words with 3 of these ads shown per day.

This tiered pricing model allows Naptown Scoop to generate recurring revenue from its advertisers.

What has this business done well?🔥

This business is a shining example of how to win in the online news game.

Let's take a look at the genius tactics it uses;

Tailored Content

Naptown Scoop knows exactly what its Annapolis readers want.

It delivers news and event coverage that's relevant to the local community.

By focusing on this specific niche, the platform has become the trusted source for all things Annapolis news.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

To attract 2,400 monthly visitors, Naptown Scoop has some commendable SEO practices under its sleeve.

The website and content are optimized for relevant local keywords like "Annapolis news" and "Annapolis events."

This ensures the platform appears at the top of search engine results, driving high-quality organic traffic.

Referral Program

Naptown Scoop uses a smart referral program.

Referral programs are a powerful way to expand a business's customer base by leveraging existing satisfied customers.

By offering incentives, such as discounts, rewards, or exclusive content, businesses encourage their loyal audience to refer friends and family.

This approach taps into the trust between personal connections, making word-of-mouth marketing highly effective.

The key to a successful referral program is simplicity and clear communication, make it easy for customers to share, and ensure the rewards are appealing.

This cost-effective strategy not only increases your reach but also deepens customer loyalty by rewarding their engagement and advocacy.

Enjoyable Newsletter Format

Instead of just having a website, Naptown Scoop sends out a daily newsletter.

These newsletters are made to feel like you're getting the scoop from a friend.

The friendly tone and customer testimonials make the newsletter appealing to read.

Smart Facebook Ads

Naptown Scoop uses Facebook ads to get new readers.

Using targeted ads, the platform converts these Facebook viewers into newsletter subscribers - over 18,000 of them!

This marketing strategy has been key to its success.

Putting Readers First

At the end of the day, Naptown Scoop is all about providing value to its audience.

By offering a free daily newsletter packed with the latest local news and happenings, the platform ensures its readers have a great experience.

No wonder people keep coming back!

What this business could improve?🔥🔥🔥

This venture can grow by considering the following:

Leverage Influencer Partnerships

By collaborating with popular Annapolis-based social media influencers, Naptown Scoop can tap into new audiences these influencers have built with their followers.

This could involve sponsored content, social media takeovers, or co-hosted events.

Improve Website Content

Naptown Scoop should consider adding social media links prominently on its website.

This would make it easier for readers to connect with the brand.

Additionally, the website could feature a section highlighting popular content from the daily newsletter.

Like snippets of articles and engaging updates that give visitors a preview of the value the newsletter provides.

Finally, Naptown Scoop should implement a dedicated blog section on its website.

This can help drive more organic traffic.

The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓

• Know Your Audience: Deliver content that meets your audience's needs to build trust and loyalty.

• Boost Visibility: Optimize your online presence to make it easier for customers to find you.

• Encourage Referrals: Leverage word-of-mouth marketing to expand your reach.

• Engage with Content: Create content that feels personal and keeps your audience coming back.

• Use Targeted Ads: Invest in targeted advertising to attract the right customers efficiently.

• Prioritize Customer Experience: Provide value consistently to build long-term customer relationships.

Ryan's story with Naptown Scoop shows what happens when you chase your dreams with all your heart!

Seeing how Ryan learned new digital marketing skills to drive the growth of Naptown Scoop is super inspiring.

Here's the coolest part: You can learn those same skills too! 

Max Business School has a free course that teaches everything Ryan figured out.

This course is made to help future business owners, just like you, learn the basics of running a successful online business.

Before You Go 👋

Thank you for reading.

Remember to check the useful resource we recently found:

Reading newsletters in the inbox is frustrating - it is noisy and easy to lose control of subscriptions, right?

Well, with the platform that we’re going to show you today, you can peacefully enjoy your newsletters.

Meco is a distraction-free space for reading and discovering newsletters, separate from the inbox.

What we like more about it is that it’s packed with features to supercharge your reading including:

• The ability to group newsletters.

• Set smart filters.

• Swipe from newsletter to newsletter easily.

👉 Try Meco

Remember, if you know someone who might like this newsletter, sharing is caring.

Also, here are some quick links you might find handy 👇️