🏴‍☠️ James Foote

Building a local newsletter in America’s Oldest City. Former 5th Grade Editor of the “Hawk Talk.” Alter ego: @jamescfoote

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

Had a blast talking local newsletters on @WSOSradio 103.9 here in St. Augustine, Fla. last night.

Love this community 🫶

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@Kevin2Chambers Candidate for tweet of the year.

Sincerely,

A salesman

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@lifeof_scoop Naptown is definitely standing out on the feed this month. Great stuff, Ryan.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@MikeyPesto This is ridiculous! Good on ya. Thanks for leading the way and sharing the journey.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@RichardPatey @beehiiv Down a little, but due for a list cleaning at end of month

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

Truth! Jacob does an amazing job with What’s Happening Salem, both the newsletter and phenomenal Instagram account. He’s playing the game on a level I hope to one day. Sage advice.

[Jacob Espinoza @MrJacobEspi]

Local media is going to become the wild west this year.

Creators are realizing the key isn't just delivering news—it's delivering it where people already are: email and social media.

Gone are the days of people actively seeking out news.

Now, updates need to meet them as they scroll through their feeds.

This shift means a person with a smartphone, resilience, and social savvy can become the go-to source of information in their community.

If you're thinking about starting a hyperlocal social media page, here are some tips to set yourself up for success:

Build Relationships

Connect with commercial real estate agents. They often have inside knowledge about new developments, giving you a first look at the stories projects in progress.

Master Micro-Storytelling

Attention spans are short. Aim for 20-second videos that cut straight to the point. Eliminate dead space and focus on what’s absolutely necessary to tell the story.

Stay in Tune with the Community

Facebook groups and posts can be goldmines for trending topics. Pay attention to what’s sparking reactions and conversations, then dive deeper into those subjects.

This approach empowers you to keep your community informed while growing your platform.

Hyperlocal creators are shaping the future of media, and I’m excited to see how they continue connecting people with the stories that matter most in their neighborhoods.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@itsjohnapolinar I think they ‘approved’ me pretty quick.

That waitlist is a gimmick, right? Or did I just get lucky?

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@MrJacobEspi @passionfrootme I have an account set up and really like it, but don’t utilize it much yet.

I see it being a huge part of generating revenue down the road.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@TheNussbus Same boat, brother! Keep fighting the good fight!

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@LandonHuslig Made my day seeing this in the gram!

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@TJLarkin23 Right on. Probably not the correct word to use. What I mean is "parts of a whole" in larger metropolitan areas.

i.e., instead of a Dallas local newsletter, ones that cover certain districts/neighborhoods that have a decent size.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@billyjhowell HAIL! What a freaking game my man. Dismantled them.

Flying high today. Happy Victory Sunday!

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@TheNussbus @billyjhowell You don’t know how much that means to me 😂

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@lexjustliving This is sneaky one of the wilder tweets I’ve ever seen on here.

Have beehiiv and the Illuminati ever shared a tweet before? Haha

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@TheNussbus @billyjhowell We have this super toxic Facebook group in town that I make fun of all the time. In fact, I just posted this on my NL IG story a few min ago.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

@TheNussbus @billyjhowell These ppl are the worst. I openly troll them and don’t care about the repercussions.

They like controlling their weird little local narrative and in many cases take cash for positive reviews of restaurants and the like.

They’re not our competition, but we’re there’s.

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

Remember to actually check form submissions before you draft your newsletter!

And use discretion when sharing events.

This is *your* brand.

DM me if you'd like some help with all this.

Now go crush it!

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

🎉 Need more events for your local newsletter?

Let them come to you.

This is a best practice, even if it isn’t immediately utilized.

Do this and keep it active for eternity 🧵

[🏴‍☠️ James Foote @Foote1565]

3 - Create a clickable graphic or add a button to your newsletter that says something like “Submit an Event” and link it to your form.

Now you’re covering your bases, creating an open channel of communication with event organizers, and lightening the workload.