Meet Alec Kremins, the founder of JLM Scoop, who grew a thriving local newsletter to 4,000 engaged subscribers while only working 2 hours per week (with zero experience & less than $300/month). Alec is Beehiv's Partnerships Manager, who cracked the code to building a highly valuable local media brand instead of renting his audience.
Start your own newsletter with Beehiiv today: https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Andrew-Bayon
In our conversation, we dive deep into:
- The "Dark Social" strategy to get your first 500 subscribers free
- Why he pays only 20-30 cents per subscriber (when others pay dollars)
- How he runs the entire operation in just 2 hours per week
- The counterintuitive reason he AVOIDS using lead magnets
- How his newsletter gets him 50% off local services
- The Facebook Ads strategy that transformed his growth
- Why real estate agents are fighting to sponsor local newsletters
Alec shares the exact systems, costs, and strategies that helped him build a thriving newsletter while working full-time. He breaks down everything from content templates to hiring local student talent for under $300/month.
Whether you're looking to build a local media brand, grow an email list, or create a profitable side hustle, this episode gives you the exact blueprint.
Stay tuned so you can enjoy the latest episodes wherever you go and never miss a single penny of information: https://www.breakingandbuildingleaders.com/subscribe
The only real estate email marketing & newsletter agency: https://ellaemail.com/
Attract more listings & clients with YouTube. Get a marketing team to help you grow: https://www.aimpactmedia.com/
We discuss:
(00:00) Why Email Lists Beat Social Media Audiences
(00:29) Growing a 4,000 Subscriber Newsletter Outside the US
(01:18) The Content Strategy That Actually Works
(01:51) From Zero to 4,000 Subscribers: Alec's Newsletter Journey
(03:21) The Inspiration Behind Local Newsletter Success Stories
(05:40) How Newsletter Club Accelerated Growth Through Shared Learning
(07:06) The Facebook Ads Strategy That Gets 20-30 Cent Subscribers
(08:50) Building a Content Creation Culture Within Companies
(10:51) The Power of Employee Personal Branding
(12:42) Getting Discounts Through Newsletter Influence
(15:29) Converting Local Business Owners into Newsletter Subscribers
(16:36) Why Real Estate Agents Should Own Their Email List
(18:44) The Perfect Timing for Subscriber Surveys
(20:55) Events vs Restaurant Content: What Drives More Engagement
(24:15) Sneak Peek: Beehive's New Dream Builder Launch
(26:58) Two Paths for Real Estate Newsletter Success
(29:59) The Truth About Newsletter Monetization
(32:50) Why Real Estate Agents Dominate Local Newsletter Sponsorships
(35:28) The Delicate Balance of Newsletter Sponsorships
(37:47) From 0-500 Subscribers: The Dark Social Growth Strategy
(41:42) Why Lead Magnets Don't Work for Local Newsletters
(43:46) Facebook Ads: The Complete Playbook Revealed
(46:55) Cost Per Lead Benchmarks You Should Know
(49:16) Running a Newsletter in Just 2 Hours Per Week
(51:50) Finding Local Student Talent for Content Creation
(53:32) Instagram Growth Hacks for Local Newsletters
(56:40) Building a Local Media Empire: The Long-Term Vision
(58:44) Two Paths to Scale: Media Company vs Holding Company
(59:58) Top Newsletter Creators to Follow in 2025
Resources:
Alec's links:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleckremins
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/aleckrem
My Links:
📧 Newsletter: www.breakingandbuildingleaders.com/
🎙 Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buildingbreakingleaders
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBec7qai7oM_AWnFCMon7ng
🐣 Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewBayon
📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/andrew_bayon/
🕺 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@andrewbayon
Get access to the only YouTube hook database for agents with Listing Leads to find the best viral topics for building a real estate YouTube channel.
Use code "ANDREW" to get 50% off on top of your free trial: https://linktw.in/qckvLb
Stop paying for expensive leads & build your own with our help building you a hyper local media brand: https://www.aimpactmedia.com/
Get your own hyper local email newsletter built for you: https://ellaemail.com/