The accessible version
In the United States, Sahan Journal, dedicated to Somali communities in Minnesota, has been experimenting since November 2022 with voice note newsletters sent via SMS. The publication discovered that its audience prefers consuming news through videos or audio files rather than reading them. All the more so since the voice note format allows for creating a more intimate connection with subscribers.
The VIP version
For $3.99 per month, listeners of the "Buckeye Talk" podcast get the latest episodes before everyone else, enjoy daily analysis of the issues covered in the show, and can ask questions that hosts answer via text. A way to build an exclusive community while generating revenue. The result? 10% month-over-month subscriber growth.
The free version
If sending SMS seems too technical to set up, we recommend checking out the broadcast channels currently being tested on Instagram. Exclusive content, photos, polls… Follow the example of rap magazine Mosaïque to share updates with your community by inviting it into its direct messages. Note: recipients of these DMs cannot — for now — reply to them directly.
