The accessible version
In the United States, the Sahan Journal, which serves Somali communities in Minnesota, has been experimenting since November 2022 with newsletters in the form of voice notes sent via text message. The newspaper has found that its audience prefers to consume news through videos or audio files rather than by reading it. Moreover, the voice note format allows the publication to forge a more intimate connection with its subscribers.
The VIP version
For $3.99 a month, listeners of the “Buckeye Talk” podcast get the latest episodes before anyone else, receive a daily analysis of the issues covered on the show, and can ask questions that the hosts answer via text message. This helps build an exclusive community while generating revenue. The result? A 10% monthly increase in subscribers.
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.
Written by Marine Slavitch
