Most publishers would look at the Catskills region of New York and say "too small to build a real business." Michael Kauffman proved them wrong.

In this episode of Audience Bridge Insights, I sit down with Michael Kauffman, founder of Catskill Crew, a local newsletter that's rewriting the playbook on community publishing.

Here's what makes his approach different:

• 42,000 subscribers in a "small" market
• ~$0.30 average subscriber acquisition cost
• Sends once per week (not daily)
• Monetizes without becoming an ad billboard
• Built a real business that could be bought and sold

But the numbers aren't the story. It's HOW he thinks about newsletters that changes everything.

What we cover:

• Why local newsletters have a built-in growth advantage
• How Michael made ~$8K in one week with a simple "bulletin" section
• Why he only sends once per week (and why it works better than daily)
• Why events, products, and IRL experiences beat more email sends
• How he's using snail mail as a premium subscription (yes, actual mail)
• Why newsletters are becoming legitimate businesses you can buy and sell
• The one mindset shift that separates winning publishers from dying media

Key quote:

"If you prioritize advertisers over subscribers, you're already losing."

Who this episode is for:

• Local newsletter operators (or anyone thinking about starting one)
• Publishers feeling pressure to send more often
• Anyone looking to monetize without wrecking engagement
• Founders building sustainable, community-driven businesses

Guest: Michael Kauffman, Founder of Catskill Crew

🔗 Catskill Crew Newsletter

🔗 The Newsletter Club

🔗 Michael Kaufmann on X

Host: Chris Miquel, Founder of Audience Bridge

🔗 Learn more: AudienceBridge.io

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