Re: “Why hyperlocal websites like New Raleigh can't make money online”

What about less traditional advertising + business development tactics? Curated events, business-sponsored stories featuring their products, or services, etc?

The Bold Italic is a fantastic model of this, and seems to be doing okay. Its as much about driving audience engagement with great content (which New Raleigh certainly does / did) as it is engaging the local business community to plug in and pay for new exposure opportunities. You have to find the balance and draw the line between where promotion-only stops and profit opportunity begins.

The article doesn't seem to suggest these avenues for revenue were ever investigated, but I hope whatever phoenix rises from this really unfortunate news that it thinks more dynamically about how to find sustainability.

I'll definitely miss New Raleigh, thanks for all the years and all the news.