Why I ditched WordPress for my next project

I started a local newsletter earlier this year.

It's about events and things to do in Leinster, Ireland.

A fun side project, if you will!

Local newsletters are a great content model.

They're easy to write.

But, they're hard for competitors to reverse engineer.

You can't replace local knowledge.

(I'm from Leinster).

I used Ghost to create my newsletter and set up a basic Facebook lead gen campaign to grow it.

Ghost is easy to use and lead gen ads mostly work.

I'm currently getting leads for 50 cents.

I'll take leads at that price all day long.

I send subscribers an article once a week.

Now, I'm not doing this just for giggles.

Last week, I built a directory for the newsletter.

I used Cursor, a popular AI coding tool, to vibe code it.

I’ve been having fun using AI tools, including ones for coding.

Then, I deployed my brand-spanking-new directory to GitHub and Netlify.

I connected it to my local newsletter.

It'll feature local businesses from across Leinster.

I've already got 1,500 subscribers.

I should be able to charge for listings and placements once traffic increases.

A few years ago, I built my sites on WordPress.

I monetized mostly with display ads.

I fixed all my tech problems with plugins and SaaS products.

I'm not saying you need to quit WordPress but...

Pick your tech stack.

Define your ideal customer or client.

Then ship.

(Details in the featured section on my profile)

If you want help with your business model, I've a few 1:1 coaching spots open. You can work with me from now till the end of the year. Reply with the word "LOCAL" and I'll send you more info.