Mark Bowles

UNDER CONTRACT 🥳 Exciting step in the journey. We’re moving back to our hometown. It’s all part of our dream and the life we want to create for ourselves. Follow me @SMBjourney as I build in public. It’s more than entrepreneurship. It’s my life. Greensboro is where my wife and I met (as children), grew up (as high school sweethearts), had our first home (as a married couple), and helped start a church (as young adults). The city is a central part of our story as a couple. We want the same for our family’s story. It’s a primary reason we’re moving back. Both my parents and her parents still live in town. We want to be close to them. And we want our children to be close to grandparents. There’s value in village effects. Who’s with me on this? Other reasons for moving back too. Did you know I started a local newsletter? It’s called Gate City Guide. It covers things to do around Greensboro. I’m having fun with this project. I’m excited to take it to the next level when we land. I’m building other media things: this account, the podcast, offline writing, the Mind / Body / Spirit vlog, and Poster Kid. What will I add to the stack next? Not sure. I make decisions as I go. Keep following me to find out. Appreciate your support in this journey. We’re coming up on the one year mark of sharing here everyday. Today stands out as special because of the accepted offer. Look forward to a smooth closing on this buy side (and eventually the sell side too). That reminds me. Someone buy my house in Raleigh plz. And finally: Go Heels! Go America! 🇺🇸

@ShannonJean Rite of passage it seems. Got to tell her I was same age when my foot required stitches after stepping on garden rake

@SMBjourney Stitches are part of growing up. Glad all is good.

Newsletter day #60 Memorable one for me because where I wrote part of it: the hospital Everything is fine now! Oldest took bad tumble from the trampoline and needed stitches to repair inside of upper lip. Thankful.

@raechellambert @beehiiv also, @BrianMSkinner well done 👏

I think most creators are playing the wrong game. They’re trying to go global — chasing reach, virality, and followers they’ll never meet. Meanwhile, some of the most interesting @beehiiv creators are doing the opposite. They’re going local. Building a few thousand subscribers in a single city. Actually knowing their audience. Turning that into real-world experiences — and real revenue. We’ve seen creators: – monetize with local sponsors – host events that sell out – build communities that actually show up It’s a different playbook. @getdnnr has partnered with @beehiiv to break it down into something practical: The Local Newsletter Monetization Cookbook 😋 It’s a look at how a small group of creators are turning local audiences into real businesses — without needing to go viral. Featuring real revenue numbers from Brian Skinner, Landon Huslig, Nick Hageman, Sam Harper. It lights a path to cracking $100k in annual revenue, all from your local audience. If you’re building a newsletter, I’d spend 10 minutes on this. 👉 Comment COOKBOOK and I'll DM you the link!

@raechellambert @beehiiv cookbook

@SamHarper254 It’s funny because I made up the criteria: Unique clicks > 3 Unique opens > 5 Within last 30 days

@SMBjourney what defines as superfan??? Congrats on this!

A year ago GCG hit the 1,000 newsletter subscribers milestone. Idk when we surpassed the 1,000 GCG super fans milestone, but we did.

Very practical 1st step to take if you’re on the fence about starting a newsletter: -Write 5 drafts Easy test to see if you want it. You don’t even have to hit post on them. Just start writing. Might change your life. Credit: Rambull

@zachary_ashburn @eddiebauer GSOX

@SMBjourney @eddiebauer Everyone in the triad wearing GCG green

Day 2 of asking @eddiebauer to let me lead this campaign because I’m more in touch with your brand than whatever AI did this Here are my credentials

Most underrated frozen pizza: Red Baron

Newsletter # 59 - don’t believe everything you read on the internet

banger

hey B&H, if you wanna target local newspapers again, my DMs are open cc: @mattrbowles

Am I allowed to take on investors now?

@BPD1776 It was the neighborhood’s main event today

@SMBjourney neighborhood 3yo boys loving it?

At this point I hope we hit oil

Back in business??

We’re digging deeper. Wish us well

Newsletter day # 58