Phase 1: Choose the Right First Feed
Days 1-5. By the end of this phase you will have one feed idea, a clear promise, and a defined first action.
Every good feed starts the same way: one focused idea, one clear audience, and one honest answer for why someone would come back. This phase is about making that choice deliberately instead of guessing.
Before you start, have ready:
- Your Feedlnk login.
- Your newsletter or primary audience channel.
- Brand name, logo, colors, and a basic description.
- Links to any content sources you already know about.
- About one focused working session, enough to finish Days 1 through 5.
You do not need a custom domain, a contributor program, paid advertising, or a sponsor to begin. Build one useful feed first.
Day 1: List the possible feeds
Today's outcome: move from "Feedlnk could do a lot of things" to a short list of practical first-feed ideas.
Why this matters: most launches stall because there are too many good ideas and no way to compare them. This narrows the field fast.
What to do: write down up to three possibilities. Starting points that tend to work well: local events, local deals and offers, local news and community updates, weekend plans, family activities, restaurant and food discoveries, or another recurring collection your audience already asks for. For each idea, answer: Who is this for? What will they find in the feed? Why would they open it more than once? Where will the content come from? How will people discover it? What useful action could a visitor take?
You're done when: you have no more than three written feed ideas.
Day 2: Score the ideas
Today's outcome: narrow your list to one feed idea, with a clear reason why it's the best place to start.
Why this matters: a quick score turns a gut feeling into a decision you can explain to someone else, including yourself in three weeks.
What to do: score each idea 1 to 5 on the factors below. The score is a decision aid, not a scientific measure. A high score does not prove demand. Avoid an idea when you cannot identify a real audience, at least a few reliable content sources, a method of distribution, and a person who will own updates.
Feed Idea Scorecard
| Factor (score 1-5) | Idea 1 | Idea 2 | Idea 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real audience | |||
| Reliable content sources | |||
| Distribution route | |||
| Owner identified | |||
| Ease of maintenance | |||
| Fits the feed promise | |||
| Total score |
Risks or unknowns: Final choice: Reason for choice:
You're done when: one feed idea is selected, and you have one sentence explaining why it's the best place to start.
Day 3: Write the feed promise
Today's outcome: a two-sentence promise that explains the feed to a stranger without you in the room.
Why this matters: if you can't explain the feed in one sentence, your readers won't be able to either, and neither will the businesses you eventually invite in.
What to do: fill in this formula: "This feed helps [specific audience] find [specific kind of information] so they can [useful outcome or action]." Examples: "This feed helps local families find worthwhile things to do this week so they can make plans without searching several websites." "This feed helps residents find current offers from local businesses so they can discover something useful nearby." "This feed helps people in our community see the most important local updates in one place." Add a second sentence: "We will keep it useful by reviewing and publishing new content [frequency]."
You're done when: you have a two-sentence feed promise that another person can understand without an explanation of Feedlnk.
Day 4: Define the intended actions
Today's outcome: one primary reader action, up to two secondary ones, and your primary business outcome.
Why this matters: knowing what you want a reader to do, and what you want out of it, shapes every post you write after today.
What to do: choose one primary reader action and no more than two secondary actions: browse multiple posts, visit an event or business website, claim or learn about an offer, save something for later, share a post, unlock useful details, or leave an email address for appropriate follow-up. Then choose your primary business outcome: serve existing newsletter readers better, attract new contacts, create a business-contribution opportunity, create promotional inventory, or generate inquiries for your own service.
Keep in mind: an email captured by Feedlnk is not automatically a subscribed newsletter reader. The downstream signup and follow-up process must be configured separately, which you'll plan on Day 15.
You're done when: the primary reader action and business outcome are written on the Feed Strategy Sheet.
Day 5: Complete the Feed Strategy Sheet
Today's outcome: a single completed reference sheet you'll return to for the rest of the plan.
Why this matters: everything from Day 6 onward points back to this sheet. Getting it right now saves you from re-deciding things later.
What to do: fill in every field below using what you wrote on Days 1 through 4. A reasonable starting Day 30 success definition: "Our feed is live, contains enough useful content to browse, has been promoted to our audience more than once, and has a repeatable weekly update process." Add your own numbers only if you already have a baseline to compare against.
Feed Strategy Sheet
| Field | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Working feed name | |
| Target audience | |
| Two-sentence promise | |
| Primary content types | |
| Initial categories | |
| Publishing frequency | |
| Content owner | |
| Review owner | |
| Initial content sources | |
| Primary distribution channels | |
| Primary reader action | |
| Lead-capture approach | |
| Possible business-participation model | |
| Day 30 success definition |
You're done when: the sheet is filled out completely.
End of Phase 1 checkpoint
- One feed selected.
- Audience defined.
- Promise written.
- Primary action selected.
- Content owner assigned.
- Distribution route identified.
- Day 30 success described.
Prefer a fillable or printable copy? Download the Phase 1 PDF below