This is What's Next for The Knot

The people have spoken.

What a response.

I was totally blown away by the response we got from you all last week. I’d built up a story in my mind that The Knot was something people felt “meh” about. It was “OK” but it needed to be more than OK. Instead I found out that The Knot is loved, wanted and already a pillar in this community, with bags of potential to do a lot more.

The people have spoken. Long live The Knot.

• 50 email responses telling me to keep going and that The Knot is one of only pieces of news they read at all 📧

• 25 new paid subscribers supporting our writing ❤️

• Three Patrons with one significant contribution to our annual running costs 💸

• Countless offers to help, support and collaborate ✅

• Infinite support and “Keep going!”

I’m writing this on Tuesday morning, after an Easter bank holiday in the Isle of Man where I took on the Manx Mountain Marathon. On multiple levels I’m sitting here with a sense of satisfaction. One, for completing an arduous marathon across 12 peaks of the island. Two, because my inbox is filled with kind words and kind contributions from readers who are supportive of The Knot’s mission. I’ve tried to get back to as many of you as possible, and failed. Just like I’m failing to walk up the stairs without groaning.

Last week saw us gain financial support that will cover our writing costs and enable us to invest a small budget into feature journalism and ongoing social media marketing to grow our audience for the next 12 months.

Additionally, my inbox is exploding with ideas and offers of support. If I haven’t got back to you yet, please be patient - I will try my best. With this support, we are still very much a part-time team and will be for some time. Keep reading for specific calls to action for how you can help.

What I heard loud and clear:

• The Knot, for some of you, is one of the only sources of local news you actually consume. This excites me because it shows how important our work is, yet I also feel an even greater sense of responsibility to make The Knot sustainable.

• You get real pleasure in the focus on the positive. The community we have here are people that want to see the good in their place and believe by doing so it’ll make all the difference.

• This place and our people are full of surprises. My inbox is filled with more stories and more interesting people that I had absolutely no idea existed. The diversity, history and vitality within Stoke and North Staffs never ceases to amaze me. Especially given the backdrop that’s been painted in our minds over so many years. It’s not bleak here, it’s full, full of colour.

This is what’s next for The Knot.

• We’ll continue our coverage as is, led by Helen for another 12 months.

• We’ll cover occasional feature journalism, when we believe a story absolutely deserves investigation and must be told.

• We’ll share guest posts written by people in our community. 500-1,000 word stories (nothing promotional) from people who live here with a story to tell. To submit, put “GUEST POST” in the subject line, pitch your article with its angle and attach the article in a Word doc. Send to james@theknot.group

• We are looking for regular contributors to provide one piece of writing per month for six months. If you have an idea for a regular column, respond on the email above. E.g food reviews, days out, interviews, investigations, walking routes etc. Ideas welcome. Voluntary for now, building to paid as we grow.

• We’re looking for a social media manager to focus on The Knot’s subscriber growth. This is a paid role (small budget). Specific focus on Facebook, Facebook Groups, Instagram and LinkedIn. Daily posting on social media, equivalent to ~1hr per day ad-hoc. This is a critical role for us and if you get involved early and can support our growth, this could lead to something much bigger and much more meaningful. Big opportunity and I’m willing to give the right person a lot of creative freedom and ownership to build something with me.

• I’d like us to do more like for like partnerships with businesses. Could you provide some awareness for The Knot on your platform? In return we’ll give you a free ad placement in The Knot. Like this partnership here with Titanic Brewery. For example, do you own a billboard? Could you encourage all your employees to sign up to The Knot? Do you have a social media following that you could share The Knot with? E-mail me if you’d like to do this.

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Stoke & North Staffs needs independent news and a fresh perspective to continue to support our cultural and economic resurgence. I feel rejuvenated to continue to build a challenger media brand in an area that needs it.

• More positive stories ✅

• More role models ✅

• More inspiration ✅

• Driving footfall to places in the area 🥾

• Changing perspectives, narratives and winning back trust in this place called Home 🏡

Long Live The Knot.

Cheers,
James

PS: when you see something good, think “that’s one for The Knot.”