We shared a few weeks ago that we want The Polk Squeeze to continue being a place that:
- Delivers local value first.
- Always reads local. Written by people who live here, not outsourced or AI-generated.
- Doesn't prioritize stories based on money coming in.
- Doesn't flood your inbox with more ads than value.
Why We're Cutting Back On Sponsors
We've spent the last few months testing different ad models.
Every time we tried fitting in more than one hyper-local sponsor we felt eager to share with you, it felt off.
It felt like we were asking you to wade through ads to get to the parts you actually opened this for.
So we made a call.
Going forward, the plan is for each Polk Squeeze email to carry one primary sponsor. One partner we're genuinely excited to stand behind, like Iceberg Home Services.
One primary sponsor, nothing stacked on top and nothing filling a slot just to fill it.
That leaves a question, though.
If we're not selling more ad space, how do we keep growing this thing?
How do we keep supporting local businesses, keep building trust across the county, and still earn enough to do this full time?
Here's the truth…
We didn't want to write this newsletter trying to attract advertisers.
We didn't want money coming in to sway what we cover or how we cover it.
We want a model that lets us focus on one thing: delivering you more value.
The answer we landed on is real estate.
Why Real Estate Fits
With real estate, we can focus on sharing the stories and content that actually serve you instead of whatever sells the most ad space.
Do that well enough, and the trust comes back to us on its own.
We don't have to force it with more ads.
We already know the best food, towns, people, and events in Polk County.
We already love helping tens of thousands of locals around the county and supporting local business owners.
Everything fits already.
The only thing missing is my real estate license, which I'm working on now.
So while we can't sell you a home yet, we wanted you to know that this is the model we're working toward to keep The Polk Squeeze the best local media company in Polk.
Down the road, we're hoping Katie gets licensed too.
Together, we want to build something we're calling Romaine Homes.
Introducing Romaine Homes
This isn't just about putting up a sign.
We think the trust we've built with you this past year is worth more pointed at helping you find your next home than it is running banner ads.
Long term, we'd love to work with other great agents across the county too. Pairing local buyers and sellers with agents who are the right fit for them. The same way we've tried to pair you with the right burger spot or the right weekend plan.
What Happens Next
Right now, this is about being upfront with you about where we're headed and why.
More to come as it happens.
If you want to follow along, you can join our list below.
We'll only use it to reach out when things actually move.
[Join The Romaine Homes Interest List →]