When KSAT News launched its official page on Nextdoor in mid-April 2025, it started with just 2 followers. By June 2—just 45 days later—that number had skyrocketed to 1,951 (and growing!), and the station had racked up:
46,000+ link clicks
30,000+ comments and reactions
3.2 million+ post impressions
This explosive growth wasn’t accidental—it was the result of strong community-focused content, consistent posting through SND Autopilot, and a strategic embrace of a new platform that’s tailor-made for reaching verified local audiences. The best part? KSAT was able to set up their Nextdoor page and begin publishing content in just a few minutes with Social News Desk.
Why Nextdoor?
Unlike broader social media networks, Nextdoor is hyper-local by design. Every user is verified by address, which makes it uniquely effective for newsrooms like KSAT that want to serve their communities with geographically relevant information. That includes breaking news, public safety updates, community events, and human-interest stories that are truly local.
What Worked for KSAT
KSAT set up their Nextdoor page via Social News Desk, with the onboarding process taking just a few minutes. Adding an RSS feed to their Autopilot setup means they could literally “set it and forget it” – with no direct management of the page necessary after just a few minutes of time invested in the setup process.
Here are a few standout elements of KSAT’s Nextdoor strategy:
A Steady Climb in Engagement
Early posts had modest engagement—but by April 24, things took off. That day alone saw:
492 link clicks
33 engagements
14,820 impressions
From there, the numbers snowballed. On May 1, impressions topped 107,000. On May 22, KSAT’s content reached 127,471 impressions in a single day.
Clicks That Convert
With over 46,000 total link clicks, KSAT’s Nextdoor audience isn’t just passively scrolling—they’re actively clicking through to read stories. That kind of traffic is a goldmine for both news impact and audience monetization.
Real Conversation
More than 30,000 comments and reactions show that the content is sparking meaningful engagement. Whether users are asking questions about developing stories, reacting to human interest pieces, or sharing their own experiences, KSAT is fostering community conversations in a space built around trust and neighborhood identity.
Key Takeaways
Build early momentum: A few days of high-performing posts can significantly boost visibility and follower count.
Meet people where they are: Nextdoor users are actively seeking local news. KSAT simply gave them a reliable source.
Engagement fuels the algorithm: More comments, reactions, and clicks mean better placement in Nextdoor’s neighborhood feeds.
Final Thoughts
KSAT’s early success on Nextdoor shows what’s possible when newsrooms invest in community platforms. In just six weeks, they’ve created a highly engaged, fast-growing audience that’s local, loyal, and hungry for quality reporting. They’ve easily passed the 2,000 follower mark without adding any additional steps to their social media workflows.
If you’re a newsroom considering expansion into Nextdoor, KSAT’s numbers speak for themselves: Nextdoor isn’t just a place for lost pets and garage sales—it’s where local news lives. Get in touch with our Client Success Team at support@socialnewsdesk.com if you need help getting started.
