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👋 Hey!
This week's packed with platform power plays and creator-first features. Beehiiv is doubling down on ad sales, Buttondown dropped privacy-friendly analytics integrations, and we've got a killer referral program breakdown that helped one newsletter double daily signups. Plus, Gmail's getting Gemini AI: here's what that means for your open rates.
Ready to level up? Let's dive in! 👇
🔥 This Week's Hot Takes
Gemini lands in Gmail. Gmail will summarize and filter emails, newsletter creators need sharper subject lines and concise lead copy to stay visible, and boost opens.
Beehiiv doubles ad sales team to scale newsletter ads. Rising advertiser demand for email-native inventory means creators get more turnkey monetization and programmatic options for passive revenue.
Buttondown adds Seline and Tinylytics integrations. Privacy-first archive analytics with lightweight, GDPR-compliant tracking, no cookies needed. Ideal for creators avoiding Google Analytics.
Attachments hurt deliverability; use hosted links instead. ESP filters flag attachments; switch to password-protected hosted links to boost inbox placement and enable click tracking.
Buttondown adds custom buttons in Markdown. Markdown users can now add styled CTAs without switching to Fancy Mode, faster formatting, and easier cross-editor workflows.
Newsletters must stop assuming they "own" the inbox. Platforms control subscriptions and portability, prioritize first-party relationships and diversify channels to protect your audience.
💡 Growth Hack of the Week
Brand-Funded Physical-Rewards Referral Program
How:
List 5–10 brands whose products your audience actually wants.
Design tiered, desirable rewards (example: 2 referrals → stickers, 10 → $25 gift card, 50 → premium product, 100 → flagship item).
Pitch brands on native exposure, repeat email placement, and influencer amplification.
Use referral links + require confirmation clicks so only verified signups count.
Automate milestone emails requesting shipping info; follow up manually for missed responses.
Promote the widget in email footers, welcome pages, and social.
Why: Physical, high-value items motivate sharing, create social proof when winners post, and turn sponsorship costs into efficient, ongoing audience acquisition for both you and the brand.
Expected Result: The Dink doubled daily signups on launch and saw referrals drive ~94.8% of new subscribers on day one. Aim for a 20–100% signup lift on rollout with long-term compounding gains.
🤝 Deal of the Week
LetterBucket — Effortless newsletters that grow your audience
What the deal is: A newsletter platform built with a Notion-like editor, strong deliverability, and built-in SEO tools that auto-publish every email to your website. One creator reported their open rate improved from 25% to 37% after switching. You get advanced segmentation, smart automation, AI-assisted list cleanup, and full ownership of your subscriber data. Get 50% off for 3 months using our exclusive link.
Who should take the deal: Newsletter creators frustrated with deliverability issues, complex editors, or platforms that don't let you fully own your data. If you've been considering a migration but have been put off by the setup, LetterBucket's one-click import makes it painless.
Spotlight: Email Advice in Your Inbox
What Works:
High-value welcome sequence: New subscribers immediately receive 3 free & paid resources: Ultimate Email Guide, Carousel Knowledge Vault, and Ultimate List of Newsletters. This aggressive trust-building converts casual signups into engaged readers fast.
"Email Advice from a Friend" guest series: Expert features bring fresh voices (copywriters, deliverability pros, newsletter operators) while cross-promoting their audiences back to Des's list.
Quality-first growth: Des personally DMs engaged prospects with short intros and signup links, controlled targeting over spray-and-pray paid acquisition yields higher engagement and ~50% open rates.
Entertainment meets education: Email marketing advice delivered with memes, personality, and accessible language; proves B2B content doesn't have to be dry.
Creator Quote: "I've put a massive focus on the quality of my audience. If someone resonates with what I share, I'll fire off a quick DM—this allows me to target my audience in a far more controlled manner."
Join the newsletter and grab the 3 free resources in your welcome email, then steal Des's segmentation playbook for your own list.
🛠️ Tool of the Week
Why You'll Love It: An all-in-one funnel builder that lets newsletter creators turn subscribers into buyers. Build landing pages for lead magnets, create checkout flows for digital products, host courses or memberships, and automate email sequences: all without stitching together 10 different tools. The drag-and-drop editor makes launching fast, and built-in A/B testing helps you optimize conversions over time.
Best For: Newsletter operators ready to monetize beyond sponsorships. If you're selling ebooks, courses, coaching, or paid communities, ClickFunnels replaces your landing page builder, checkout tool, course platform, and email automation in one dashboard.
🧪 A/B Test of the Week
Test: Single confirmation button vs. multiple CTA options in double opt-in emails.
Inspiration: sendXmail found that a single, focused "Confirm my Subscription" button with a pasted fallback URL minimizes friction and fixes broken-button issues.
Newsletter Application: Test one clear confirm CTA against multiple options like "Confirm + Browse Archive" or "Confirm + Download Bonus."
Result: Single-purpose confirmation emails with one clear CTA protect list quality and boost confirmation rates by reducing decision fatigue.
Takeaway: Keep double opt-in emails single-action: one button, one ask. Add your fallback URL as plain text for technical edge cases.
Don't keep us a secret: Share HeyNews with a fellow newsletter nerd.
😂 Meme of the Week
Updating the automation…
🔗 Quick Links
Questions? Just write a comment below. I read all the comments and respond to them.
Thanks for reading,
Eren Daskesen
BEFORE YOU GO
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