📧 Smart Tools, Smarter Growth

👋 Hey!

Ready to level up your newsletter game this week? We've got the inside scoop on the platforms making moves, the automation hacks saving hours, and the growth tactics that actually work. From Substack's game-changing mobile payments to AI tools that are becoming must-haves, this week is packed with actionable insights you can implement today. Plus, we're sharing a killer automation workflow that'll save you hours every week and a growth hack that's boosting sponsorship close rates by 2x. 

Let's dive in! 👇

Substack iOS app enables in-app paid subscriptions. Unlocks frictionless mobile payments, expect more paid signups as readers subscribe in seconds, boosting creator revenue and growth.

LinkedIn opens newsletters to all users, Premium SMB incoming. Everyone can now launch a LinkedIn newsletter; zero follower minimum. Easy entry for brand builders and B2B publishers!

Beehiiv and Mailchimp roll out user-friendly newsletter templates. The right template structure can instantly boost readability, engagement, and make your newsletter feel more pro, no design skills needed.

Affiliate newsletters now monetize faster than social posts. Email affiliates convert better; trusted inbox recommendations mean higher revenue per subscriber than fleeting social links.

Times, National World reveal pop-up newsletter playbook. Limited-run series boost engagement and, with smart nurturing, can convert subscribers to long-term readers, even after the final send.

AI marketing automation moves from trend to necessity. 88% of marketers now rely on AI, saving hours weekly and making AI adoption mission-critical for newsletter growth and efficiency.

How: Pull company names from your subscriber list (or use a tool like Megahit for Gmail addresses). Google for high-quality, transparent company logos (SVG/PNG). Arrange them in a logo cloud using Canva or directly on your landing/advertising page.

Why: People trust brands that others trust. Displaying recognizable company logos signals credibility and makes sponsors/readers more likely to engage.

Expected Result: Newsletters see 10–30% higher sponsor interest and signups after prominently showcasing a logo cloud.

What Works:

Creator Quote:
"Virality fades fast. It doesn't build a business. Email builds connection, and connection scales."

Dive deeper into how Jennifer hits 60% open rates and 7% CTR

Why You'll Love It: Set up forms that automatically request testimonials after each campaign, organize them in one place, and add instant credibility to your media kit.

Best For: Newsletter creators looking to close sponsorships faster with social proof that actually converts.

Test: "X's new rules" vs. "X's new rules have to do with social media scheduling"

Result: The specific version won by clearly indicating relevance to the reader.

Takeaway: Specificity beats ambiguity; readers can instantly judge if your content is relevant to them, making opens feel more urgent.

Before: Carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have shut down email-to-SMS gateways, leaving creators unable to alert subscribers via SMS through email.

After: Using this detailed guide from Buttondown, you can automate SMS alerts for newsletters by linking Buttondown's New Email trigger to Zapier and sending SMS via Twilio, even to entire lists pulled from Google Sheets.

Result: Get instant SMS notifications for important newsletter events or push mini-newsletters via SMS, even as official carrier gateways disappear. Expect time savings, reliable reach, and a new touchpoint for audience engagement.

Ready to try? Check out Buttondown's step-by-step walkthrough.

When you finally automate your newsletter workflow with HeyNews and reclaim your weekends.

Thanks for reading,

Eren Daskesen

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