Episodes

  • How Newsletters Use Interactive Polls to Boost Engagement

    How Newsletters Use Interactive Polls to Boost Engagement
    Jun 22 2026
    In episode 68 of The Newsletter Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how newsletter writers are using interactive polls to increase reader engagement and gather valuable audience data. They discuss the case of 'The Markup,' a tech policy newsletter that embedded a simple yes/no poll about net neutrality in its welcome email, achieving a 72% response rate and a 4x increase in reply-to-email ratio. The hosts break down why polls work, how to design them without breaking the user experience, and how to use poll results to shape future content. They also touch on the economics: a five-question poll can yield enough data to segment a list by opinion, which boosts open rates by 15-20% on subsequent sends. Luna challenges Lucas on the risk of bias in self-selected poll responses, and Lucas counters with examples of newsletters that cross-reference poll answers with click data. The episode ends with a reflection on the line between engagement and annoyance. A short donation segment for 'buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo' is woven in naturally. #NewsletterMarketing #EmailEngagement #InteractivePolls #AudienceData #TheMarkup #NetNeutrality #ContentStrategy #Segmentation #OpenRates #ClickThroughRates #WelcomeEmail #ListGrowth #SubscriberFeedback #EmailDesign #MarketingTips #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #NewsletterPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins
  • How Newsletters Build Sponsorship Packages That Advertisers Love

    How Newsletters Build Sponsorship Packages That Advertisers Love
    Jun 22 2026
    In this episode of The Newsletter Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the art of building sponsorship packages for newsletters. They break down the specific components that make a media kit irresistible to advertisers, using real examples from successful newsletters like Morning Brew and The Hustle. Lucas explains how to structure pricing tiers based on open rates and engagement metrics, while Luna highlights the importance of audience demographics and custom sponsorship formats. They also discuss common mistakes creators make when pitching advertisers and how to price sponsorships effectively. Whether you're a seasoned newsletter operator or just starting out, this episode provides actionable steps to turn your email list into a revenue-generating asset. Tune in to learn how to create sponsorship packages that resonate with brands and drive long-term advertiser relationships. #NewsletterSponsorships #EmailMarketing #SponsorshipPackages #MediaKit #NewsletterMonetization #AdvertiserRelationships #MorningBrew #TheHustle #OpenRates #EngagementMetrics #PricingTiers #AudienceDemographics #CustomSponsorships #NewsletterBusiness #Marketing #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheNewsletterPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 mins
  • How Newsletters Use A-B Testing to Double Click-Through Rates

    How Newsletters Use A-B Testing to Double Click-Through Rates
    Jun 21 2026
    In this episode of The Newsletter Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the mechanics of A-B testing for email newsletters, exploring how creators use subject line tests, content variations, and send-time experiments to boost engagement. They break down a real-world case: a Substack writer who doubled click-through rates by testing two subject line styles over 30 days. The hosts discuss statistical significance, sample sizes, and common pitfalls, offering practical tips for newsletter operators of all sizes. Listeners learn why 'winner takes all' thinking is dangerous, how to set up tests in Beehiiv and Substack, and when to trust your gut over the data. #ABTesting #NewsletterMarketing #EmailMarketing #Substack #Beehiiv #ClickThroughRate #SubjectLines #Optimization #DataDriven #MarketingTips #ContentStrategy #GrowthHacking #Engagement #ConversionRate #Business #Marketing #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How Newsletters Use Curated Lists to Drive Subscriber Growth

    How Newsletters Use Curated Lists to Drive Subscriber Growth
    Jun 21 2026
    In this episode of The Newsletter Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how email newsletters are using curated link lists to attract and retain subscribers. They examine the strategy behind 'link blogs' like Morning Brew's 'The Daily Brew' and Stratechery's 'News & Links' posts, showing how curation provides high-value content with low production cost. They discuss why curation works for both free and paid tiers, how to source links without burnout, and the metrics that prove list-based newsletters convert better than original-content-only formats. Specific examples include how an indie newsletter called 'The Sample' grew to 50k subscribers by recommending other newsletters, and how 'The Hustle' used a daily links section to boost open rates by 15%. Lucas and Luna also debate the risks of relying on external content versus building original analysis, and share tips for balancing curation with unique voice. If you're a newsletter creator looking for a sustainable growth method, this episode offers actionable insights without the hype. #NewsletterMarketing #CuratedContent #LinkBlogs #SubscriberGrowth #EmailNewsletters #ContentCuration #MorningBrew #Stratechery #TheSample #TheHustle #IndieNewsletters #MarketingStrategy #AudienceBuilding #ContentStrategy #NewsletterTips #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Marketing Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 mins
  • How Newsletters Are Using Welcome Mat Landing Pages

    How Newsletters Are Using Welcome Mat Landing Pages
    Jun 20 2026
    In this episode of The Newsletter Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the rise of welcome mat landing pages — full-screen, single-option signup overlays that have helped newsletters like The Hustle, Morning Brew, and Milk Road dramatically boost conversion rates. According to a 2025 analysis by Beehiiv, welcome mats can lift email capture by 30 to 60 percent compared to standard inline forms. The hosts break down the psychology of friction removal, debate whether the tactic hurts long-term engagement, and share specific implementation tips for Newsletter operators. Lucas cites data showing that welcome mats reduce choice paralysis by presenting only one action — subscribe — while Luna questions whether they might also attract less committed readers. They also discuss A/B test results from a ten-thousand-subscriber test that saw a 42 percent increase in signups without a drop in open rates. The episode closes with a look at how the trend is evolving into 'smart welcome mats' that personalize the offer based on referral source or time of day. #NewsletterMarketing #WelcomeMat #LandingPage #EmailCapture #ConversionRate #Beehiiv #MorningBrew #TheHustle #MilkRoad #ABTesting #FrictionRemoval #ChoiceParalysis #LeadGeneration #SubscriberGrowth #EmailMarketing #MarketingPodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    11 mins
  • How Newsletters Use Referral Programs to Drive Growth

    How Newsletters Use Referral Programs to Drive Growth
    Jun 20 2026
    In this episode of The Newsletter Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how email newsletters are using referral programs—like Substack's built-in referrals and Beehiiv's 'refer-to-earn' feature—to drive subscriber growth. They break down the mechanics of successful referral campaigns, including the controversial strategy of offering cash bounties for new subscribers, and examine why some newsletters see a 30% growth spike from referrals while others struggle. The hosts discuss the psychology behind reciprocity and social proof in referrals, using examples from industry-leading newsletters like The Hustle's early days and Lenny Rachitsky's growth tactics. They also cover the risks of incentivizing low-quality signups and how to structure rewards to reward engaged subscribers. If you're looking to grow your newsletter audience without paid ads, this episode offers actionable insights on building a referral engine that works. #NewsletterGrowth #ReferralPrograms #Substack #Beehiiv #EmailMarketing #SubscriberAcquisition #ViralGrowth #Reciprocity #SocialProof #TheHustle #LennyRachitsky #ReferToEarn #Marketing #GrowthStrategy #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ContentMarketing #AudienceBuilding Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins
  • How Newsletters Use Paid Ads to Acquire Subscribers Effectively

    How Newsletters Use Paid Ads to Acquire Subscribers Effectively
    Jun 19 2026
    Lucas and Luna dive into the world of newsletter paid acquisition, using a specific case: how Morning Brew's early Facebook ad strategy helped them grow from zero to 2.5 million subscribers. They break down the math behind customer acquisition cost (CAC) versus lifetime value (LTV), the importance of lead magnets like free cheat sheets, and how micro-targeting by interest (e.g., ‘tech news for marketers’) can lower cost per lead. They discuss why most newsletters fail at paid ads (bad targeting, poor landing pages) and share a framework for testing: start with $500, measure cost per subscriber, aim for under $2. Then they explore recent shifts like using LinkedIn Sponsored Content and YouTube prerolls for high-intent audiences. The episode ends with a forward-looking question: as ad costs rise on Meta and Google, will newsletter paid acquisition become a winner-take-most game? #NewsletterPaidAds #MorningBrew #FacebookAds #CustomerAcquisitionCost #LeadMagnets #EmailMarketing #SubscriberGrowth #PaidAcquisition #MarketingPodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #NewsletterBusiness #CostPerLead #LandingPageOptimization #LinkedInAds #YouTubeAds #LTVvsCAC #MicroTargeting Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 mins
  • Why Newsletters Are Turning Comments Into Communities

    Why Newsletters Are Turning Comments Into Communities
    Jun 19 2026
    Lucas and Luna explore the shift from the 'broadcast-only' newsletter model to interactive comment threads that build real community. They look at how Substack's comment redesign in early 2026 drove a 40% increase in paid-subscriber conversion for top writers, and how Beehiiv's new thread tool lets even small newsletters host meaningful discussions. The hosts debate whether comments are a retention hack or a distraction, and share one concrete tip: newsletters that publish a weekly 'comment roundup' email see 25% higher open rates. No fluff, just real tactics for turning readers into a community. #Newsletter #Substack #Beehiiv #CommunityBuilding #EmailMarketing #ContentStrategy #PaidSubscribers #Retention #Engagement #Comments #WriterCommunity #SubscriberGrowth #Marketing #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #TheNewsletterPodcast #ContentMarketing #DigitalMedia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 mins