Newsletter setup

A Newsletter People Actually Open

Most businesses sign up for Mailchimp, blast the default template, hit a 12% open rate, and decide email doesn’t work. It works. The foundation was just wrong from day one. I set up newsletter infrastructure from scratch: platform, templates, automation, opt-ins, and the SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records that keep you out of spam.

800+Businesses served
18+Years on WordPress
400k+Emails sent
2018Running my own

Why your newsletter never took off

🧰

Wrong platform

You picked the cheapest tool instead of the right one, so now you’re fighting your own email software on every send.

🤖

No automation

Every email is manual. No welcome sequence, no segments, no triggers. That’s busywork standing in for a system.

📬

Landing in spam

No SPF, no DKIM, no DMARC. Your emails drop into the promotions tab or spam folder and nobody tells you.

📝

Default template

The generic Mailchimp layout screams mass blast. It reads as spam before the subject line even lands.

🪝

Weak opt-ins

One buried signup box in the footer. No lead magnet, no clear reason to subscribe, so your list barely grows.

📉

Flying blind

No clean analytics, so you can’t tell which subjects, segments, or sends actually drive opens and clicks.

What you get

A newsletter system that’s built to land in the inbox and built to grow, not a tool you’ll abandon in three months.

  • Platform selection report with cost and feature comparison
  • Custom branded, mobile-responsive email template
  • DNS authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
  • Subscriber tagging and segmentation architecture
  • Welcome sequence of 3-5 emails with tested timing
  • Two to three high-converting opt-in form designs
  • Analytics dashboard tracking open and click rates
  • A 30-day content calendar so you’re never staring at a blank send

What changes after

12% open ratesInbox-placed, opened emails
Manual one-off blastsAutomated welcome sequence
Spam and promotions tabAuthenticated, trusted sending
A buried signup boxOpt-ins that grow the list

How I set up your newsletter

1

Discovery

You tell me your audience, goals, and current setup. I recommend the platform that fits, not the one with the biggest ad budget.

2

Build & authenticate

I design your template, set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and build your tagging and segmentation structure.

3

Automate & capture

I write your welcome sequence and build opt-in forms tied to a lead magnet that gives people a reason to join.

4

Launch & hand off

We send the first campaigns together, then I hand you a calendar and dashboard so you can run it solo.

A newsletter that becomes an owned audience

A newsletter is the one audience no platform can take from you. I set up the tech, design, and growth system so you can build a direct line to your readers and, when you’re ready, monetize it.

⚙️

Platform and tech setup

The right platform for your goals, Substack, beehiiv, Kit, or MailerLite, set up with signup forms, automation, and clean deliverability.

📈

Growth engine

Opt-in forms, lead magnets, and referral loops so your list actually grows instead of stalling at your existing contacts.

💰

Monetization ready

Structured for sponsorships, paid tiers, or product sales when you’re ready, so the newsletter can become a real revenue stream.

Newsletter setup questions, answered

What does newsletter setup include?

It covers picking the right platform, configuring signup forms and welcome automation, template and branding, deliverability setup, a growth plan with lead magnets and referrals, and a monetization structure for later. You leave with a newsletter ready to grow, not just an empty account.

Which newsletter platform should I use?

It depends on your goal. Substack and beehiiv suit creators and paid subscriptions, Kit suits course and product sellers, MailerLite and others suit businesses wanting flexibility. I recommend based on your audience, budget, and monetization plans rather than hype.

How do I grow my newsletter list?

Through opt-in forms and lead magnets on your site, content upgrades, referral loops, cross-promotion, and consistent value that gets forwarded. I set up the capture and growth mechanics; consistent, worthwhile content does the compounding.

Can I make money from a newsletter?

Yes, through sponsorships, paid subscription tiers, affiliate income, or selling your own products. I structure the setup so monetization is easy to switch on once you have engaged subscribers. Audience and trust come first; revenue follows.

How is this different from email automation?

Newsletter setup is about building and growing an owned audience you publish to regularly. Email automation is behavior-triggered flows that sell automatically. They complement each other: the newsletter builds the relationship, automation converts it.

How long does newsletter setup take?

The technical setup, platform, forms, automation, and deliverability, usually takes about a week. Growth is ongoing, but you’ll be ready to publish and capture subscribers quickly, with a clear plan for building the list from there.

Build a newsletter that lands and converts

Get the platform, template, automation, and deliverability sorted from day one, so email actually works for you.

Start my newsletter →