Failory

Beehiiv Newsletter Breakdown

Author

Ricky
November 16, 2024

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WE’RE BACK!

👋 Before you tell me how much you missed me, and suffocate me with your virtual hugs, I must get some things off my chest:

  1. I missed you too.

  2. I gave you all the space you needed.

  3. Now, I will hit your inbox twice a week.

Pixels' Break It Down editions are back on track! You'll get them in your inbox every Tuesday. But that's not all... 😏 We're also sending you the 1-2-3 edition every Saturday, packed with newsletter design tips, examples, and resources.

Each breakdown shows you how the pros design their newsletters to keep readers engaged and boost revenue. Let's dive into this week's breakdown.

BREAKDOWN

. Failory .

Newsletter by Nico Cerdeira
Check it out at Failory
Designed by Pixels 👾 
Built with beehiiv

We know that 90% of startups are tanking. Why, though? In his newsletter, Nico is talking about all the major startup failures. 

Let’s break it down for you.👇

. Thumbnails .

Crash & Burn:

  1. Same dark background on every image.

  2. Images that scream "disaster" and fit the Fail(st)ory vibe.

  3. Messy, oversized text that says, "this ain't gonna end well."

. What I love about it: .

Failory stays consistent and true to their brand's style and identity, keeping things “dramatic.” And well, who doesn’t love a little bit of drama? 😏

. Introduction .

For Busy Founders:

  1. Sometimes he throws in personal stuff about his work with startups, or what he’s up to with Failory.

  2. Links to key content: Fail(St)ory, Trend, and top resources.

  3. Main sponsor highlighted upfront. 

. What I love about it: .

Nico’s minimalist style is just what busy founders need. He knows they don’t have much time, so he cuts to the chase.

. Sponsor Ad .

Make it obvious with pattern interruption:

  1. Starts with the sponsor's name.

  2. Follow a clear format: problem, benefits, and solution.

  3. Can’t miss button, with a clear call-to-action, and it covers the most common objection - no credit card needed.

. This Week in Startups .

Brevity is king:

  1. 3 main topics, all highly relevant for founders.

  2. Use emojis to make sub-headings pop a bit.

  3. Add dividers between sections for better readability.

  4. Short and sweet headlines, but…

  5. Attention-grabbing copy turned hyperlinks to make it pop.

What I love about it: .

Failory’s minimalist brand is blended with emojis (not too many), making it fun, on-brand, and easy to read. Help them save time.

. Fail(St)ory .

Everyone loves a good story:

[1] Why call it a story when you can call it Fail(st)ory?

[2] Use an on-brand image to visually represent the narrative.

[3] Stick to the formula: What happened, why it’s a big deal, and the main thing the reader needs to know.

[4] Show, don’t tell. Let everyone see what the startup actually built.

[5] Founders love numbers—blend them in.

[6] Use emojis to spice up the text and keep it fun.

What I love about it: .

There two ways to learn: [1] from your own mistakes or [2] from other people’s f-ups. While most people only see the successes of startups, Nico highlights why 90% fail. There is valuable insight in how not to build a business and the reasons behind it.

. Weekly Tool .

Blend in:

  1. Nico makes the ad look like part of the newsletter, blending it with other sections.

  2. Benefit-driven description, keeping it clear, and compelling.

  3. Clickable, short, and clear CTA.

What I love about it: .

As of today, Nico charges $400 to sponsor this section alone. You can see how much he charges for different sections from his editions. You could also promote your affiliate partners, products, or services. Get creative.

. Trend .

Novelty seeking:

  1. Share your perspective on a fresh, overhyped topic in your industry.

  2. Include an on-brand custom image with a catchy headline.

What I love about it: .

We’re suckers for brand consistency and standing out by “blending in.” Look at how that image blends perfectly with the black background. 🤌

Tap into expert insights:

  1. Embed smart insights from trusted sources.

  2. Tell them why this trend matters.

What I love about it: .

When you include the threads, it's like adding more details to a story—it makes everything clearer. I'd suggest taking a screenshot of the post on social media, just in case the person who made it decides to delete it. That way, you won't be left with a bunch of confusing code or gibberish.

Leverage a trend to boost reader’s engagement:

  1. Ask for their opinionated opinion.

  2. Make it easy for them to answer by giving them the answers.

What I love about it: .

It is an easy way to keep your readers engaged and showing signs of life. It is a good feeling. Some newsletter writers would settle for smoke signals. 💨 

. Share Failory .

Show them what’s in it for them:

  1. Custom carousel-style slider image showcasing rewards

  2. The GIF blends perfectly with the background color

. Polls .

Let them give you a piece of their mind:

  1. If you’re going to use emojis, use the ones that vibe with your brand.

  2. Align options’ description to the brand’s identity (get creative!)

. Footer .

Lead them deeper down the rabbit hole:

  1. Use a stacked, multi-layer color effect (black).

  2. Highlight the most important content: interviews, blog, graveyard.

  3. Give them the opportunity to support you: products, sponsor us.

Conclusion .

You can never go wrong with timeless and classic colors like white, gray, and black. The minimalist approach fits both the brand and the audience. Nico nails it with startup content that’s quick and easy to read in just 5 minutes.

If you liked this breakdown and think it could be helpful for someone you know, share it with them and tell them to subscribe: readpixels.beehiiv.com/p/failory-newsletter-breakdown

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That’s all for now.

This edition was written by Maciej. Designed and edited by Ricky from Pixels.

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Ricky 👨🏻‍💻

🇺🇸 Joe Portsmouth: An absolute magician. His work exceeded my expectations.

🇺🇸 Sam Woods: One of the most talented newsletter designers I’ve seen!

🇺🇸 Michael Galvan: I highly recommend Ricky and his team at Pixels!

🇬🇧 Matt Navarra: Ricky delivered a slick redesign that my audience loves.

🇺🇸 Mike Vernon: The go-to newsletter design expert! 🐐

🇺🇸 Michael Boorman: Ricky designed my newsletter better than I could imagined.

🇺🇸 Justin Swarz: Ricky goes above and beyond. Phenomenal designer!

🇺🇸 Jordan Mix: The best in the game. 

🇺🇸 Morgan Barrett: Ricky is the goat. 

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