Finding the perfect property abroad can be daunting, especially with the overwhelming number of available listings and the challenge of discerning which homes are truly worth the investment.

This is where the European Listings newsletter comes in as a beacon for aspiring homeowners, providing a curated selection of charming and affordable real estate across Europe.

Founded by Michelle Wolf, European Listings transforms the complex world of overseas property into an accessible opportunity. “You get weekly property lists of really amazing homes that are bargains available for a very affordable price,” she explains.

Her newsletter is more than just a compilation of listings; it serves as a passport to some of Europe’s most desirable locations, delivered weekly to paying subscribers eager to explore new horizons.

Wolf’s journey into the real estate realm was not just a casual venture; it was a passionate fusion of her love for property and her tech-savvy nature. “I run my entire business on beehiiv,” she shares, illustrating her commitment to an innovative approach.

By focusing solely on paid subscriptions, she offers a membership that grants access to her carefully curated collection of European homes for sale.

In this case study, we’ll dive into the relationship between beehiiv and European Listings. We will explore how this powerful partnership has enabled Wolf to scale her newsletter and cater to the growing demand for exceptional, curated real estate opportunities abroad.

Journey To European Bliss

Wolf’s journey started in tech, working for a company that, funnily enough, did “something similar to beehiiv.”

But her heart was elsewhere: “I am from Germany, and I was very invested in German real estate. Then, I knew I wanted to do something with it... At first, it was just a creative idea. I wanted to have a creative outlet, but then I figured that not so many people would be interested in German real estate, particularly. So, I expanded and said, Okay, I want to cover all of Europe.”

She began by “opening an Instagram page and sharing listings of agencies that I was partnered with.” But the real game-changer came when she discovered beehiiv, thanks, in part, to a tip from ChatGPT. “I tried out many different platforms, and beehiiv was the one that had the most capabilities. It was kind of the sweet spot of what I needed,” Wolf recalls.

Building A Business One Newsletter at a Time

Wolf's approach to building her business has been methodical and lean.

She started with the core features—memberships and weekly newsletters—and gradually expanded her use of beehiiv's tools as she became more comfortable with the platform.

"Based on your content on social media, based on the newsletters that you send out, where you always update use cases, on new features, I started to get informed and think how I could mold this to my business?"

The Perfect Tech Match (No Swiping Required)

Finding the right platform was a game-changer for Wolf's business.

She needed something robust enough to handle paid subscriptions while avoiding the complexities of juggling multiple systems. After experimenting with various options, she discovered beehiiv, which she describes as “the sweet spot of what I needed.”

Wolf wasn't looking for just another email platform—the limitations and complications of managing paid subscriptions with them were a dealbreaker. “With Mailchimp, it’s very complicated to have paid subscriptions, and you end up needing an external provider,” she explains.

At the same time, she didn’t want a cumbersome all-in-one course platform like Kajabi. “That was too heavy,” she recalls.

beehiiv struck the perfect balance.

For Wolf, beehiiv is not just another tool; it’s the backbone of her entire operation. “It’s one place for everything. That’s the biggest value proposition for me.”

The intuitive design and responsive support team have saved her significant time and money. “beehiiv probably saved me a full tech employee. If I had to use so many different platforms, I’d definitely need someone to manage all of that,” she laughs.

Having worked in tech, she readily admits, “I’m not a techie person,” and that’s exactly why beehiiv is such a relief for her. It keeps her business streamlined and efficient while allowing her to focus on what truly matters: growth and engagement with her subscribers.

Data-Driven Decisions (Without Needing a Data Science Degree)

With a focus on paid memberships from day one, Wolf’s approach was anything but typical.

“Because I did things backwards, as I only launched with paid subscriptions.”

Her growth has been impressive: “I have had over 4,000 customers served through beehiiv. It’s obviously amazing. That’s how I’ve been able to build my business.”

Wolf’s favorite feature is the tagging option, which allows her to collect valuable subscriber data that informs her business decisions.

Wolf loves how you can simply tag any subscriber and track key information, like which campaign they signed up through and which campaigns performed best. This data is really valuable for helping a company grow.

Audience Feedback And Iteration

Wolf’s content strategy is simple: listen, learn, and adapt.

“The metrics that I relied on most were the click rates and unsubscribe rate... if I saw that there was something with a lot of clicks, for me it’s particularly images of listings, then I knew I had to focus more on this kind of listings and this kind of content.”

She also runs monthly surveys to keep her finger on the pulse of her audience’s desires.

The Support Team That Feels Like Family

Beyond the platform itself, Wolf cites beehiiv's support team as a critical component of her success.

"The support team is always so helpful in finding workarounds, and it's really easy to just get along with everything to the point that the support team feels like an extension of my team," she says. "They will test things for me. They will create a subscription; they will do anything that helps me with anything that I need."

Future Plans: Free Newsletter on the Horizon

europeanlistings

919K followers

View more on Instagram

Despite her success with paid subscriptions, Wolf recognizes the opportunity to grow even further by launching a free newsletter that can serve as a funnel to her paid membership.

"I'm realizing now that there is a huge opportunity to have a free newsletter as well," she explains. "I'm actually working on launching a free newsletter as well and then giving people the option to upgrade and get more people into the funnel."

Why Trust Me

Linda Hwang has extensive experience in B2B marketing and previously worked at a renowned international facilities management company. There, she played a crucial role in creating effective content and social media marketing plans. Now, Hwang is a marketing consultant who helps small businesses create compelling brand stories.

Michelle's Advice for Newsletter Entrepreneurs

If you’re considering launching a newsletter business, take a cue from Wolf, who has navigated the journey and emerged victorious.

She emphasizes three essential strategies that can set you on the path to success:

1. Start with a Free Newsletter: “My advice would be not to make the mistake of not having a free newsletter. It’s way easier to do it this way than the other way around.”

   Offering a free newsletter allows you to build an audience and refine your content without the pressure of immediate monetization.

2. Leverage Your Unique Skills: “Create a newsletter based on your unique takes,” Wolf advises. Reflect on what you excel at and what your friends praise you for. 

   Use those insights to carve out a niche that highlights your strengths.

3. Believe in Your Vision: Confidence is crucial. “When I first started, everyone was asking: What are you doing? Who’s going to pay for that?”

   But Wolf persisted, trusting her vision even in the face of skepticism. “I knew it would work—and it did.”

With these insights, you can embark on your newsletter journey with a solid foundation.

Conclusion

For Michelle Wolf, beehiiv has been an invaluable business enabler, saving her both time and money.

What Wolf values most is the all-in-one nature of beehiiv: "It's one place for everything. That's the biggest value proposition for me," she explains. This streamlined approach allows her to focus on her passion, transforming it into a thriving business.

Her success story serves as a testament to how the right tools, paired with a clear vision and determination, can turn a niche passion into a scalable enterprise.

As she looks to expand with a free newsletter offering, European Listings is poised for even greater growth, all powered by beehiiv.

Wolf summarizes her experience beautifully: “There are two elements to my business: social media and beehiiv, which is kind of the center of my business.”

If you're ready to elevate your own business and streamline your operations, consider beehiiv.

Transform your passion into success today!