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How Coastal Recruiting Built A 20K Newsletter in Under 45 Minutes

Why Consistency and Value Drive Coastal Recruiting's Newsletter ROI

Finding the right people to bring your vision to life can be as challenging as developing the next groundbreaking technology. Whether you code from a beachside café or brainstorm in a bustling city co-working space, the quest for top-tier talent knows no boundaries.

Does this sound familiar?

Enter Coastal Recruiting—your compass in the vast sea of startup talent.

A boutique team of startup-obsessed recruiters and former founders, Coastal Recruiting has been navigating the waters of hyper-growth, VC-backed startups for over five years, successfully placing more than 500 technical candidates at leading startups.

With a deep understanding of the unique needs of early-stage companies, Coastal Recruiting has mastered the art of matching elite, uniquely suited, zero-to-one talent with innovative startups that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

In this case study, we will meet the founders behind Coastal Recruiting and learn how this business venture uses newsletters to garner leads and unite its community.

Table of Contents

The Recruiting Maestros Behind the Emails

David Friedman, co-founder of Coastal Recruiting alongside Asher Hoffman, has played a pivotal role in transforming the recruitment landscape for early-stage startups. With an impressive background at Google, David developed a keen insight into marketing trends and recruitment strategies that would later define the company's approach.

Asher Hoffman, whose entrepreneurial spirit and expertise complement David's, shares a vision for empowering startups in their search for talent. Together, they recognized the untapped potential of newsletters long before launching their own, crafting a platform that showcases job opportunities and engages with a community of skilled professionals.

Through their journey, David and Asher have built a thriving business and fostered a culture of collaboration and growth, encouraging startups to navigate recruitment challenges with confidence and flair.

The Birth of a Buzzing Newsletter

Having worked at Google and helped advertisers optimize their acquisition channels, David always recognized the potential of email marketing.

He explained, "I've seen the value of newsletters for a long time. It's super high intent. I always understood the value of newsletters as a channel if you like a business, selling a product or service."

His experience at Google gave him unique insights into the effectiveness of email communications, particularly his note that Gmail was a prominent acquisition source.

When it came time to launch his newsletter for Coastal Recruiting, David decided to use beehiiv. He stated, "We've been on beehiiv since day one. I'm a big fan. There are only a few platforms out there that can handle 20, 30, or 40 thousand subscribers, and do it so that we know you can’t be spamming."

Buzzing Through the Tech Recruiting Hive

Coastal Recruiting newsletter nurtures a community of 20,000 engineers and delivers exciting job openings directly to their inboxes.

As David puts it, this method of passive engagement keeps them top-of-mind without the constant back-and-forth of typical check-ins.

So, how do they keep their hive buzzing?

Let's explore the sweet strategies behind their successful newsletter.

The Sweet Symphony of Email Marketing

When it comes to email marketing, David has some sage advice that’s as sweet as honey: deliver value consistently. Think of it as crafting a delightful mix of content that not only informs but also builds a solid reputation.

Here are some of the key ingredients of his strategy:

Personal Touch: Each newsletter is introduced with a friendly "Hey, I'm the founder of Coastal Recruiting," adding a level of intimacy that feels genuine rather than corporate.

Content That Resonates: The focus remains on providing engineers with "awesome jobs" and valuable networking opportunities, creating a rich tapestry of relevant information.

Engagement and Feedback: The results shine through, with the majority of recipients responding positively – and most notably, saying, “This is awesome!”

By personalizing communication and curating engaging content, Coastal Recruiting fosters a distinct connection with its audience.

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, Linda is a marketing consultant who helps small businesses create compelling brand stories.

The Honey of Success

The proof of this buzzing success is evident in the numbers.

Coastal Recruiting's newsletter isn’t just fluff; it delivers real results.

Here’s a rundown of the impressive metrics they’ve achieved:

Strong Database: Over 20,000 engineers are part of their growing community.

High Engagement: They consistently enjoy remarkable open rates, keeping their audience interested and engaged.

Qualified Leads: Each week, they net 5-7 qualified leads directly from the newsletter.

Low Complaint Rate: After more than ten sends, there were only ten spam complaints, indicating that the content was effective.

Efficient Production: Producing the newsletter takes just 45 minutes weekly, proving that impactful marketing can also be efficient.

Buzzing About beehiiv, The Ultimate Newsletter Companion

For Coastal Recruiting, a compact team of eight without a dedicated marketing function, beehiiv emerged as the ideal partner.

David praises the platform's user-friendliness, stating, “beehiiv makes it super easy for us to do email marketing.” With easy-to-use templates and design capabilities, even someone with no prior experience can launch a professional newsletter.

Thanks to beehiiv, David can deftly “spin up our newsletter and send it to 20,000 people in 45 minutes,” allowing the team to focus on what truly matters: connecting talent with opportunity.

The Sweet Perks of Using beehiiv

Harnessing the beehiiv advantage means more than just ease of use; it transforms how Coastal Recruiting engages with its audience.

Here’s a glimpse into the multifaceted benefits they’re reaping:

Personalized Branding: The platform allows them to incorporate their branding effortlessly, ensuring that every newsletter reflects their unique identity.

Community Cultivation: By nurturing their engineering community through regular updates, they maintain a strong presence in the minds of potential candidates.

Event Promotion: From spotlighting VC partner events to hackathons, beehiiv helps share valuable opportunities that keep its audience engaged.

Client Showcases: By featuring client companies and job openings, they assist job seekers and promote their partnerships, creating a win-win scenario.

Future Plans: A Hiiv of Possibilities

But the journey doesn’t stop there.

Coastal Recruiting has ambitious plans for its newsletter that will further enhance its value.

David is excited about future features, which include:

Spotlight Features: Focusing on client highlights to build stronger partnerships.

Insider Insights: Providing deep dives into various companies to attract well-informed candidates.

Interview Mastery: Sharing preparation guides and tips for successful interviews.

Salary Savvy: Offering compensation negotiation tips, helping candidates feel empowered in discussions.

Trend Tracking: Analyzing hiring trends to keep their audience ahead of the curve.

Real Stories: Showcasing candidate testimonials and success stories to inspire trust and connection.

From Newsletter to Lead Generation Powerhouse

Through this strategic evolution, the Coastal Recruiting newsletter serves several pivotal purposes:

Passive Candidate Engagement: Staying top-of-mind with potential hires, ensuring they remember Coastal Recruiting when job opportunities arise.

Brand Building: Elevating their presence in the startup ecosystem, making their brand synonymous with quality and reliability.

Client Promotion: Actively highlighting the companies they work with, turning their newsletter into a platform for client visibility.

With these innovative strategies and a user-friendly platform like beehiiv, Coastal Recruiting is not just sending out newsletters; it is crafting a narrative that resonates with its audience while steadily building its brand in the competitive recruitment landscape.

Ready to Create Some Buzz?

If David's success story has inspired you to start your own newsletter, give beehiiv a try!

With its user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and powerful features, you'll be creating a buzz in no time. beehiiv enables teams of any size to design professional, engaging newsletters that drive results.

With powerful automation, beautiful designs, and robust analytics at your fingertips, you can focus on delivering value to your audience.

Don’t let your brilliant ideas stay trapped in your mind—visit beehiiv today to start your newsletter journey and transform your business!

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