Newsletter Power: Why Brands Love Email Again 💌

Hey Nerds! 🎉 Welcome back to The Ad Nerd—where marketing feels less like rocket science and more like your cool friend spilling the secrets.

Let’s dive into this week’s treasure chest of marketing wisdom

In The News 🗞️

PepsiCo Pops Open a Deal with Poppi Soda

PepsiCo is shaking things up by acquiring Poppi, the trendy prebiotic soda brand, for a bubbly $1.95 billion. Known for its gut-friendly beverages that mix prebiotics, fruit juices, and apple cider vinegar, Poppi appeals strongly to health-focused consumers. This acquisition underscores PepsiCo's move toward healthier beverage trends.

Read more →

Substack Writers Transform into Ad Gurus

Independent creators on Substack are now doubling as their own advertising sales reps, significantly boosting their revenue streams. For example, writer Casey Lewis saw ad revenue jump from 10% to 20% of her income by directly negotiating deals. It’s a growing trend highlighting personalized advertising's increasing importance.

Read more →

Nerd Tip of the Week 🎯

Why Newsletters Are Ad Magnets in 2025

Newsletters have become the cool kids on the marketing block, especially in 2025. Here's why marketers are flocking to them:

1.) Targeted Audience: Subscribers already care about your topic—it's like speaking directly to your own fan club.

2.) Contextual Advertising: Ads match the newsletter's theme, increasing relevance and effectiveness. If your newsletter covers baking, kitchen appliance ads fit right in!

3.) Direct Engagement: Emails feel personal and arrive straight to subscribers, boosting trust and engagement.

Example: Imagine you run a pet-care newsletter. Pet food and accessories brands would eagerly advertise to your audience of pet lovers.

Real-World Example 🔎

Spotify's 'Wrapped' Campaign

A familiar campaign for The Ad Nerd Readers; Spotify's yearly 'Wrapped' campaign masterfully uses personalized newsletters to boost user engagement:

Personal Connection: Shows users their own listening habits, creating an engaging and personal experience.

Shareability: Easy-to-share visuals encourage users to post their music habits online, spreading Spotify’s visibility.

Gamification: Fun stats and rankings make it enjoyable and interactive, motivating users to engage more deeply

Takeaway for You: Use personalization to create content your audience loves and wants to share.

Tool of the Week 🛠️

beehiiv

This week’s "Tool of the Week" is beehiiv, chosen for its free tier, easy-to-use templates, and built-in analytics. It’s perfect to create, grow, and monetize your newsletter easily with built-in signup forms and referral systems.

Check it Out →

Recommendation of the Week

Weekly Content Marketing Digest

Gemma | Bright Leopard Marketing

Gemma, the visionary founder of Bright Leopard Marketing, is a marketing expert and strategic guru with a passion for digital and content marketing. She has helped businesses thrive in the online world for years, and her Friday newsletter is a must-have for entrepreneurs and marketers alike. Gemma stays up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices, and her holistic approach to marketing ensures that her clients receive a comprehensive and tailored strategy that drives real results. Subscribe to her newsletter today and let Gemma guide you on a transformative journey toward business growth and success.

Marketing Mythbuster 🧠

"Email Marketing Is Dead"

Nope! Despite what some might say, email is thriving in 2025! Personalization and targeted content mean newsletters still offer fantastic returns, making them essential in your marketing toolbox.

Just for Fun 😂

"Why did the marketer break up with the calendar?"

Because it had too many dates! 😂

That’s all for this week, Nerds! 🤓

Keep building, experimenting, and having fun with your marketing. Got questions or tips to share? Hit reply and let me know—I might feature you next week!

PS: Don’t forget to share The Ad Nerd with a friend who needs some quick marketing magic!

Keep learning and growing,