Why I Use Flodesk for Simple, Beautiful Email Marketing
So many creative founders avoid adding newsletters to their marketing plan because it feels complicated. I wanted to write newsletters that felt like a small ritual in my week, a personal way of speaking to my subscribers 1:1. But all the email marketing platforms I tried made this process harder than it needed to be, and I spent more time troubleshooting design layouts and managing workflows than actually connecting with people. So when I found Flodesk, something clicked. At last, here were emails that looked beautiful without requiring tons of design time.
I started a trial to test out the workflows, and found the process so straightforward that within those first few weeks I set up a workflow for each of my products. These automatic workflows have been so supportive for my customers and have also reduced my customer support requests, taking one more task off my plate.
In this post, I’ll share how I use Flodesk in my business, and also explore how the platform has evolved over the past year to include even more features that support creative founders in their work.
This post was sponsored by Flodesk. We only share content we genuinely believe in, and all opinions are our own. This post also contains affiliate links, a unique URL which contains a tracking code. If you click on this link and purchase something, we receive a small commission, without any extra cost to you. You can find our full affiliate disclosure here.
The Backstory
When I started Studio Founded, I knew I needed tools that felt manageable. I wanted to write, design, and send emails without feeling like I needed to learn a new software skill every time I logged in.
Flodesk was the first email platform that struck the right balance. It offered elegant email design, simple form creation, and an interface that didn’t feel confusing or overwhelming. And what has surprised me over time is how much the platform has expanded without compromising on its ease of use.
Flodesk’s Evolution to a Creator-Centred System
Flodesk used to be known for its design, but I’ve enjoyed seeing it grow into a creator-centered system. It offers:
A full workflow builder
Segmentation and subscriber organisation
Integrations with Manychat, Canva, Thrivecart, Zapier, and more
Native checkouts with order bumps
Improved management tools and infrastructure
This means you can use it both to sell products and market them, all from one platform. What I love about this is that it hasn’t made the platform feel harder to manage. It’s still the same simple platform I love, just with more features to more fully support my business’s ecosystem.
The Flodesk X ThriveCart Integration
The biggest shift for me personally (and the update that changed my entire workflow) is the native Thrivecart integration. Before this feature existed, I connected Thrivecart and Flodesk through Zapier. It worked, but it added cost and extra steps to my process.
Now, when someone buys a workbook or template from the Founded shop or becomes an affiliate, they flow straight into Flodesk:
Customers who purchase a template, workbook, or Website-in-a-Week spot are added directly to the correct workflow
Abandoned cart workflows trigger automatically
Affiliates receive automatic confirmation and onboarding emails
Post-purchase sequences send instantly
It feels like I finally have the system I always wanted, that reduces my workload and makes the purchasing processing flow smoothly for my customers.
How I Personally Use Flodesk in My Business
Here’s how all of this this looks in practice inside Studio Founded:
Customers buy through Thrivecart
Whether it’s a workbook, a template, or client experience materials, Thrivecart handles the checkout.
They’re added to the appropriate Flodesk workflow
Each product has its own onboarding sequence that walks customers through how to access their materials, what to expect, and how to make the most of their purchase.
Abandoned cart workflows support conversions
These gentle reminders are automated, beautifully designed, and set up once.
Affiliates receive their welcome sequence automatically
Commission details, instructions, and materials are delivered without me needing to send individual emails.
Everything feels clean, intentional, and quick to manage.
A Quick Note on Flodesk Checkouts:
Flodesk now offers its own checkout builder and it’s so impressive. The design is clean, order bumps are easy to set up, and it connects naturally to email workflows.
I still use Thrivecart because I have the lifetime plan and a long history of products inside it, but Flodesk’s checkout is a tempting option for anyone wanting a simpler, aesthetic-led alternative.
Why This Matters for Creative Founders
Flodesk hits a sweet spot for me and many of the creative founders I work with:
Simple, beautiful email design
So you don’t need to be a designer to make something that looks considered.
A workflow builder that isn’t overwhelming
Everything is visible on one page with no confusing branches or multi-step triggers.
Integrations that cut down your tech stack
Thrivecart is my own main integration, but Flodesk supports many others like HoneyBook, Canva, Shopify, Squarespace, and more.
Forms, segments, and triggers
It’s organized, functional, and not over-engineered.
Who I Recommend Flodesk For
If you’re a creative in the early or mid-stages of your business or if you want to grow your newsletter without learning a new software language, then FloDesk is worth exploring, especially if:
You’re a designer, photographer, writer, coach, wellness practitioner, or creative founder
You want newsletters that look thoughtful without hours of design
You’d like to grow your email list without learning a technical platform
You want strong features without the heaviness of corporate-style tools
There are three pricing tiers:
Lite – $19 per month: For simple newsletters (unlimited emails, 1 workflow)
Pro – $25 per month: Unlimited workflows, 1 checkout (ideal for most creatives)
Everything – $49 per month: Unlimited workflows + unlimited checkouts
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried a lot of email platforms over the years, and the reason I’ve stayed with Flodesk is simple: it helps me run my business in a way that’s genuinely easy to work with. The evolution of the platform (especially with the Thrivecart integration) has made it stronger without becoming complicated.
If you want to build an email system that supports your business rather than adding more tasks to your plate, Flodesk is a solid place to begin. You can use our Partner link to start your free Flodesk trial and get 25% off your first year.
