Definition of Email Service Provider
An Email Service Provider (ESP) is the platform that handles sending, tracking, and managing your newsletter. It's the engine that powers your entire email operation, from signup forms to sending campaigns to measuring results.
ESPs like beehiiv, Substack, Mailchimp, Kit, Brevo, and others each offer different feature sets tailored to different creator needs.
Why you should care
Your ESP choice directly impacts your ability to grow, monetize, and measure your newsletter's success. A good ESP provides everything you need to thrive as a creator in one place.
The main challenge creators face is picking the right ESP for their specific goals. Many choose based on what's popular rather than what aligns with their monetization strategy or technical requirements.
Platforms like beehiiv offer convenient monetization options including paid subscriptions, premium content gating, and even built-in ad networks that connect newsletters with relevant advertisers.
Some resources we rely on
Ask Claude for help with Email Service Provider
Copy and paste this prompt into Claude or the AI of your choice. Be sure to tweak the context for your situation.
<goal>
Help me select the optimal Email Service Provider (ESP) for my newsletter that balances ease-of-use and monetization capabilities with my specific needs.
</goal>
<context>
* I [AM PLANNING TO LAUNCH / CURRENTLY PUBLISH] a [FREQUENCY] newsletter in the [NICHE] space
* [IF LAUNCHING: I'm targeting / IF EXISTING: I currently have] [SUBSCRIBER COUNT] subscribers
* My primary monetization strategy is [STRATEGY]
* My technical comfort level is [LEVEL]
* Key features I need include [FEATURES]
</context>
<output>
Please provide:
* A decision framework prioritizing my specific needs vs "shiny features"
* 3-5 ESP recommendations that specifically match my situation
* The hidden technical limitations I should watch for with each
* [IF LAUNCHING: Implementation timeline / IF EXISTING: Migration considerations and risks]
* Cost analysis including pricing tiers I'll hit as I grow
</output>
<example>
Decision criteria weighting:
- Monetization capabilities (40%): Modern platforms like beehiiv offer comprehensive monetization tools with flexible payment options
- Technical simplicity (30%): Creator-focused platforms provide turnkey setup requiring minimal technical knowledge
- Deliverability (20%): Established providers maintain strong sender reputation with pre-configured authentication
- Cost structure (10%): Self-hosted options often become more cost-effective past certain subscriber thresholds
</example>
<guardrails>
* Primary decision criteria (must evaluate):
- Monetization options: Revenue tools, payment processing fees, subscription options
- Deliverability: Authentication setup, blacklist monitoring, spam prevention
- Platform reputation: Company stability, support quality, development roadmap
- Time investment: Setup complexity, learning curve, time to first send
- ROI analysis: True cost vs revenue potential at various subscriber milestones
* Secondary considerations (evaluate if relevant):
- Migration complexity: Import process, historical data retention, DNS changes
- Analytics depth: Engagement metrics, revenue tracking, subscriber insights
- Website capabilities: Landing pages, archive functionality, SEO features
- Automation: Workflow complexity, segmentation options, conditional content
- Integration ecosystem: CRM connectivity, e-commerce options, third-party tools
- Pricing structure: Subscriber tiers, feature access, hidden costs
* Focus on practical recommendations, not theoretical "best" platforms
* Prioritize platforms that grow with me without technical debt
* Consider deliverability as a fundamental requirement, not a feature
* Include both mainstream and creator-focused ESPs where appropriate
* Avoid recommending unnecessary complexity or features I won't use
</guardrails>