Hey there—
If you run a newsletter (or even think about launching one), today’s issue is for you.
Because here’s the truth:
You can have the cleanest design, cleverest copy, and a 60% open rate… but if no one’s clicking, it’s just a pretty ghost town.
This week, we’re breaking down how five of the most successful newsletters—1440, Morning Brew, The Hustle, TLDR, and The Skimm—drive click engagement with strategy, not luck.
Let’s decode what they’re doing right—and what you can steal for your own list.
1440
Let the Facts Drive the Clicks
The Play:
No spin. No fluff. Just clean, factual summaries and an external link to a legit source. Every story builds trust—clicks follow naturally.
Why it Works:
Links are embedded seamlessly within the narrative flow, not tacked on as afterthoughts
“More” links that don’t bait—they deliver
A clean, minimal design that makes links pop
Offbeat links in the “Etcetera” section that spark curiosity
Steal This:
Treat your links like value props, not afterthoughts. Embed them where curiosity peaks—not as salesy CTAs, but as helpful exits. If your audience trusts where you send them, they’ll click more often.
Clarity > cleverness. Let your curation and credibility do the heavy lifting.
Morning Brew
Gamify the Scroll
The Play:
Morning Brew makes clicking fun. From witty headlines to clever link placement, they’ve turned engagement into entertainment. Every scroll feels like you're in on the joke—and the punchline is almost always a clickable CTA.
Why it Works:
CTAs wrapped in wit — links are cleverly embedded in jokes, curiosity lines, or pop-culture references (e.g., “Elon did what?”)
Referral links drive clicks with tiered rewards: mugs, gear, exclusive content
Snappy visuals like polls and charts double as irresistible click bait
Their tone is always sharp, playful, and conversational—clicks feel like a response, not an action
Steal This:
Make every CTA feel like a wink. Humor builds rapport, and when your links are part of the fun—not just the function—your CTR will thank you.
The Hustle
HubSpot-Powered Stories With a Sell-By Smile
The Play:
Story-first content wrapped around HubSpot-native ads that feel more like insights than promotions.
Why it Works:
They lead with curiosity—quirky headlines, offbeat stories, and viral-worthy copy that pulls you in
Most sponsorships are now for HubSpot products, baked into useful tips and tools for startups, founders, and marketers
Clear through-line: build trust with entertainment, then softly pivot to a HubSpot tool that solves the reader’s pain
Steal This:
If your product is the sponsor, don’t force the pitch. Do what The Hustle does: entertain first, educate next, and position your offer as the obvious next click.
TLDR
Label Everything, Save Readers Time
The Play:
Bullet-point curation + clean, no-surprise link labels. Every click is a crystal-clear shortcut to something useful—with zero guesswork.
Why it Works:
They call out read times (e.g. “4 min read”) so readers know the time commitment
Links are labeled like [GitHub], [AI Tool], [Blog Post] — no mystery meat
Sections are organized by category: Tech, Dev, Startup, AI — easy to scan
Clicking is frictionless, discovery-focused, and rewarding
Steal This:
Treat your links like value previews, not hidden destinations. Give readers a reason to click by showing them exactly what they’re getting. Better clarity = better CTRs.
The Skimm
Make Life Easier (and Clickable)
The Play:
The Skimm blends lifestyle content with utility. Their newsletter doesn’t just inform—it nudges you to do something: shop a deal, plan a week, or add something to your calendar. Their CTAs feel more like life hacks than sales tactics.
Why it Works:
“But first:” CTA at the top – Every issue opens with a branded, curiosity-driven call to action with a direct link (e.g., “But first: Prime Day deals to grab before they're gone”)
Seamless “Just Trust Us” recs tied to direct, shoppable links
Smart CTA habits (e.g. “Add this to your calendar,” “Shop the deal”) baked into the experience
Curated real-life utility → book a trip, calm your stress, fix your sleep
Steal This:
Wrap your links in a habit, not hype. Skimm readers don’t just click—they plan their week around those links. Build trust, build routine, and your clicks will follow.
🧩 What You Can Swipe from the Pros
Newsletter | Unique Click Hook |
|---|---|
1440 | Trust-first curation → Authority links |
Morning Brew | Witty CTAs + gamified referrals |
The Hustle | Storytelling = CTR |
TLDR | Labeled links + dev-skimmable layout |
The Skimm | Lifestyle habits that drive daily clicks |
🔗 Bonus: 15 Click-Boosting Tactics You Can Test This Week
📥 STRUCTURAL WINS
“Read More” after every blurb
TLDR-style [Label] tags on links
Curiosity links inside paragraphs
Referral links with progress rewards
Jump links for navigation in longer emails
🎨 VISUAL HOOKS
Clickable charts or visuals
Bold button-style CTAs
GIFs/memes that tease a click
Emoji segment headers
Footer links for “View All” or share prompts
💡 PSYCH TRIGGERS
Tease just enough—make the click earn the rest
Use FOMO: “Only 100 spots left”
Link to outcomes: “Add this to your calendar”
Unique curiosity-driven CTA links at the top of each newsletter
Invite a reply: “Want this breakdown? Click + reply”
BEFORE YOU GO
3 Ways I Can Help
🔹 Smart Feed – A steady flow of engaged, high-intent subscribers delivered directly to your list every day.
🔹 Smart Pixel – Turn anonymous website visitors into verified email subscribers—without forms or friction.
🔹 Smart Delivery – Keep your emails out of spam and in the inbox with expert-driven deliverability solutions.
✅ Final Thought
Clicks aren’t about pushing harder—they’re about designing smarter.
The best newsletters engineer curiosity, build trust, and give people a reason to lean in.
Earn the click. Then scale it.
Chris Miquel
PS: If you want help implementing any of these click strategies—or want my take on which ones make the most sense for your list—just hit reply. I’ll point you in the right direction.
