Three Essential Flodesk Workflows behind my Business Success
From newsletter nurturing to evergreen course funnels, these three Flodesk workflows have been the secret engine powering my design and education business.
Three Essential Flodesk Workflows behind my Business Success
a.
Flodesk
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Email Marketing
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for Flodesk. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I use and genuinely love.
Email marketing remains one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience. Yet finding a platform that balances beautiful design with powerful automation isn't always straightforward.
As someone who runs a design business and mentors web designers on a daily basis, I've found my answer in Flodesk. This platform has constantly supported how I attract, nurture, and serve my community of curious and tasteful designers.
Today, I'm pulling back the curtain to show you the three essential workflows that have been keeping Squarestylist's design and education business running smoothly since we launched in 2020. These automated sequences have helped me nurture relationships with students, onboard thousands of designers into my programs, and consistently invite new creatives into my ecosystem — all while maintaining my distinct brand voice and the artful aesthetic.
1. The Craft + Code Newsletter Nurture Sequence
When someone first enters your world, you have a golden opportunity to make a meaningful connection. My newsletter nurture sequence is designed to welcome new subscribers with open arms and establish the foundation for our relationship.
When new subscribers sign up for my "Craft + Code Newsletter," they're immediately welcomed with a warm, personalized email that sets the tone for what they can expect from me. This isn't just a transactional "thanks for subscribing" message — it's thoughtfully written to reflect my brand's voice and aesthetic sensibilities.
What makes this workflow special is how it introduces newcomers to our archives. With a single click, subscribers can browse through previous issues, allowing them to discover valuable content that resonates with their current interests or challenges. This immediate value delivery builds trust from day one.
The beauty of this workflow lies in its simplicity. Through Flodesk's intuitive builder, I've designed emails that maintain perfect brand consistency — from custom fonts to my signature layouts — without requiring hours of design work for each send (thanks to Flodesk Templates feature). The clean interface eliminates distractions, allowing me to focus on crafting messages that truly connect.
Best of all, this entire sequence runs on autopilot. Whether I get one new subscriber or one hundred in a day, each person receives the same thoughtful, brand-aligned welcome experience without any manual intervention from me.
2. The Course Onboarding Flow
When new students join one of my courses, I want them to feel immediately welcomed and fully supported. My onboarding workflow is designed to do exactly that — providing the right resources at the right time to help them succeed.
What makes this workflow essential is its ability to adapt based on which course or product someone has purchased. My high-ticket programs like Standout Squarespace and Standout Shopify have different onboarding needs than my masterclasses or workshops.
For premium courses, the workflow strategically times emails to:
Provide immediate access to key resources
Remind students of the support included in their purchase
Encourage them to submit their websites for feedback or showcase
Check in at critical milestones to ensure they're progressing
For my mini-courses and components, the sequence is more simplified but equally effective. While Flodesk doesn't have direct integration with Squarespace Commerce out of the box, I've created a custom solution using Squarespace's Commerce API and Airtable to trigger the right workflow based on purchase data. (I teach this exact integration process in my SquareCourses Masterclass for those interested in the technical details.)
What I love most about this system is how it creates natural funnels between my offerings. For instance, when someone purchases my Selling Squarespace Templates Masterclass, the workflow eventually includes a thoughtful invitation to consider my Standout Squarespace program — but only after they've received substantial value from their initial purchase.
This tiered approach ensures students receive personalized attention regardless of their investment level while opening doors to deeper learning opportunities when they're ready.
3. The Evergreen Flagship Course Funnel
Perhaps the most business-critical workflow in my arsenal is my evergreen funnel for flagship courses. This automated sequence has allowed me to consistently enroll new students into my premium programs without being locked into exhausting launch cycles.
The workflow begins by inviting my audience to a free workshop — "Secrets to High-End Squarespace Projects." Once someone registers, they enter a carefully orchestrated sequence that:
Encourages them to watch the workshop on demand
Addresses common questions and objections about my flagship courses
Extends an invitation to enroll in our Standout Squarespace course
What makes this workflow particularly powerful is its ability to qualify prospects and deliver targeted messaging. Those who engage with specific content receive follow-up emails tailored to their apparent interests. Meanwhile, those who don't open certain emails might receive alternate messaging or even a different offer better suited to their needs.
Through Flodesk's visual workflow builder, I can easily map out this complex journey and make adjustments based on performance data. I can see exactly which emails are driving conversions and continuously optimize the sequence for better results.
Most importantly, this workflow gives me the freedom to focus on serving my existing students rather than constantly chasing new ones. Since implementing this system, I've been able to maintain consistent enrollment numbers while actually reducing my marketing workload.
Why Flodesk Has Been My Platform of Choice
These workflows have been the backbone of Squarestylist since I founded it in August 2020. While I'm well-versed in other email service providers and recommend different platforms based on my clients' specific needs, Flodesk has remained my personal choice for several compelling reasons.
First, its delightful interface genuinely encourages me to write emails. The clean, minimalist design removes the technological friction that often accompanies email marketing, allowing me to focus on crafting artful, story-rich messages that resonate with my audience.
Second, the visual workflow builder makes complex automation accessible. I can create sophisticated, branching sequences without needing to dive into complicated conditional logic or coding. This visual approach keeps me focused on the subscriber experience rather than getting lost in technical details.
Finally, the design flexibility aligns perfectly with my brand's aesthetic values. From custom fonts to beautiful layouts, Flodesk gives me the creative freedom to ensure every touchpoint with my audience feels consistently and unmistakably Squarestylist — something that proved challenging with other platforms.
Throughout the years, I've sold more than 1,000 templates, 5,000+ plugins, and mentored nearly a thousand Squarespace and Shopify experts through my education programs. Through all of this growth, Flodesk has been my reliable partner in nurturing relationships with students and delivering educational value at scale — and it's the email marketing platform I consistently recommend to the designers I mentor.
Want to See These Workflows in Action?
If you are a creative who values both aesthetic and function in your marketing, I've created a set of aesthetic, artful Flodesk templates that you can download for free to jumpstart your own email workflows. These templates reflect the same design principles I teach in my courses and are specifically optimized for creative professionals. Simply sign up for our newsletter (powered by Flodesk, of course) to get instant access:
I hope these workflows can serve as inspiration for creating more automated, effective client journeys.
Have you implemented any automatic workflows in your design education business? I'd love to hear which ones have made the biggest impact for your business.