designs
maya palmer

Getting Started With Flodesk: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide

Flodesk

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January 12, 2026

If you’re new to email marketing and looking for a platform that’s both easy to use and beautifully designed, Flodesk is a popular choice—especially among creative entrepreneurs.

In this post, I’m walking you through exactly how to get started with Flodesk, step by step. This email marketing tutorial is beginner-friendly! So even if this is your first email list, you’ll know what to do, where to click, and why each step matters.

🎥 Prefer to watch instead of read? The video version of this tutorial is embedded below:

What Is Flodesk?

Before diving in, let’s quickly answer a common question: what is Flodesk?

Flodesk is an email marketing platform that allows you to:

  • Build an email list
  • Design and send marketing emails
  • Deliver freebies and opt-ins
  • Create automated email workflows

If you’ve heard of platforms like ConvertKit (now Kit), Mailchimp, or Constant Contact, Flodesk serves a similar purpose—but it’s especially known for its modern, design-forward email templates and intuitive interface.

Because of that, Flodesk is a great option for creative business owners who care about visual branding and want an approachable email marketing tool without a steep learning curve.

Get 25% Off Flodesk

Before we get into setup, a quick note: Get 25% off your first year of Flodesk using my referral link!

I do earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, but I genuinely recommend Flodesk because it’s one of the easiest email platforms I’ve used—especially for beginners. Promotions can change, so Flodesk will always show you the current deal once you click through.

Part 1: Create Your Flodesk Account

If you’re brand new:

  1. Create your Flodesk account (or log in if you already have one)
  2. Once logged in, you’ll land on the Emails tab
    • This will be empty if your account is brand new
    • Over time, this is where your sent and drafted emails will live

Before sending anything, though, it’s important to fill in your account and brand settings first.

Part 2: Account Settings

Click the profile icon in the top-right corner and go to Account Overview. Fill in your account details. A few features to highlight:

Flodesk Handle

Your Flodesk handle is used for landing page URLs created inside Flodesk.

  • Customize it to something relevant to your business
  • If you don’t have a website yet, this matters more
  • If you do have a website, you’ll likely host landing pages there instead

Team Members

If you work with a team, you can invite members here.

Part 3: Email Setup, Domains & Brand Settings

Set Up a Custom Email Domain (Highly Recommended)

Best practices for email marketing have changed. Using a Gmail or Yahoo address is no longer ideal.

Flodesk recommends:

This helps:

  • Improve email deliverability
  • Reduce spam filtering
  • Build trust with inbox providers

Helpful resources:

Once set up:

  • Add your “From Name” and branded email address
  • Authenticate your domain following Flodesk’s instructions

Brand Settings: Logo, Colors & Fonts

Upload Your Logo

  • PNG, JPG, or GIF files work
  • You can resize it later inside emails

Add Brand Colors

Flodesk uses hex codes for colors.

You can find hex codes using:

Copy each hex code and save it in your Flodesk brand settings.

Upload Brand Fonts

Google Fonts are a great option because they’re free and widely supported.

  • Browse fonts:
    👉 Google Fonts library
  • Download the font files
  • Upload them under Manage Fonts in Flodesk

Part 4: How to Import a List

If you already have an email list from another platform:

  1. Go to Audience
  2. Click Add Subscriber
  3. Upload a CSV file from your previous email provider

Your old platform should have instructions for exporting your list.

Part 5: Segments (Organizing Your List)

Segments allow you to group subscribers based on interests or behaviors.

Examples:

  • Product launches
  • Seasonal promotions
  • Workshops or events
  • Freebie sign-ups

You can:

  • Email everyone at once
  • Or target specific segments for better engagement

To create a segment:

  1. Click New Segment
  2. Name it
  3. Assign a color
  4. Save

You can also create segments later while building emails or workflows.

Part 6: Opt-In Form Creation & Freebie Delivery

What Is a Freebie?

A freebie is a free resource someone receives in exchange for joining your email list. Examples include:

  • Checklists
  • Guides
  • Mini products
  • Videos
  • Educational emails

Freebies are one of the most effective ways to grow an email list today.

Create a Signup Form

  1. Go to Forms
  2. Click New Form
  3. Choose a template

If you don’t have a website yet, use a Flodesk full-page landing page. If you do have a website, choose inline form and embed the form on any page of your website.

Key steps:

  • Choose the segment subscribers will be added to
    • If delivering the freebie via a Workflow, your form and workflow segment need to match!
  • Customize text, images, fonts, and colors
  • Adjust button styling if needed
  • Add extra fields if desired (business name, last name, etc.)

Form Settings to Check

  • Double opt-in (required in some countries)
  • New subscriber notifications
  • Primary segment
  • Marketing consent, if required
  • Landing page URL
  • Social preview image and text

Deliver the Freebie (Simple Method)

The easiest delivery method:

  1. Upload your freebie to Google Drive (or similar)
  2. Copy the share link
  3. In the form settings → Thank You → Success
  4. Turn on Redirect to URL
  5. Paste the freebie share link

After signup, subscribers are redirected straight to the freebie—quick and simple.

Part 7: Workflows (Automated Emails)

A workflow is an automated email or email series triggered by an action.

Common uses:

  • Freebie delivery
  • Welcome sequences
  • Launch or sale sequences

To create a workflow:

  1. Click New Workflow
  2. Choose Deliver a Freebie (or another template)
  3. Set a trigger (ex: added to a specific segment)
  4. Edit the email
  5. Publish the workflow

Part 8: Design & Send an Email

Designing Your Email

Inside the email editor, you can:

  • Add your logo
  • Edit text blocks
  • Adjust fonts, colors, and spacing
  • Add images, buttons, videos, or polls

Personalization Tip: Use subscriber names by typing: @firstname
You can add a fallback like “friend” if the name isn’t available.

Sending a One-Time Email

  1. Go to Emails
  2. Click New Email
  3. Choose a template
  4. Customize your content
  5. Click Next

Then:

  • Write your subject line and preview text
  • Choose who receives the email (segments or all subscribers)
  • Send now or schedule for later
  • Send a test email if needed

Final Thoughts

That covers the core basics of Flodesk—from account setup to sending your first email. If you’ve been searching for a Flodesk tutorial that walks you through the process step by step, this guide should give you a solid foundation.

If you’re ready to get started, don’t forget use referral link for 25% off Flodesk! Happy emailing!

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