Let's Get Your Newsletter Ready
Once you sign in, you'll land on your Dashboard, where you'll manage most of your work in HodHod.
If you've just created your account, some sections may appear empty. That's completely normal. As soon as you add subscribers or publish your first issue, your dashboard will begin displaying your newsletter's performance, recent issues, and key metrics to help you track its growth over time.
From your Dashboard, you can:
You'll also find a few helpful options at the top of the page to make navigating HodHod easier.
Profile Menu
Click your profile picture to open a menu with quick access to several options, including Newsletter Profile.
Your Newsletter Profile is the public page visitors see when they discover your newsletter. From there, they can read your newsletter description, browse previous issues (if you've chosen to display them), and subscribe.
You can return to this page at any time to review it or share its link with others.
Tip: You can share your newsletter's public page even before publishing your first issue, allowing people to subscribe and be ready for your first release.
Dark Mode
If you prefer a more comfortable reading and writing experience, you can switch between Light Mode and Dark Mode at any time with a single click.
Settings
Click the Settings icon at the top of the page to access all of your newsletter settings.
From there, you can customize your newsletter, manage your sending email, invite team members, update your subscription plan, connect your custom domain, and more.
Let's Set Up Your Newsletter
From your Dashboard, click the Settings icon at the top of the page to access your newsletter settings.
Your settings are organized into several tabs, each designed for a different purpose:
Start with the Newsletter tab
We'll start with the Newsletter tab, where you'll set up the information your readers will see and define your newsletter's identity.
Make sure you're in the Newsletter tab before continuing.
You'll find several fields on this page to personalize your newsletter. Most of this information will appear on your newsletter's public page, which visitors can view before subscribing.
Newsletter Title
Your newsletter title is one of the first things readers will notice, so choose something clear, memorable, and representative of your content.
If you leave this field empty, HodHod will automatically use the name you signed up with. For example, if your account name is Ahmed, your newsletter will be titled Ahmed's Newsletter.
You can update your newsletter title at any time.
Newsletter URL
This is the link you'll share with your audience so they can visit your newsletter page and subscribe.
Choose a short, easy-to-remember URL that matches your newsletter or personal brand whenever possible.
Newsletter Author
The name you enter here will appear below your newsletter title, preceded by "By…". This can be your name, your team's name, or your organization's name.
Primary Color
Choose a color that reflects your brand or identity. It will be used for the Subscribe button and other elements on your newsletter page.
If you don't choose a color, HodHod will use its default green.
Newsletter Description
Write a short description to help visitors understand what your newsletter is about.
You don't need to explain everything. A few clear sentences describing your topic, your audience, and what readers can expect are enough.
Profile Privacy
Choose which information appears on your newsletter's public page. You can show or hide your subscriber count and the total number of published issues. You can also choose whether your previous issues are visible to visitors.
Hide HodHod Branding
This option is available with paid plans and lets you remove HodHod branding from your newsletter's public page.
Once you've finished, click Save Newsletter Profile to apply your changes.
Complete Your Newsletter Setup
Once you've finished setting up your newsletter profile, you'll find a few more settings on the same page to customize your readers' experience, including choosing your sending email, creating a welcome message, and adding your website and social media links.
Newsletter Email
In this section, you can choose the email address used to send your newsletter and the email address where you'd like to receive replies from your readers.
From address
By default, HodHod uses the email address you signed up with.
If you'd rather send your newsletter from a different email address associated with your personal brand or organization, you can update it at any time.
If you want to send newsletters using an email address connected to your own domain, such as [email protected], follow the steps in the Email Domain Verification Guide.
Reply-To address
When a reader replies to your newsletter, their message will be sent to the email address you specify here.
You can use the same address as your sending email or choose a different one if you'd prefer to manage replies from another inbox.
Welcome Message
Your welcome message is the first email new subscribers receive, making it a great opportunity to introduce your newsletter and set expectations.
This message is sent automatically whenever someone subscribes. You can use it to:
The editor supports rich text formatting, links, lists, and text styling, so you can create a message that's both clear and easy to read.
Website & Social Media
At the bottom of the page, you can add your website and links to your social media profiles.
These links will appear on your newsletter's public page, giving visitors more ways to learn about you and stay connected.
There's no need to add every platform. Include only the ones you actively use to keep your profile clean and relevant.
Once you're done, remember to save your changes by clicking Save Email Settings, Save Welcome Message, and Save Links.
Team
If you're working on your newsletter with someone else, there's no need to share your account credentials.
From the Team tab, you can invite editors to help you write and manage your newsletter.
Simply enter the email address of the person you'd like to invite and click Send Invitation. Once they accept, they'll appear in your team list, where you can view and manage all team members at any time.
Billing
The Billing tab lets you view your current plan and upgrade whenever your newsletter needs more advanced features.
Here, you can find information about:
You can return to this page at any time to review or update your subscription.
Domains
The Domains tab is for anyone who wants to send newsletters using an email address associated with their own domain, such as [email protected].
Click Add Domain to begin the verification process. Once your domain has been verified, you'll be able to send newsletters from your own email address.
If you need help setting up your domain, you can follow the Email Domain Verification Guide.
If you're using a public email service such as Gmail or Outlook, you can skip this step and come back to it whenever you're ready.
Integrations
The Integrations tab includes tools that help you connect your newsletter with other services and extend its functionality as your audience grows.
API Bearer Token
If you'd like to integrate your newsletter with external applications or services, you can generate an API Bearer Token from this section.
For implementation details, refer to the API Documentation.
Embed Subscription Form
If you have a website, you can embed your newsletter subscription form on any page using a single line of code.
This allows visitors to subscribe directly from your website without leaving the page.
Google Analytics
If you already use Google Analytics to monitor your website, you can connect it to your newsletter for a more complete view of your audience and content performance.
This integration helps you analyze visitor activity and engagement from one place.
That's it! Your newsletter is now set up and ready for the next step: importing subscribers and growing your audience.
Add Your Subscribers
Now that your newsletter is set up, it's time to add your subscribers.
From the navigation bar at the top of the page, click Subscribers to open the subscriber management page.
From here, you can import your audience, add subscribers manually, organize them into groups, and manage your subscriber list as it grows.
You'll find more than one way to add subscribers. Choose the one that works best for you.
Import Subscribers from Another Platform
If you already have a newsletter on another platform, there's no need to add your subscribers manually.
Click Import, then select your current platform. HodHod will guide you through the steps to move your subscriber list.
If your platform isn't listed, you can still import your subscribers using a CSV file.
To ensure a successful import, use HodHod's CSV template when preparing your file. If your file doesn't match the required format, the system won't be able to import your subscriber data correctly.
Add a Subscriber Manually
If you only need to add a few subscribers, click New Subscriber and enter their information manually.
This option is ideal when you're adding individual subscribers instead of importing an entire list.
Don't Have Any Subscribers Yet?
That's perfectly okay.
Start by publishing your first issue, then share your newsletter's public page on your website, social media channels, or anywhere you connect with your audience.
As more people discover your newsletter, your subscriber list will grow over time.
Manage Your Subscribers
The Subscribers page is more than just a place to add your audience. It also gives you a complete overview of your subscriber list.
From here, you can:
Organize Subscribers into Groups
Not every issue needs to be sent to everyone.
If your audience includes different groups of readers, you can organize them into Subscriber Groups.
When you're ready to publish a new issue, simply choose whether you'd like to send it to a specific group or to your entire subscriber list.
Write and Send Your First Issue
Now that your newsletter is set up and your subscribers are in place, it's time to write your first issue.
From anywhere in HodHod, click Editor in the navigation bar at the top of the page to start creating a new issue.
The editor gives you everything you need to create a well-structured, easy-to-read newsletter, whether you're writing in Arabic or English.
Start with a Clear Title
Your issue's title is the first thing readers notice in their inbox, so make it clear, concise, and relevant to your content.
Next, add a Preview Text. This is the short description that appears alongside your subject line in many email clients, giving readers a quick idea of what they'll find inside your newsletter.
Write and Format Your Content
The editor includes everything you need to create organized and engaging newsletter issues.
You can:
You can also use Add blocks to add images, videos, quotes, dividers, and other elements that make your newsletter more engaging and easier to read.
Review Before Publishing
Before sending your issue, take a moment to make sure everything looks the way you want.
At the top of the editor, you'll find several helpful options:
We recommend sending a test email, especially when publishing a new issue or trying a different layout. It's the easiest way to make sure your content, links, and images appear exactly as expected.
Publish Your Issue
When everything is ready, click Publish.
You can choose to:
What Happens After You Publish?
Once your issue is published, HodHod will:
Discover Newsletters on HodHod
The Discover page lets you browse newsletters published on HodHod, read available issues, and subscribe to newsletters that interest you.
It's also a great place to find inspiration, explore different writing styles, and discover new ideas for your own newsletter.