From side project to sustainable business: How Csillagkönyv reached 150K+ EUR revenue in a year with GetResponse

From 0 to over €150,000 in revenue within a single year, Csillagkönyv’s story highlights the transformative power of GetResponse. By combining personalized email marketing, advanced automation, and an effective lead generation strategy, Csillagkönyv scaled rapidly, building a subscriber base of 20,000 and expanding into multiple countries, including Romania and Poland.

Csillagkonyv logo

€150,000+

revenue generated

20,000+

subscribers in under a year

6,000 +

books sold

About Csillagkönyv 

Csillagkönyv creates custom astrology books that go beyond traditional horoscopes by offering detailed, personalized natal chart analyses. Each book is handcrafted, emphasizing sustainability and a human touch. Based in Hungary, the company’s mission is to make astrology accessible and meaningful, creating a unique experience for customers seeking self-discovery.

Csillagkönyv’s dedication to quality and authenticity has set it apart in a competitive market. From its inception, the brand has aimed to educate its audience about the depth and relevance of natal charts, transforming astrology from a casual interest into a tool for personal growth. The company’s approach prioritizes inclusivity and community, ensuring that every customer feels valued beyond the point of purchase.

Challenges

Building a brand with limited resources

Starting as a side project, Csillagkönyv faced significant challenges in establishing itself in a market dominated by established players. Without substantial financial backing, the founders had to rely on ingenuity and efficient use of resources to create a distinct brand identity.

Educating a niche audience

The concept of personalized natal charts was not widely understood by Csillagkönyv’s target audience. Many potential customers were unfamiliar with how these charts differ from generic horoscopes. Educating the audience about the value and uniqueness of the product was essential to building trust and driving sales.

Goals

Short-term goals

  1. Rapidly build an email list to create a direct communication channel with potential customers.
  2. Generate awareness about Csillagkönyv’s unique offerings through targeted campaigns.

Long-term goals

  1. Continuously engage the audience through automated email campaigns, newsletters, and personalized offers.
  2. Expand operations to new markets while maintaining the core values of sustainability and personalization.

Key metrics

  • Growth in email subscribers.
  • Open and click-through rates for email campaigns.
  • Number of books sold.
  • Expansion into new markets.

Solutions implemented

Csillagkönyv leveraged GetResponse’s comprehensive suite of features to deploy a marketing strategy designed to address its challenges and achieve its goals. Here’s how:

1. Lead generation with a free natal chart calculator

To attract potential customers, Csillagkönyv created a free natal chart calculator on its website. This tool allowed users to enter their birth details and receive a brief astrological reading via email, giving them a preview of the personalized insights offered in the full book. Visitors who used the calculator provided their email addresses, contributing to rapid list growth. Approximately 10% of website visitors subscribed via this lead magnet.

Csillagkönyv Lead Magnet - Natal Chart
Csillagkönyv Lead Magnet - Natal Chart

2. Automated welcome and nurturing sequences

GetResponse’s automation tools were used to create a seamless onboarding experience for new subscribers. A series of educational emails introduced recipients to the concept of natal charts, explained the value of Csillagkönyv’s handmade books, and built anticipation for the product.

Onboarding email

3. Targeted newsletters and campaigns

With advanced segmentation, Csillagkönyv tailored email campaigns based on subscriber behavior and preferences. Personalized newsletters kept the audience engaged, while promotional offers encouraged conversions. Features like Perfect Timing ensured emails were delivered when recipients were most likely to open them.

4. Abandoned cart recovery

To maximize conversions, Csillagkönyv implemented abandoned cart recovery emails. These automated reminders prompted users who had left items in their shopping carts to complete their purchases, significantly reducing lost sales.

Abandoned cart workflow

5. Engagement scoring and personalization

Using GetResponse’s engagement scoring, Csillagkönyv identified its most active subscribers. These high-engagement users received exclusive offers and review requests, fostering deeper connections and loyalty. Personalized promo codes and merge tags added a personal touch to every communication.

Key initiatives and actions

One of the standout initiatives was the development and implementation of the free natal chart calculator:

A powerful lead magnet

The calculator not only generated leads but also served as an educational tool, helping users understand the value of natal charts and encouraging them to explore the full product. By offering immediate value, Csillagkönyv established trust and demonstrated expertise, paving the way for conversions.

Community building

Csillagkönyv’s email campaigns were designed to foster a sense of belonging. By regularly engaging subscribers with personalized content, the company ensured that customers felt valued even after their initial purchase.

Results and impact

Revenue growth

  • Over €150,000 in revenue generated within the first year.

Subscriber growth

  • Built a community of 20,000 engaged subscribers.

Operational scaling

  • Expanded from a two-person operation to a team with multiple employees and partners.

Market expansion

  • Successfully entered the Romanian and Polish markets, broadening the brand’s reach and impact.

Client testimonial

GetResponse was instrumental in transforming our vision into reality. Their intuitive platform, powerful automation tools, and exceptional customer support enabled us to build a community, educate our audience, and drive sales effectively. We owe much of our success to their comprehensive solutions


Lessons learned 

  1. Personalization is essential in today’s market. Tailored content fosters deeper customer connections.
  2. Lead magnets are a powerful tool for growing an engaged subscriber base.
  3. Automation not only saves time but also enhances the customer experience.

Conclusion

Csillagkönyv’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of a comprehensive marketing platform like GetResponse. By leveraging advanced tools and strategies, the company turned a passion project into a thriving business within a year. Their success highlights the importance of personalization, community building, and effective marketing in today’s competitive landscape.

Tools used to get results

  • Email Marketing – Customize ready-to-go newsletters, and transactional emails from a library of predesigned professional templates to match your goals. Take advantage of a/b testing and email analytics to constantly improve your results.

  • Integrations – Connect all your favorite apps to GetResponse with great ease. The well-developed interface and integrated APIs offer the option to simply select an API and connect hassle-free.

  • Lead Generation – As many as 50 to 60% of the people in business aren’t collecting customer data, and are therefore losing out on business. GetResponse offers easy tools like forms and landing pages to collect, store, and segment customer and subscriber data.

  • List Building – Use landing pages or forms featuring lead magnets to collect customers information. You can save and divide customer data into separate lists for updates, promotions, and other business uses.

  • Marketing Automation – Bring your ideal customer journey to life with a visual marketing automation builder that grows with your needs. Schedule automated responses, emails, and reminders.

Benefits for customers

  • Automated emails

    Consistency is one of the keys to success in business. Automation in emails includes scheduling and other features that are time-saving, efficient, and effective.

  • Easy to use

    An intuitive interface that is simple, easy to learn, and comes with 24/7 support.

  • Efficiency

    Save valuable time and energy by automating crucial but tedious tasks through autoresponders and automated workflows. 

  • Grow your audience

    Integrated and effective digital marketing tools to attract potential customers, engage with and nurture your subscribers, and grow your business.

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