How Nick George uses Buttondown

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

I'm a neuroscientist turned data consultant, working primarily with biotech companies on cloud-based data processing and analysis. I also run RxDataLab, where I do competitive intelligence and financial research on the biotech industry. One of my projects is the newsletter and website PharmaPayWatch, which tracks hiring patterns and compensation trends across biotech companies.

What do you write about in your newsletter?

I analyze what biotech companies are doing based on their hiring patterns, not just what they say in press releases. I have a growing database of job posting data from over 60 company career pages, so I can look at posting patterns over time and analyze job descriptions for operational signals. For example, when a private company starts hiring finance-focused positions (SEC analysts, IR professionals), they're likely preparing to go public. When they're staffing up sales teams during an ongoing clinical trial, that suggests confidence in the results. It's fun because you can compare what companies say in press releases about hot topics like generative AI capabilities with whether they're actually building those capabilities or if it's just talk.

Buttondown’s approach is pragmatic and respects that writers know what they're doing and just gets out of the way. 

Where did you first learn of Buttondown, and what made you decide to give it a try?

I discovered Buttondown through another newsletter I follow called Computer Things by Hillel Wayne. What sold me was the simplicity and developer-friendly approach. The signup is just an HTML form that I can style however I want, no JavaScript widgets or heavy tracking scripts required. This might sound minor, but it was huge for me because I prioritize site performance and privacy and want full control over my user experience. Most competitors force you into clunky form builders with tons of code just for a basic email signup. Buttondown’s approach is pragmatic and respects that writers know what they're doing and just gets out of the way. 

Buttondown's philosophy aligns perfectly with how I think about building online: keep it simple, fast, and give creators control.

What are some ways Buttondown has helped you run your email?

The tagging and segmentation features are excellent for a growing list. I can easily track where subscribers came from and segment based on interests, like separating job seekers from investors who want competitive intelligence. The analytics help me see what content resonates most with different audience segments.

What are some things you’d be excited to see Buttondown build in the next few months?

Built-in lead magnet distribution would be fantastic. Buttondown already wrote a great piece about lead magnets, and having native support would be perfect for distributing reports or data downloads to grow my subscriber base.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Buttondown's philosophy aligns perfectly with how I think about building online: keep it simple, fast, and give creators control.