When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I required something better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a device– I was hunting for a proper partner Newsletter Operator Reviews.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that as well in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the success and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might really assist expand my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was checking out this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The greatest one? You don’t actually own your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never totally get to.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the location chooses to let the crowd see you. Does not feel great.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth tools, and zero platform fees (apart from the normal Stripe cut). But promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform generally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom-made domain? A couple of minor missteps, but absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One thing I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Newsletter Operator Reviews
Now below’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon just how someone joined.
I wound up going complete detective mode– playing with sections, making use of separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit threads– just to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s actually written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then went down a rabbit opening of testing tools to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual procedure, but it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, plain and straightforward Newsletter Operator Reviews.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium membership? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck a weird bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email size tracking requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to expand fast without paying system tax
You want something that really feels built by creators, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow faster, gain more, and stress and anxiety much less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and really scale your newsletter with genuine devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.