When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for just a device– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Phil Plait Beehiiv.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I assumed that too initially. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to claim– both the victories and the strange traits. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that might in fact aid grow my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was looking at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin showing. The most significant one? You do not in fact possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting an audience you can never completely reach.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just turn on if the place determines to allow the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth devices, and absolutely no platform fees (apart from the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform typically feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom-made domain? A few small missteps, yet nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Phil Plait Beehiiv
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based on just how someone subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative mode– playing with segments, using separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– simply to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, Yet 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, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message could get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then dropped a bunny opening of testing tools to enhance HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated process, but it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money due to the fact that for the majority of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brands in a way that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s built-in income possibility, ordinary and basic Phil Plait Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a premium subscription? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you hit a weird bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email size monitoring needs much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by creators, for developers
Will it solve every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, gain extra, and tension less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and in fact scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.