When it came time to pick a new email system, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a decade assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Preeya Beehiiv.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I believed that too initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to say– both the victories and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might actually aid grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was considering this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The largest one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place decides to allow the group see you. Does not feel great.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and zero system fees (other than the typical Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform typically feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Linking my custom-made domain? A few small missteps, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Preeya Beehiiv
Now below’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based on how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator mode– playing with sections, using separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s really composed an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit opening of testing devices to maximize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, yet it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction given that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in such a way that does not feel icky or forced. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and basic Preeya Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers right into advocates without hanging awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you hit an unusual insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by makers, for makers
Will it resolve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, make a lot more, and stress and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and actually scale your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.