When it came time to select a new email system, I really did not want “adequate.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a device– I was searching for an appropriate companion Pros and Cons of Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I assumed that too initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the weird peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that could actually help expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes email 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 polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The largest one? You do not actually own your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only activate if the place chooses to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and zero system costs (aside from the usual Stripe cut). But guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform usually seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Linking my custom-made domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Pros and Cons of Beehiiv
Now below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based on how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator setting– dabbling with sectors, using different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s really composed an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then decreased a bunny hole of testing tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual procedure, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference because switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, ordinary and simple Pros and Cons of Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs membership? I understand precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you hit a weird pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too basic.
Email dimension tracking requires far better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to expand fast without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels constructed by designers, for developers
Will it fix every problem? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, earn more, and stress less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and really scale your e-newsletter with real tools that value your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.