When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Sama Beehiiv.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that also initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to say– both the victories and the odd peculiarities. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might really assist grow my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was taking a look at this via the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin showing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting out an audience you can never ever totally reach.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights just switch on if the location makes a decision to allow the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and zero system fees (other than the typical Stripe cut). However guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem 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– migrating to a brand-new system usually seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Attaching my personalized domain? A couple of small hiccups, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Sama Beehiiv
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon just how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going full detective mode– playing with sections, using separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s in fact created a newsletter or more.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit opening of screening tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new customers to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel sickening or required. It’s integrated income capacity, ordinary and simple Sama Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a costs subscription? I know precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a strange bug or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax
You want something that feels developed by creators, for developers
Will it fix every issue? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, gain a lot more, and tension less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and actually scale your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.