When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was searching for a proper companion SparkLoop Beehiiv.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I assumed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that could actually assist grow my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was looking at this through the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and splits start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing a target market you can never completely reach.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the location decides to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth devices, and absolutely no system costs (other than the usual Stripe cut). However guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not 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– migrating to a brand-new system generally feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: SparkLoop Beehiiv
Currently below’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon how somebody registered.
I wound up going full investigator setting– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s really created a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your perfectly crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual procedure, but it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in income potential, simple and straightforward SparkLoop Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I understand exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit a weird bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too standard.
Email dimension tracking needs better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re looking to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels constructed by developers, for creators
Will it resolve every issue? No. However in three months, it’s helped me expand quicker, make extra, and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and actually range your e-newsletter with real devices that respect your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.