When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking just a device– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Superhuman Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I assumed that also initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to say– both the victories and the unusual traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal 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 constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can in fact help grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was considering this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The largest one? You do not in fact have your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting out an audience you can never fully get to.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights only switch on if the location chooses to let the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth tools, and zero system fees (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). However promises are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system typically feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of minor missteps, yet absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their support content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Superhuman Beehiiv
Currently right here’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome sequences based on exactly how someone subscribed.
I wound up going complete detective setting– tinkering with sections, using separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s actually written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your magnificently crafted message might get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– then decreased a rabbit hole of testing devices to maximize HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, but it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid ads.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash since for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brands in such a way that does not feel icky or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, ordinary and basic Superhuman Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium subscription? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers into advocates without dangling awkward swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an odd insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying platform tax
You desire something that feels constructed by creators, for makers
Will it fix every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me grow faster, earn extra, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and in fact scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.