When it came time to choose a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After virtually a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Swirling Visions Beehiiv.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I thought that as well initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to state– both the wins and the weird quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that can actually help grow my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this with the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The greatest one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting out a target market you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only switch on if the location decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and zero platform charges (besides the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like bots or brand 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 typically feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Attaching my custom domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their support material– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Swirling Visions Beehiiv
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based on exactly how someone subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– tinkering with sectors, using separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. Yet 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 Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by someone who’s really created a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then decreased a bunny opening of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on procedure, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a rather niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money due to the fact that for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects creators with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, plain and straightforward Swirling Visions Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium membership? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels constructed by makers, for creators
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me expand quicker, earn more, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and really range your newsletter with actual devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.