When it came time to select a new email platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was searching for a proper companion The News Beehiiv.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack option?” I thought that also at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to claim– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can really aid grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was considering this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits start revealing. The biggest one? You do not really have your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting a target market you can never completely reach.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the location decides to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth devices, and no platform costs (apart from the typical Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system typically feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my personalized domain name? A couple of minor missteps, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support material– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: The News Beehiiv
Now here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based on just how somebody registered.
I ended up going full investigative mode– tinkering with segments, making use of different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, preview– it feels like it was designed by someone who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of testing devices to maximize HTML size and avoid that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on process, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a quite specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth 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 functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel icky or compelled. It’s integrated earnings possibility, ordinary and simple The News Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs subscription? I know specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit a weird bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size surveillance needs better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by creators, for creators
Will it resolve every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, earn a lot more, and stress and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and in fact scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.