When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t want “adequate.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a tool– I was searching for a correct partner The Pulse Beehiiv Banking.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that also in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to claim– both the wins and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can really help grow my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, however I was looking at this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The biggest one? You do not really possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out a target market you can never totally get to.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights just activate if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and absolutely no platform charges (aside from the usual Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform usually feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No crises. Linking my custom domain? A few small missteps, however nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: The Pulse Beehiiv Banking
Now here’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome series based on exactly how somebody registered.
I ended up going full investigator setting– tinkering with segments, utilizing different landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by somebody who’s really composed an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– after that went down a bunny hole of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual process, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links designers with brands in a manner that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated income potential, ordinary and basic The Pulse Beehiiv Banking.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an unusual pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for makers
Will it address every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, make more, and tension less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and really scale your newsletter with real devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.