When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “adequate.” I required something much better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking simply a tool– I was searching for an appropriate companion What Does Beehiiv Do.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that as well in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to state– both the success and the strange quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that could really aid expand my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was taking a look at this through the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits begin revealing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights just activate if the venue determines to allow the group see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and zero platform fees (other than the typical Stripe cut). Yet pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform normally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Connecting my customized domain? A few small missteps, yet nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: What Does Beehiiv Do
Now here’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome series based on exactly how someone subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator mode– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– simply to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s in fact created a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your wonderfully crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that went down a rabbit hole of testing tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated process, yet it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 new customers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for many creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel icky or required. It’s built-in income capacity, plain and simple What Does Beehiiv Do.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium subscription? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual pest or require deep help.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance needs better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by makers, for designers
Will it solve every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s aided me grow quicker, earn more, and stress less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and really scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that respect your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.