When it came time to choose a new e-mail system, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking simply a device– I was hunting for a correct partner Who Founded Beehiiv.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I thought that also in the beginning. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that can in fact help grow my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was taking a look at this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little much deeper, and splits start showing. The largest one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never completely get to.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the venue chooses to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel fantastic.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and zero platform fees (other than the normal Stripe cut). But guarantees are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new system normally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom-made domain? A few minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their support web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Who Founded Beehiiv
Now right here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, but don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how somebody signed up.
I wound up going full investigator setting– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, reading obscure Reddit strings– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s actually composed a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your beautifully crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– then decreased a rabbit hole of screening tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated process, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning adding far better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction because switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects creators with brands in a manner that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated income possibility, ordinary and straightforward Who Founded Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an unusual pest or require deep help.
Some automations still feel too standard.
Email size surveillance needs much better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that feels developed by developers, for designers
Will it solve every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, make more, and stress and anxiety less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really range your e-newsletter with actual devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.