When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Espresso Matutino Beehiiv.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack option?” I thought that too at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to state– both the victories and the strange quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that might in fact assist expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin showing. The most significant one? You do not really possess your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out a target market you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights just turn on if the location decides to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and absolutely no platform costs (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). However guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system usually seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Linking my customized domain? A couple of small missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Espresso Matutino Beehiiv
Now right here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based on just how somebody signed up.
I wound up going full investigative setting– playing with segments, utilizing different landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it seems like it was made by someone who’s actually written a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your beautifully crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny opening of testing devices to maximize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, but it works. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a rather specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for most makers, 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 (essentially).
But there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brand names in a manner that does not feel sickening or forced. It’s integrated revenue potential, plain and easy Espresso Matutino Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a costs registration? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd insect or require deep help.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that really feels built by creators, for makers
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me grow quicker, gain extra, and tension much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and actually range your e-newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.