When it came time to pick a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Evernomic Beehiiv.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I believed that too initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to state– both the wins and the strange peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that can really aid grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was looking at this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The greatest one? You do not actually own your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth tools, and absolutely no system costs (apart from the common Stripe cut). However promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom domain? A few small missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Evernomic Beehiiv
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete detective mode– playing with segments, making use of different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by a person who’s really created a newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that went down a bunny opening of screening tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual procedure, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a rather specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel icky or compelled. It’s built-in income capacity, plain and simple Evernomic Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without hanging awkward swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an odd pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email size surveillance needs far better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me expand quicker, earn extra, and stress less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and actually range your newsletter with actual tools that value your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.