When it came time to select a new email platform, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I required something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Fynch Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I believed that too initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to state– both the success and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that could actually aid grow my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was taking a look at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures start revealing. The most significant one? You do not really have your fans.
That “adhere to” button 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’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out an audience you can never fully reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only activate if the location determines to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and no system fees (apart from the typical Stripe cut). But guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like crawlers or brand 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 generally seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Attaching my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
Something I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Fynch Beehiiv
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome sequences based upon just how a person registered.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with sections, making use of different landing pages, reading obscure Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by a person who’s really written a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your perfectly crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a bunny opening of screening tools to enhance HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on process, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about adding much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brands in a way that doesn’t really feel disgusting or required. It’s integrated earnings possibility, ordinary and basic Fynch Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a costs registration? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers right into advocates without hanging awkward swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a strange bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size tracking needs better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re looking to grow fast without paying platform tax
You desire something that really feels constructed by creators, for makers
Will it fix every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s aided me grow faster, earn much more, and stress less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and in fact scale your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.