When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was searching for a correct partner Marketing Max Beehiiv.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that also in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the victories and the strange quirks. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could really aid expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its perks, however I was looking at this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The largest one? You don’t actually possess your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights only activate if the venue makes a decision to allow the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and absolutely no platform costs (in addition to the common Stripe cut). But promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system typically seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Connecting my custom-made domain name? A few minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Marketing Max Beehiiv
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how someone subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was made by a person who’s really written an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, yet it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 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 integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated earnings possibility, simple and straightforward Marketing Max Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to release a costs membership? I understand specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual pest or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your target market
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it address every problem? No. But in three months, it’s aided me expand quicker, gain extra, and stress much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and in fact range your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.