When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a years aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for simply a device– I was searching for an appropriate companion The J-Curve Beehiiv.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that also in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to say– both the wins and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that can in fact assist expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was looking at this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and splits begin revealing. The greatest one? You do not actually possess your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting out a target market you can never totally get to.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place decides to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth tools, and absolutely no platform fees (other than the typical Stripe cut). But guarantees are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like crawlers 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– migrating to a new system generally seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, but nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: The J-Curve Beehiiv
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how somebody joined.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was designed by someone who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message may obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of screening tools to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects creators with brand names in such a way that does not really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s built-in revenue potential, plain and straightforward The J-Curve Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a premium subscription? I know precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without dangling unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to do well. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck a strange pest or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size surveillance needs far better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by creators, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, make much more, and stress much less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and in fact scale your newsletter with real devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.