When it came time to select a new email system, I really did not want “adequate.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a device– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Ad Network Review.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I believed that too initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to state– both the success and the strange peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could actually help grow my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was taking a look at this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The most significant one? You don’t actually have your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never totally reach.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue makes a decision to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth tools, and absolutely no system fees (besides the typical Stripe cut). But assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not 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 inform you– migrating to a brand-new system usually seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, however nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Ad Network Review
Now below’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome sequences based on how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete detective mode– tinkering with sections, using separate landing pages, reading unknown Reddit threads– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, preview– it seems like it was made by someone who’s actually composed a newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then went down a bunny hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding far better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a pretty niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
But there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income potential, simple and simple Beehiiv Ad Network Review.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I know specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers right into advocates without dangling awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension tracking needs better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that really feels developed by makers, for designers
Will it fix every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s helped me expand faster, make more, and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and in fact range your e-newsletter with real devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.