When it came time to select a new email system, I really did not want “good enough.” I required something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Advertising.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I believed that too initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to claim– both the wins and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can actually aid expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was considering this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The most significant one? You don’t actually possess your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never completely get to.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue decides to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and no platform fees (apart from the common Stripe cut). But pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain? A couple of minor hiccups, yet nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Advertising
Now below’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based upon how a person joined.
I wound up going complete detective setting– dabbling with sectors, using different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it seems like it was made by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that dropped a rabbit hole of testing devices to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual process, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference because changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel sickening or required. It’s integrated income potential, simple and basic Beehiiv Advertising.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium registration? I know specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors right into supporters without hanging awkward swag or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a strange bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email dimension tracking requires far better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by makers, for creators
Will it address every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s aided me grow much faster, make extra, and tension less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and really range your e-newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.