When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Arnold’s Pump Club.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I assumed that too in the beginning. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to say– both the wins and the odd traits. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that can really help grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was taking a look at this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out a target market you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the location decides to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel terrific.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and zero platform charges (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). Yet assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform typically feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Linking my personalized domain name? A couple of small missteps, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Arnold’s Pump Club
Now here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based upon just how a person subscribed.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with sections, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by someone who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that went down a rabbit opening of testing tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv about including better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 new clients to a quite niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash since for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
But there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in a manner that doesn’t feel nasty or compelled. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and simple Beehiiv Arnold’s Pump Club.
And when I prepare to release a premium subscription? I understand exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling uncomfortable swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an odd pest or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size tracking requires better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by creators, for makers
Will it resolve every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow quicker, gain much more, and tension less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and actually scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.