When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Ashley Graham.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack choice?” I assumed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to state– both the wins and the weird quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, work out 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 stuck in 2013. I required a tool that could really aid expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only activate if the location makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and absolutely no system charges (besides the usual Stripe cut). But promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform normally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Linking my personalized domain? A few small missteps, however nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Ashley Graham
Currently here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome series based on exactly how someone signed up.
I wound up going complete detective mode– dabbling with sectors, using separate landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, 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 solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your magnificently crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then went down a bunny opening of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated process, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about adding better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal less complicated.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash since for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. 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 three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links developers with brands in a manner that doesn’t feel nasty or compelled. It’s integrated revenue possibility, simple and simple Beehiiv Ashley Graham.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email size tracking requires better in-app alerts (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 marketing physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re looking to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for designers
Will it resolve every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me grow faster, gain much more, and stress less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and actually range your e-newsletter with actual devices that value your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.