When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv Audio Newsletter.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I believed that too in the beginning. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to claim– both the wins and the weird peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can in fact assist expand my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was looking at this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The greatest one? You do not actually possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch 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 directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never totally get to.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place determines to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also 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 growth tools, and zero platform costs (aside from the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new system typically feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No crises. Connecting my custom-made domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, yet nothing that required swearing at the screen.
Something I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Audio Newsletter
Currently below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based on just how a person joined.
I ended up going complete detective setting– dabbling with segments, making use of different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by a person who’s in fact written a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your beautifully crafted message might obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this by hand– then decreased a rabbit hole of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual procedure, however it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for many 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% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel nasty or forced. It’s integrated revenue potential, plain and easy Beehiiv Audio Newsletter.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium membership? I recognize exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you hit an unusual insect or require deep help.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email dimension monitoring requires much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels built by makers, for makers
Will it solve every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s helped me expand quicker, gain much more, and stress and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and in fact scale your newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.