When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv Best Newsletters.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I believed that too initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the victories and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, work out 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 built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that might really assist grow my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The largest one? You don’t really have your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never ever completely get to.
It’s like doing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the location determines to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and zero platform costs (other than the normal Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom domain? A couple of minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Best Newsletters
Now right here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome sequences based on how someone signed up.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– playing with sections, utilizing separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then dropped a rabbit opening of testing tools to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated procedure, however it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I added over 160 new clients to a rather particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects developers with brands in such a way that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated income possibility, simple and easy Beehiiv Best Newsletters.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium subscription? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck a strange bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
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 out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying system tax
You want something that really feels constructed by makers, for creators
Will it resolve every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, make extra, and stress much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and really scale your newsletter with actual tools that respect your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.