When it came time to choose a new email system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Creator Spotlight.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I assumed that also in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to state– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can really 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 began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The largest one? You don’t really have your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just turn on if the location makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And then 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 believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth tools, and absolutely no platform charges (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). Yet pledges are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots 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– migrating to a new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom domain? A few small missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance material– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Creator Spotlight
Now below’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome sequences based upon how somebody signed up.
I wound up going full investigative setting– dabbling with sectors, using separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit strings– just to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s really composed a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your perfectly crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a bunny opening of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a quite niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in such a way that does not feel icky or required. It’s integrated income potential, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Creator Spotlight.
And when I’m ready to release a costs subscription? I recognize exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you hit an unusual insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension monitoring needs better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels built by makers, for developers
Will it address every issue? No. But in three months, it’s aided me grow quicker, gain extra, and stress much less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and really range your newsletter with actual tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.