When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a years helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv Discord Integration.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack option?” I assumed that too initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to state– both the wins and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that might really aid expand my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was considering this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The biggest one? You do not actually have 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 app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not feel great.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and no platform costs (in addition to the common Stripe cut). However assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system generally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Linking my custom domain? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the screen.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Discord Integration
Currently here’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome sequences based upon how a person subscribed.
I wound up going complete detective setting– playing with sections, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– just to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s actually created an e-newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit opening of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hands-on procedure, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a rather particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brands in a manner that does not feel icky or forced. It’s built-in revenue potential, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Discord Integration.
And when I’m ready to release a premium membership? I know exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without hanging awkward swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by developers, for creators
Will it fix every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, gain more, and tension much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and really range your e-newsletter with actual tools that value your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.