When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Beehiiv DMARC.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that too at first. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might actually aid grow my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was checking out this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The largest one? You don’t really own your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue decides to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel terrific.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth devices, and zero platform costs (other than the normal Stripe cut). However assurances are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new system normally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Attaching my personalized domain name? A few small missteps, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their support material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv DMARC
Now below’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome sequences based on just how somebody registered.
I wound up going full detective mode– tinkering with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, reading obscure Reddit strings– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s really composed an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message could get sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny opening of screening devices to enhance HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, but it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money due to the fact that for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links creators with brands in a way that does not really feel icky or required. It’s integrated income capacity, plain and simple Beehiiv DMARC.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium subscription? I understand specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow when you struck a weird pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email size surveillance requires far better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying platform tax
You want something that really feels built by creators, for developers
Will it address every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand quicker, earn extra, and tension much less concerning the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and really scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.