When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “adequate.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a device– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Dr. Jen Ashton.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I believed that also in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to state– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, settle in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can actually assist grow my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start revealing. The greatest one? You don’t actually possess your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers 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 generally renting a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It’s like executing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the location chooses to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel great.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth tools, and no system charges (other than the normal Stripe cut). Yet promises are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system typically feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom domain? A couple of minor missteps, but absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Dr. Jen Ashton
Now right here’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based on just how someone subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– dabbling with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was developed by somebody who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or two.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your magnificently crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– after that dropped a bunny hole of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual process, however it works. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brands in a way that does not feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income capacity, simple and simple Beehiiv Dr. Jen Ashton.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs subscription? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll get: 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 obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers into advocates without dangling awkward swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit a weird pest or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size monitoring requires much better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that really feels built by designers, for creators
Will it resolve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s aided me expand much faster, earn a lot more, and stress and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and in fact range your newsletter with genuine devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.