When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I didn’t want “adequate.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was searching for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Email Templates.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack option?” I believed that too in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to say– both the success and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that could actually aid expand my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not really possess your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just turn on if the location chooses to let the group see you. Does not really feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development tools, and zero system costs (other than the usual Stripe cut). But guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots 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– moving to a new platform usually seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Linking my custom domain name? A few small hiccups, yet nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Email Templates
Currently here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but 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 tricky to personalize welcome series based on exactly how a person signed up.
I ended up going full investigative mode– dabbling with sections, using separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit threads– just to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s actually created a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message may obtain chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that went down a rabbit opening of screening tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual process, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated revenue possibility, plain and straightforward Beehiiv Email Templates.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium registration? I know precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers into advocates without dangling awkward boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an odd pest or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size tracking requires better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that feels constructed by creators, for designers
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand quicker, earn more, and stress and anxiety much less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact range your newsletter with real tools that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.