When it came time to choose a new email platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After virtually a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv First Name.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the wins and the weird peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You will get 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 device that could really help grow my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was considering this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not actually possess your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting out a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place decides to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel terrific.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and absolutely no platform charges (aside from the typical Stripe cut). But guarantees are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new system generally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Linking my personalized domain? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv First Name
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon just how someone registered.
I wound up going complete investigator setting– dabbling with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your wonderfully crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then decreased a bunny hole of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv about adding better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a rather specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
However there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches makers with brand names in a way that does not really feel nasty or compelled. It’s built-in earnings potential, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv First Name.
And when I prepare to launch a costs membership? I know exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right 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 simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you hit an odd insect or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email dimension monitoring needs better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by creators, for developers
Will it resolve every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me expand faster, make a lot more, and tension much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and in fact scale your e-newsletter with actual tools that respect your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.