When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking simply a device– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Gif.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I thought that as well initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that could in fact aid expand my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was taking a look at this through the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The most significant one? You don’t really own your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting a target market you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue decides to let the group see you. Does not feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and absolutely no platform fees (besides the usual Stripe cut). However assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings 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 new platform normally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Gif
Currently here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based upon just how somebody joined.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– playing with sections, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was designed by someone who’s really composed a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your perfectly crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– after that went down a rabbit opening of testing tools to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated process, but it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv about adding better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money because for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income potential, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Gif.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium registration? I understand specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd pest or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by developers, for creators
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me expand quicker, gain much more, and stress much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and in fact scale your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.