When it came time to choose a new email system, I really did not desire “adequate.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a years helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for just a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Half Baked.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I assumed that too initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to state– both the success and the weird peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that could actually assist grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start revealing. The greatest one? You don’t actually have your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just activate if the place determines to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth tools, and zero system charges (other than the normal Stripe cut). However assurances are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like bots or brand name 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 brand-new system generally seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Attaching my custom-made domain? A few minor hiccups, however nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Half Baked
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, but don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome sequences based on exactly how someone signed up.
I wound up going full detective setting– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– simply to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually created a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a bunny opening of testing tools to enhance HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid ads.
Most of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches developers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in income possibility, simple and simple Beehiiv Half Baked.
And when I prepare to release a premium subscription? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an unusual insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re looking to grow quick without paying system tax
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it solve every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, earn a lot more, and tension less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and actually scale your newsletter with actual tools that respect your job and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.