When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I had not been searching for just a device– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Help Center.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I assumed that also initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to claim– both the success and the unusual traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain 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 tool that can in fact aid expand my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, however I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The largest one? You don’t actually own your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location determines to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development tools, and absolutely no platform costs (in addition to the common Stripe cut). However promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system normally feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Attaching my customized domain name? A couple of small missteps, however nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Help Center
Now below’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based on just how someone joined.
I ended up going full detective mode– tinkering with segments, making use of different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was developed by somebody who’s in fact composed a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then decreased a bunny hole of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual procedure, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 new customers to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a lot much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects developers with brand names in a manner that does not feel nasty or forced. It’s integrated revenue potential, simple and simple Beehiiv Help Center.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs membership? I know specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors into supporters without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an unusual pest or require deep help.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email dimension monitoring needs better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels built by creators, for makers
Will it solve every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, make extra, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really scale your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.