When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a years helping others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Inbox.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack option?” I assumed that also at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the wins and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, settle in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that could really help grow my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was taking a look at this through the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures start revealing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “adhere to” button 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’t export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights just switch on if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development tools, and zero platform fees (other than the normal Stripe cut). But guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t seem 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 tell you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of minor hiccups, but nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Inbox
Now here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome sequences based upon how somebody registered.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– dabbling with sections, making use of different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– just to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually created an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message might get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit opening of testing devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 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 before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects creators with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s integrated earnings capacity, ordinary and basic Beehiiv Inbox.
And when I prepare to launch a costs membership? I know precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email dimension monitoring requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying system tax
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for makers
Will it fix every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, make more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and actually scale your e-newsletter with real tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.