When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t want “adequate.” I required something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Integrations.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I thought that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to say– both the victories and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might actually aid grow my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was looking at this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The biggest one? You do not in fact have your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never totally get to.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and zero platform costs (besides the normal Stripe cut). But pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new system typically seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain name? A few small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the screen.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Integrations
Currently here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how someone subscribed.
I ended up going full detective mode– tinkering with sectors, using separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit strings– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of testing devices to optimize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a rather specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brands in a way that doesn’t really feel icky or required. It’s built-in revenue capacity, plain and easy Beehiiv Integrations.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium subscription? I know exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re looking to expand fast without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by designers, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me expand quicker, gain much more, and anxiety less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and in fact range your e-newsletter with genuine tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.