When it came time to choose a new email platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Jordan Gillman.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I thought that as well initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to state– both the victories and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, resolve in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can in fact help grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was looking at this via the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The greatest one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never totally reach.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights only turn on if the venue chooses to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth tools, and no system charges (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). However promises are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system usually seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Connecting my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, but absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Jordan Gillman
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome series based on exactly how a person signed up.
I wound up going complete investigator setting– playing with sections, making use of separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it seems like it was made by someone who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then went down a rabbit opening of testing devices to maximize HTML dimension and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or required. It’s built-in income possibility, simple and easy Beehiiv Jordan Gillman.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium registration? I understand specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a weird insect or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by makers, for designers
Will it fix every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me grow much faster, earn more, and stress and anxiety less concerning the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop settling and actually scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.