When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After virtually a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking simply a tool– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Magic Links.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I believed that also at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to state– both the success and the unusual quirks. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that might in fact aid expand my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, however I was taking a look at this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The biggest one? You don’t really own 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 application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like executing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the location chooses to let the crowd see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and no system fees (other than the normal Stripe cut). But guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Linking my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Magic Links
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome sequences based upon just how a person signed up.
I ended up going full detective mode– tinkering with segments, making use of different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by a person who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your perfectly crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a bunny opening of screening tools to enhance HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv about including far better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for the majority of developers, 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).
However there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brands in a way that doesn’t really feel icky or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Magic Links.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers right into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an odd pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size monitoring requires much better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted 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, growing a checklist, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels developed by makers, for makers
Will it address every problem? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, gain much more, and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and actually scale your newsletter with genuine tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.