When it came time to pick a new email system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Marketer Milk.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack option?” I thought that too initially. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to claim– both the victories and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might really help grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was considering this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start revealing. The largest one? You don’t really have your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting out a target market you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights only activate if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not feel great.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development tools, and absolutely no system fees (aside from the normal Stripe cut). But assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform typically feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A few minor missteps, yet absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Marketer Milk
Now here’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based upon exactly how somebody registered.
I wound up going full detective setting– playing with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s in fact composed a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit opening of screening tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding far better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a quite particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot simpler.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in such a way that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated income potential, simple and simple Beehiiv Marketer Milk.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium registration? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers into supporters without hanging uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit an unusual bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email size tracking requires better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by creators, for makers
Will it resolve every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me expand quicker, earn much more, and stress much less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop settling and in fact range your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.