When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a device– I was searching for a correct companion Beehiiv Merge Tags.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that also at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to claim– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that might really help grow my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was checking out this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The most significant one? You do not really possess your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never fully reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Does not really feel great.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a club, 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 attract attention?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth devices, and zero platform charges (besides the normal Stripe cut). However promises are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new system usually feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Connecting my custom-made domain? A few small missteps, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Merge Tags
Currently below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based upon just how a person joined.
I wound up going full investigator mode– playing with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– just to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by someone who’s actually created a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your magnificently crafted message could get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a bunny hole of testing tools to maximize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated process, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for many creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links developers with brands in a manner that does not really feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in revenue potential, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Merge Tags.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I know specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size tracking needs far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about 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 desire complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to expand fast without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels built by designers, for creators
Will it resolve every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand much faster, earn much more, and tension much less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and actually scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.