When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for a correct companion Beehiiv Milk Road.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack choice?” I assumed that as well initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to say– both the success and the unusual traits. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that could in fact help expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was looking at this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and zero platform costs (in addition to the common Stripe cut). But assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand 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 normally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain? A couple of minor hiccups, but nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Milk Road
Now right here’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon how a person subscribed.
I wound up going full detective mode– tinkering with segments, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s really composed a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny hole of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, but it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel icky or required. It’s built-in earnings capacity, plain and easy Beehiiv Milk Road.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I know precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without dangling uncomfortable swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit a strange bug or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well fundamental.
Email size tracking needs better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by creators, for designers
Will it address every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, earn more, and stress and anxiety much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and really scale your newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.