When it came time to choose a new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv New Pricing.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I believed that too in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to claim– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could really aid grow my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The greatest 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 application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting an audience you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights just activate if the place chooses to let the group see you. Does not really feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and zero platform fees (besides the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand 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 platform normally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Attaching my personalized domain? A couple of minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
Something I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance material– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv New Pricing
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome sequences based upon just how somebody subscribed.
I wound up going complete investigator mode– playing with sectors, using different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was made by a person who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might get chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a rabbit opening of testing devices to maximize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hands-on procedure, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel sickening or required. It’s built-in income potential, simple and simple Beehiiv New Pricing.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs subscription? I know specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into advocates without dangling uncomfortable swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to succeed. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit a strange insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email size tracking needs far better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by makers, for makers
Will it resolve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s aided me grow faster, earn a lot more, and tension much less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and actually range your e-newsletter with actual tools that respect your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.