When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Open Rate.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I thought that as well initially. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to claim– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, resolve 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 embeded 2013. I required a device that might really help grow my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was checking out this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin showing. The most significant one? You don’t actually have your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never totally reach.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights just switch on if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and no system costs (other than the normal Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform normally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Connecting my custom domain name? A couple of small missteps, but nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Open Rate
Now below’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based on exactly how a person joined.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– tinkering with sections, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was designed by somebody who’s really composed a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your beautifully crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of testing devices to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual procedure, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
Most of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for many creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
But there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in such a way that does not feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated revenue capacity, ordinary and easy Beehiiv Open Rate.
And when I prepare to release a premium subscription? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an odd insect or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension tracking needs far better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re looking to grow fast without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by developers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, make a lot more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and actually scale your newsletter with real devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.