When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been searching for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv or ConvertKit.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that too in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to claim– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that might in fact help expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, but I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The most significant one? You do not in fact have your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing a target market you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the place determines to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and no platform charges (other than the common Stripe cut). But assurances are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Connecting my customized domain? A couple of minor missteps, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv or ConvertKit
Currently here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome series based on how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– dabbling with segments, making use of different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit threads– simply to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it seems like it was made by a person who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message may obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– then dropped a bunny hole of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual process, but it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning adding much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new clients to a rather particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel nasty or required. It’s integrated income potential, simple and straightforward Beehiiv or ConvertKit.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium registration? I know exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling awkward swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it address every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, make a lot more, and tension less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really scale your newsletter with genuine devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.