When it came time to pick a new email platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t looking for simply a device– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Priority Live Support.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that also in the beginning. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to state– both the wins and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might really aid grow my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was considering this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The greatest one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting out an audience you can never ever fully get to.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only activate if the venue determines to allow the group see you. Does not feel terrific.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and absolutely no system charges (other than the usual Stripe cut). However promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem 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 typically seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my custom domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support material– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Priority Live Support
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome series based upon just how someone subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator mode– tinkering with sections, making use of separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s actually created a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then went down a bunny opening of screening tools to maximize HTML dimension and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual procedure, but it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brands in such a way that does not feel icky or forced. It’s built-in income capacity, simple and easy Beehiiv Priority Live Support.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium subscription? I know specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without hanging uncomfortable swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit a weird bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension tracking requires much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels constructed by makers, for creators
Will it fix every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow faster, gain a lot more, and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.