When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Privacy Policy.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I believed that also in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the success and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that could in fact aid expand my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The most significant one? You don’t actually 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 essentially renting an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the place determines to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly think they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and zero platform costs (besides the common Stripe cut). However pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system generally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A few minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their support web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Privacy Policy
Now right here’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– dabbling with segments, making use of different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit strings– simply to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s really created an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– after that went down a bunny opening of screening devices to enhance HTML size and avoid that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hands-on process, however it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links makers with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s integrated earnings possibility, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Privacy Policy.
And when I’m ready to release a costs registration? I understand specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development 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 transform your readers right into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you hit a weird bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring requires much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re looking to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels built by makers, for developers
Will it address every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me expand much faster, make a lot more, and tension less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and really range your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.