When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Product Updates.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I assumed that also at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to claim– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that might actually help 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 usual suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures start showing. The largest one? You don’t really possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting an audience you can never completely reach.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights just activate if the place determines to allow the crowd see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And then 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 ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth tools, and zero platform costs (in addition to the common Stripe cut). Yet promises are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform usually seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Linking my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Product Updates
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based upon how a person joined.
I ended up going complete detective setting– tinkering with segments, using separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a rabbit opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated procedure, however it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot much easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brand names in a way that does not feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated earnings capacity, ordinary and easy Beehiiv Product Updates.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs subscription? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit an unusual pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email dimension tracking needs far better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by makers, for makers
Will it address every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, gain much more, and stress and anxiety less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact scale your e-newsletter with real tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.