When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for simply a device– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Recommendation Network.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to say– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get 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 stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can really assist grow my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was checking out this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The greatest one? You don’t actually own your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never ever completely get to.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location determines to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel great.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and zero platform costs (besides the common Stripe cut). Yet assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new system usually seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Linking my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Recommendation Network
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome series based on exactly how someone registered.
I wound up going complete detective setting– playing with segments, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a bunny hole of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual procedure, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv about adding far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 new customers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated 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 technique a great deal less complicated.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for most designers, 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 (actually).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links developers with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated revenue capacity, simple and easy Beehiiv Recommendation Network.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium subscription? I know precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well standard.
Email size tracking requires better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that feels built by designers, for developers
Will it solve every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s aided me expand quicker, earn much more, and stress and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and really range your e-newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.