When it came time to pick a new email system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for just a device– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Recommendations.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack choice?” I thought that too initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to say– both the success and the strange peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, work out 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 embeded 2013. I required a tool that might in fact assist expand my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start revealing. The greatest one? You do not really own your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never fully get to.
It’s like doing on a stage where the lights just turn on if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Does not 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 income– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and absolutely no platform charges (aside from the common Stripe cut). However assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain? A few minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Recommendations
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, but do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon just how someone subscribed.
I ended up going full investigative setting– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– just to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s actually composed a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then went down a bunny hole of screening tools to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, yet it works. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not 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 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel sickening or compelled. It’s built-in income potential, simple and simple Beehiiv Recommendations.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into advocates without dangling awkward swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email dimension tracking requires better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by designers, for creators
Will it resolve every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s aided me expand faster, make extra, and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and actually scale your e-newsletter with real devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.