When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I didn’t want “adequate.” I required something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After virtually a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Shop.
And that’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that also at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to say– both the victories and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can in fact assist grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and splits start revealing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never ever completely get to.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights only activate if the venue chooses to let the crowd see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and no platform costs (aside from the common Stripe cut). But promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my custom-made domain name? A couple of minor missteps, however nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Shop
Currently below’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based upon how someone subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative setting– playing with sections, making use of different landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was created by a person who’s actually created an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a rabbit opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, yet it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
Most of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brands in such a way that does not really feel nasty or forced. It’s built-in revenue potential, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Shop.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium membership? I understand specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size monitoring requires much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by developers, for developers
Will it resolve every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, gain a lot more, and stress much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and in fact scale your e-newsletter with real tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.