When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I required something better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Starter.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I believed that too initially. Yet after 3 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 decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that could really assist expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was considering this through the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The largest one? You don’t in fact possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting out a target market you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights just activate if the venue makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development devices, and no system fees (besides the usual Stripe cut). But assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Attaching my custom domain? A couple of minor missteps, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Starter
Now below’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based upon just how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator setting– playing with sectors, using different landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to build a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was made by a person who’s really written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your perfectly crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated process, but it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 new customers to a rather niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel nasty or compelled. It’s built-in income potential, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Starter.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs subscription? I understand specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What actually establishes 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. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too basic.
Email size tracking needs far better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that feels constructed by makers, for creators
Will it address every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, gain more, and stress and anxiety less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and actually scale your e-newsletter with genuine tools that value your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.