When it came time to choose a new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a device– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv Surveys.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I believed that also in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to say– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could really aid grow my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its perks, however I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The largest one? You don’t actually have your fans.
That “comply with” switch 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 directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting out an audience you can never ever fully get to.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the location determines to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and no platform costs (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). However assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system typically feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Linking my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Surveys
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based on how somebody registered.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– tinkering with sectors, using different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– simply to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your magnificently crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then went down a bunny opening of testing devices to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated process, however it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a rather niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated earnings possibility, simple and basic Beehiiv Surveys.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without dangling awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird bug or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension tracking needs far better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably 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 listing, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels built by makers, for makers
Will it resolve every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, earn much more, and stress much less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and in fact scale your e-newsletter with genuine tools that respect 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.