When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “adequate.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a device– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Table of Contents.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I believed that also in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to state– both the victories and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact help grow my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was checking out this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting out an audience you can never fully get to.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and no platform fees (other than the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system generally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom domain? A couple of small missteps, yet nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Table of Contents
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete detective setting– playing with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading obscure Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s really written an e-newsletter or two.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your beautifully crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny opening of testing devices to maximize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual procedure, however it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding including much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 new customers to a rather specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches makers with brands in a way that does not really feel sickening or required. It’s integrated revenue capacity, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Table of Contents.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I understand precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an odd pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring needs better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re aiming to grow fast without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels built by creators, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, earn more, and anxiety much less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and really range your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.