When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv The Popehat Report.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I thought that also initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to state– both the victories and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that might really help expand my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The most significant one? You do not actually have your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting out a target market you can never totally get to.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights only turn on if the location makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not feel great.
And afterwards 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 e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth tools, and absolutely no platform fees (aside from the usual Stripe cut). But assurances are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new system typically seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Linking my personalized domain? A few small missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their support content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv The Popehat Report
Now below’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome sequences based upon exactly how somebody registered.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– tinkering with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s really composed a newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of testing tools to maximize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about adding better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links makers with brand names in a way that does not really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and simple Beehiiv The Popehat Report.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs membership? I know precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers into supporters without hanging awkward swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit a weird insect or need deep help.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it fix every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me grow much faster, gain extra, and anxiety much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and really range your e-newsletter with genuine devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.