When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I really did not want “adequate.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Unsubscribe Page.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I believed that too in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the victories and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could actually assist grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was looking at this through the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good 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 fractures start showing. The largest one? You do not actually own your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out a target market you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like executing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place determines to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel terrific.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and zero system charges (besides the common Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No disasters. Connecting my customized domain? A couple of small missteps, yet absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Unsubscribe Page
Now right here’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person registered.
I wound up going complete investigator mode– tinkering with sections, making use of different landing pages, reading obscure Reddit threads– just to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was created by a person who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny hole of testing devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, but it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal simpler.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches designers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel icky or compelled. It’s built-in earnings possibility, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Unsubscribe Page.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I know exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you hit an odd pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well standard.
Email dimension tracking needs better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by makers, for developers
Will it fix every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow quicker, earn more, and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and in fact range your newsletter with real devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.