When it came time to pick a new e-mail system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Beehiiv Webhooks.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that too in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to state– both the victories and the strange quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could in fact help grow my list 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 normal suspects. Each had its perks, however I was looking at this through the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and splits start showing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact have your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing a target market you can never totally reach.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights just switch on if the place determines to allow the group see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and absolutely no system costs (aside from the usual Stripe cut). Yet promises are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots 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 platform generally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Webhooks
Currently right here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based upon just how somebody joined.
I wound up going full investigative mode– dabbling with segments, using separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it seems like it was made by a person who’s really composed a newsletter or more.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your magnificently crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– after that dropped a rabbit opening of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual process, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash due to the fact that for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in a manner that does not really feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, plain and straightforward Beehiiv Webhooks.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium membership? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an unusual insect or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re looking to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by makers, for designers
Will it fix every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me grow faster, earn extra, and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and really scale your newsletter with real tools that respect your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.