When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv Welcome Email.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I believed that also initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to claim– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might really assist grow my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, however I was considering this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks start showing. The greatest one? You do not in fact possess your fans.
That “follow” switch 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 not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting out an audience you can never completely reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue chooses to let the group see you. Does not really feel great.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and absolutely no platform costs (besides the normal Stripe cut). Yet assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system normally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my customized domain? A couple of small missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Welcome Email
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome series based upon just how somebody subscribed.
I wound up going full investigator mode– tinkering with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– then went down a rabbit hole of testing tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding better size cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot less complicated.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for the majority of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brands in a way that doesn’t really feel icky or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, simple and easy Beehiiv Welcome Email.
And when I prepare to launch a costs registration? I know specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an unusual insect or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires 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 circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels constructed by designers, for makers
Will it resolve every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s aided me expand faster, make extra, and anxiety much less concerning the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and in fact scale your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.