When it came time to pick a brand-new email system, I really did not want “adequate.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a device– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv Zero To One.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that also initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to say– both the success and the strange quirks. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can actually assist expand my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The largest one? You do not actually own your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights only switch on if the place decides to allow 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 one more 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 Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and no system charges (apart from the common Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing forms? No crises. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Zero To One
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based on how someone signed up.
I ended up going full investigator setting– dabbling with segments, making use of different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– just to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s actually created an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– then went down a rabbit hole of screening tools to enhance HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it works. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in earnings possibility, simple and simple Beehiiv Zero To One.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I know precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without hanging uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an unusual insect or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow fast without paying platform tax
You desire something that feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, make a lot more, and stress less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and really scale your e-newsletter with genuine tools that respect your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.