When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I required something better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was searching for a proper partner Daniel Berk Beehiiv.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that as well at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to say– both the victories and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right 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 truthful– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can actually aid expand my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The largest one? You do not really own your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting out an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and absolutely no platform costs (aside from the normal Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system typically feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Attaching my personalized domain? A couple of small missteps, yet nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Daniel Berk Beehiiv
Currently right here’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based on just how a person subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative mode– tinkering with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny opening of screening tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated procedure, however it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brand names in a manner that does not feel nasty or required. It’s built-in income capacity, ordinary and basic Daniel Berk Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium registration? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling unpleasant swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck a strange bug or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size surveillance requires much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by developers, for creators
Will it address every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s helped me expand quicker, gain a lot more, and stress less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and in fact range your newsletter with actual devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.