When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was searching for a proper partner Does Beehiiv Allow Affiliate Links.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I thought that too at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the wins and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that can in fact aid grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was considering this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin showing. The greatest one? You do not really possess your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting an audience you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only activate if the location determines to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and zero system costs (aside from the typical Stripe cut). But assurances are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t 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 inform you– moving to a brand-new platform typically feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Connecting my custom-made domain? A couple of minor hiccups, yet nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Does Beehiiv Allow Affiliate Links
Currently right here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based on just how someone registered.
I wound up going complete investigator setting– playing with sectors, making use of different landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it seems like it was designed by someone who’s actually created an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your magnificently crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a rabbit hole of screening tools to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual procedure, however it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links creators with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel nasty or compelled. It’s integrated revenue possibility, plain and basic Does Beehiiv Allow Affiliate Links.
And when I prepare to release a costs membership? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
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. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without dangling awkward swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual bug or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel as well standard.
Email size surveillance needs much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by designers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me expand quicker, make a lot more, and stress less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and really range your newsletter with real tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.