When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I required something better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was hunting for a correct partner Does Beehiiv Give You a Website.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I believed that as well in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to state– both the victories and the odd traits. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can actually help grow my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The largest one? You do not really have 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 application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only activate if the place determines to allow the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and zero system fees (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform normally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain name? A few small missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance material– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Does Beehiiv Give You a Website
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based on exactly how somebody joined.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with segments, making use of separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit strings– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was made by a person who’s in fact created an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your perfectly crafted message may get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, but it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money due to the fact that for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel icky or compelled. It’s integrated revenue capacity, plain and simple Does Beehiiv Give You a Website.
And when I prepare to release a costs subscription? I know specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging uncomfortable swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email size tracking requires much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by creators, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me grow much faster, make extra, and anxiety less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and actually range your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.