When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Does Beehiiv Have Automation.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I assumed that too at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can actually help grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was checking out this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The most significant one? You do not really have your followers.
That “adhere to” button 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’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the place decides to allow the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and zero system fees (aside from the usual Stripe cut). Yet pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand name 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 brand-new platform generally feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No crises. Linking my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, yet absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Does Beehiiv Have Automation
Now here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome sequences based upon how a person joined.
I ended up going full investigative mode– dabbling with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit threads– just to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your beautifully crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that dropped a bunny opening of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, however it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in a way that doesn’t really feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in income potential, ordinary and basic Does Beehiiv Have Automation.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs subscription? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit a strange bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email size monitoring needs better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to expand fast without paying system tax
You desire something that really feels constructed by designers, for makers
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me grow quicker, make a lot more, and stress and anxiety less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and really range your newsletter with real devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.