When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a years aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a device– I was searching for a correct partner How To Migrate From Kit To Beehiiv.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to claim– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that could really assist expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, but I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The biggest one? You don’t actually own your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only activate if the location determines to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and no platform fees (apart from the normal Stripe cut). However assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom-made domain? A couple of minor missteps, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone took a seat and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: How To Migrate From Kit To Beehiiv
Now below’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based upon just how someone subscribed.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– playing with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your magnificently crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then dropped a rabbit hole of testing devices to enhance HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a quite particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for many creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, plain and easy How To Migrate From Kit To Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a costs subscription? I know specifically what reduced I’ll get: 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 have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring requires better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by makers, for designers
Will it address every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me grow quicker, make extra, and tension less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and in fact scale your newsletter with real devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.