When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “good enough.” I required something better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner How To Set Up Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I thought that as well at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to claim– both the victories and the weird peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might actually help grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting an audience you can never completely reach.
It’s like doing on a stage where the lights just turn on if the venue makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel terrific.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and absolutely no platform fees (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform normally seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Linking my personalized domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: How To Set Up Beehiiv
Now here’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome series based upon just how somebody registered.
I wound up going complete detective setting– tinkering with sections, making use of different landing pages, checking out rare Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s really created an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a bunny opening of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, yet it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brand names in a way that does not feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, simple and easy How To Set Up Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium subscription? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck a strange pest or need deep help.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size monitoring needs far better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying system tax
You want something that really feels developed by designers, for designers
Will it solve every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, earn extra, and stress less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and actually scale your e-newsletter with real tools that respect your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.