When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Is Beehiiv GDPR Compliant.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I assumed that as well at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the success and the unusual traits. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could really help expand my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was taking a look at this through the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The biggest one? You do not actually own 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 application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never completely reach.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the place determines to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the money 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 nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and zero system charges (besides the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Connecting my custom-made domain name? A few minor missteps, yet nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Is Beehiiv GDPR Compliant
Now below’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based upon exactly how somebody joined.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– dabbling with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was created by a person who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your beautifully crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that decreased a bunny opening of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on procedure, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links developers with brands in a way that does not really feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and straightforward Is Beehiiv GDPR Compliant.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual insect or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension tracking requires better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by creators, for designers
Will it address every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s helped me grow quicker, earn more, and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and actually range your e-newsletter with real tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.