When it came time to select a new email system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was searching for a correct companion Is Beehiiv Good.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I believed that also initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to claim– both the success and the weird traits. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can in fact help expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was looking at this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The most significant one? You don’t actually have your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and no platform fees (other than the usual Stripe cut). But pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem 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 tell you– moving to a brand-new system usually seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor missteps, yet nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Is Beehiiv Good
Now here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based on just how someone registered.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– dabbling with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by someone who’s actually written a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your perfectly crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– then decreased a rabbit opening of testing tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated process, but it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a rather niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brands in a manner that does not really feel nasty or forced. It’s integrated earnings potential, plain and simple Is Beehiiv Good.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs membership? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without hanging unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re looking to expand fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels constructed by creators, for designers
Will it solve every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, make a lot more, and tension much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and actually range your e-newsletter with genuine tools that respect your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.