When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv 20% Off.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I thought that as well at first. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can really aid expand my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The biggest one? You do not really own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights only activate if the venue makes a decision to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 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 Also Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and absolutely no system costs (other than the usual Stripe cut). However assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system generally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Linking my custom domain? A few small hiccups, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv 20% Off
Now below’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome sequences based upon just how someone registered.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with sectors, using different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit threads– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by a person who’s actually created a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit hole of screening tools to maximize HTML dimension and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brands in such a way that does not feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated income possibility, simple and basic Beehiiv 20% Off.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs registration? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers into supporters without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to do well. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size monitoring needs much better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying system tax
You want something that really feels constructed by creators, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s helped me grow faster, make extra, and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and in fact range your e-newsletter with real tools that respect your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.