When it came time to select a brand-new email platform, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate companion Beehiiv 2X Boosts.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I believed that too at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to state– both the success and the strange quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, settle 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 constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might actually help expand my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was checking out this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The largest one? You do not really own your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out a target market you can never ever fully get to.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights just activate if the venue decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth devices, and zero platform costs (besides the normal Stripe cut). But pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Connecting my custom domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv 2X Boosts
Currently here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome series based on exactly how someone registered.
I wound up going full detective mode– dabbling with sections, using different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s really written a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your perfectly crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny hole of testing tools to maximize HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated procedure, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including far better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a rather specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money because for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links designers with brand names in a manner that does not feel icky or forced. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and easy Beehiiv 2X Boosts.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck a strange insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size tracking requires far better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a developer 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 desire full possession of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quickly without paying system tax
You want something that feels built by designers, for creators
Will it resolve every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me grow much faster, gain extra, and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and in fact scale your newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.