When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a device– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv and WordPress.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack choice?” I believed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to say– both the victories and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact aid grow my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was taking a look at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The largest one? You don’t really have your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and zero platform fees (besides the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform normally feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Linking my personalized domain? A couple of minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv and WordPress
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome sequences based on how a person joined.
I wound up going complete investigator mode– tinkering with segments, making use of separate landing pages, reading obscure Reddit threads– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by someone who’s really written a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a rabbit opening of screening tools to enhance HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated process, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv about adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income potential, plain and easy Beehiiv and WordPress.
And when I prepare to launch a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to succeed. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an unusual insect or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring requires far better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by creators, for designers
Will it resolve every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me expand much faster, make more, and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and actually scale your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.