When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a device– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv App Marketplace.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that too initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to say– both the victories and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that can really assist expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was taking a look at this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not in fact possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights only activate if the venue decides to let the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And after that 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 would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and absolutely no system costs (besides the usual Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new system normally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Attaching my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, yet nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv App Marketplace
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome sequences based on how someone signed up.
I wound up going full investigative setting– dabbling with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit strings– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, preview– it seems like it was created by someone who’s really created an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit opening of testing devices to enhance HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated procedure, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about including much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches makers with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel disgusting or required. It’s integrated revenue capacity, plain and straightforward Beehiiv App Marketplace.
And when I prepare to launch a premium registration? I recognize exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into supporters without hanging awkward swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to do well. 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 peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an unusual pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by makers, for makers
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me expand quicker, earn extra, and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and really scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.