When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I thought that too at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to state– both the victories and the strange peculiarities. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that might really help grow my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was looking at this through the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not in fact have your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never completely reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not feel terrific.
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 think they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development tools, and absolutely no system costs (apart from the normal Stripe cut). But pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system generally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Arnold Schwarzenegger
Currently below’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome series based on exactly how somebody registered.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with segments, making use of separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit strings– simply to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your wonderfully crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– then dropped a rabbit opening of screening tools to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on procedure, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about including much better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction because changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel sickening or required. It’s built-in income capacity, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And when I prepare to release a premium membership? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit a weird insect or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel too basic.
Email dimension surveillance requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying platform tax
You desire something that really feels built by designers, for designers
Will it fix every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me grow quicker, earn extra, and stress much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really scale your newsletter with actual devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.