When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t want “adequate.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been searching for just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Automations.
Which’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I thought that also in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the wins and the strange peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform 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 company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that can actually help expand my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The greatest one? You do not actually possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting out a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights only activate if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Does not really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and no platform charges (apart from the usual Stripe cut). Yet pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform usually seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Connecting my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, yet absolutely nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their assistance material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Automations
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– playing with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s in fact written a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your perfectly crafted message might obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual procedure, however it works. I also connected to Beehiiv about including better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a rather specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid ads.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a lot much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel disgusting or forced. It’s integrated income potential, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Automations.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an odd bug or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email dimension surveillance needs far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical items or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by developers, for creators
Will it address every issue? No. However in three months, it’s helped me expand faster, earn more, and stress much less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and in fact scale your newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.