When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I required something better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for simply a device– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Bootstrapped Giants.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I believed that too in the beginning. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the wins and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might actually assist expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was considering this via the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t really have your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights just activate if the place makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 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 Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development devices, and zero system charges (in addition to the common Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. 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 jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system normally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Linking my customized domain? A couple of small missteps, but absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Bootstrapped Giants
Now below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome sequences based upon how somebody registered.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– playing with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was designed by somebody who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a rabbit hole of testing tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on process, however it works. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money due to the fact that for most 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% far better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects developers with brand names in a manner that does not really feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated revenue capacity, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Bootstrapped Giants.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs membership? I know precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd pest or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size monitoring requires far better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re wanting to expand quick without paying system tax
You desire something that feels built by creators, for creators
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, earn a lot more, and anxiety much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and really scale your e-newsletter with actual tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.