When it came time to select a brand-new email platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been looking for just a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Bypass.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I thought that also initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to state– both the success and the strange peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact aid expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks begin showing. The largest one? You do not actually own your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting an audience you can never totally reach.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights just activate if the location chooses to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no platform charges (apart from the normal Stripe cut). However promises are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like bots or brand name 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 new platform generally seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Linking my custom-made domain? A couple of minor hiccups, but absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Bypass
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person joined.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– dabbling with segments, using different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s actually created a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your magnificently crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– then went down a rabbit opening of testing tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual process, but it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning adding much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in a manner that does not feel disgusting or required. It’s integrated revenue potential, simple and basic Beehiiv Bypass.
And when I prepare to launch a premium membership? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an unusual pest or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email dimension tracking requires better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it resolve every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, gain more, and stress much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and in fact scale your newsletter with real tools that respect your job and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.