When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a device– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Cost.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I believed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, resolve in. You will get 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 needed a tool that can actually aid expand my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never ever fully get to.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no system fees (other than the usual Stripe cut). But pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like bots 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– migrating to a new system normally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Linking my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their support material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Cost
Currently right here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome series based on how someone registered.
I wound up going complete investigative setting– tinkering with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit strings– simply to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s actually created a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that went down a rabbit hole of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual procedure, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding adding better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction because changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in such a way that does not feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, ordinary and basic Beehiiv Cost.
And when I prepare to release a premium subscription? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd bug or require deep help.
Some automations still feel too standard.
Email size monitoring requires better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that feels developed by makers, for developers
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, earn extra, and stress and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and in fact range your newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.