When it came time to choose a new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I needed something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Course.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that also at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to state– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that might really aid expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was considering this via the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks begin showing. The largest one? You do not really have your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing a target market you can never fully reach.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights only turn on if the venue decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and zero platform charges (besides the normal Stripe cut). Yet pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform normally seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom domain name? A few small hiccups, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Course
Currently here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based on just how a person registered.
I ended up going complete detective mode– playing with sections, utilizing different landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– just to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your wonderfully crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of screening tools to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual process, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– 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 (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far 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 attaches designers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t feel nasty or compelled. It’s integrated earnings capacity, plain and simple Beehiiv Course.
And when I prepare to release a costs subscription? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size monitoring needs much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that really feels built by creators, for makers
Will it resolve every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, gain extra, and anxiety less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and in fact range your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.