When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I required something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Creator Accelerator.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I thought that too initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to say– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that might actually assist expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out a target market you can never completely get to.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights only activate if the location decides to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel great.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth tools, and no platform costs (besides the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new platform generally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my personalized domain? A few small missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Creator Accelerator
Now here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based on how somebody registered.
I wound up going full investigator mode– playing with sections, making use of separate landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s really composed an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your beautifully crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny hole of screening tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links developers with brands in such a way that doesn’t really feel nasty or compelled. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and basic Beehiiv Creator Accelerator.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium subscription? I understand precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a strange pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email dimension tracking needs better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by creators, for creators
Will it address every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, make more, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and in fact scale your e-newsletter with real tools that value your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.