When it came time to select a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a device– I was searching for a correct companion Beehiiv Features.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to state– both the wins and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could in fact assist expand my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was considering this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The most significant one? You do not really have your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting a target market you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the venue determines to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and zero platform charges (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). But assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not 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– moving to a new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Attaching my custom domain? A couple of small hiccups, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
Something I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Features
Now here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based upon how somebody joined.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– playing with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by somebody who’s actually created a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your perfectly crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this by hand– then dropped a bunny opening of testing devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, yet it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv about including better size cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 new customers to a pretty 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 development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel sickening or compelled. It’s built-in income possibility, simple and easy Beehiiv Features.
And when I prepare to launch a costs membership? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors right into advocates without dangling unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you hit a strange pest or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel as well basic.
Email dimension tracking needs better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re wanting to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that really feels constructed by designers, for makers
Will it address every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand faster, gain extra, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and in fact scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.