When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not want “sufficient.” I required something better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv For Email Marketing.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I thought that too at first. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the victories and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that could in fact help expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures start revealing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never completely reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights only activate if the place decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development tools, and zero system costs (other than the common Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform generally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Attaching my personalized domain name? A few small hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv For Email Marketing
Currently right here’s where points got a little … fascinating.
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 attached to a single automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome sequences based on how somebody signed up.
I wound up going full investigative mode– tinkering with sections, making use of separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit threads– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by someone who’s really composed a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit hole of screening tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 new clients to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brands in a manner that does not feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated income potential, plain and basic Beehiiv For Email Marketing.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an odd insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow fast without paying platform tax
You want something that really feels constructed by makers, for designers
Will it address every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me grow quicker, gain more, and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and actually scale your newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.