When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Founder.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I thought that too initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to claim– both the victories and the weird traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best 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 truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might actually assist grow my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was checking out this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The biggest one? You don’t actually have your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights just activate if the venue chooses to allow the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth tools, and no system fees (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). However guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system generally seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Linking my personalized domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Founder
Now below’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon exactly how someone joined.
I ended up going full detective setting– tinkering with segments, utilizing different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s actually created an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message could obtain chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that went down a rabbit opening of screening tools to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual procedure, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 new clients to a quite specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects creators with brand names in such a way that does not feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Founder.
And when I’m ready to release a costs subscription? I understand precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without dangling awkward boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email dimension tracking requires far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it address every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand faster, gain extra, and tension less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and really scale your e-newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.