When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Funding.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to claim– both the wins and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that might really help grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks begin showing. The biggest one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting an audience you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just activate if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Does not feel excellent.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and absolutely no system charges (other than the usual Stripe cut). But promises are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system normally feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Attaching my custom domain name? A couple of minor missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Funding
Now here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based on exactly how someone joined.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– playing with sectors, making use of different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit strings– just to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s actually composed a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit hole of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash due to the fact that for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel nasty or forced. It’s built-in income capacity, ordinary and basic Beehiiv Funding.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs membership? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird bug or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email size tracking requires better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
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 out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand fast without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by developers, for makers
Will it address every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand quicker, make more, and tension less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and really range your e-newsletter with real devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.