When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been looking for just a device– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv GDPR.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I believed that as well initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to say– both the victories and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can actually assist expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and splits start revealing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application 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 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 really feel terrific.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no system fees (apart from the usual Stripe cut). But guarantees are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system typically seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Attaching my personalized domain name? A few minor hiccups, yet nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Also, their support web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv GDPR
Currently below’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome series based upon just how somebody signed up.
I wound up going full investigator mode– playing with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, preview– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s in fact composed 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 could obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a rabbit opening of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual process, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 new customers to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel sickening or required. It’s built-in revenue potential, plain and easy Beehiiv GDPR.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium subscription? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors into supporters without dangling uncomfortable boodle or single gimmicks.
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 perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you struck an odd bug or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size tracking needs better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely 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 systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by developers, for creators
Will it address every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, gain more, and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really range your newsletter with real devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.