When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I required something better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a years aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a tool– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Geekout Newsletter.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I believed that also initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to say– both the success and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, resolve in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can actually help expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and splits begin showing. The biggest one? You don’t really own your followers.
That “comply with” 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 site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never totally reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue determines to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel terrific.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and no system fees (apart from the common Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new system typically seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Linking my personalized domain name? A couple of small missteps, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Geekout Newsletter
Currently below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based upon just how someone subscribed.
I ended up going full detective mode– dabbling with sections, using separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it feels like it was designed by someone who’s really composed an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That implies your beautifully crafted message may obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit opening of testing devices to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated earnings possibility, simple and easy Beehiiv Geekout Newsletter.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into supporters without hanging unpleasant swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an odd insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email dimension monitoring needs far better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to expand fast without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by makers, for makers
Will it fix every problem? No. However in three months, it’s helped me grow faster, gain extra, and anxiety much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and really scale your newsletter with genuine tools that value your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.