When it came time to choose a new email system, I didn’t want “adequate.” I needed something better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I had not been searching for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Google Analytics.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack alternative?” I thought that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to say– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might really help expand my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t really possess your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting an audience you can never ever fully get to.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not feel excellent.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and no platform costs (apart from the usual Stripe cut). Yet pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new platform usually seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Attaching my custom domain name? A couple of small missteps, however nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Google Analytics
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based upon exactly how someone subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– tinkering with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually created a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your magnificently crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– then decreased a bunny opening of testing devices to enhance HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hands-on procedure, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a rather specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for a lot 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% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brands in a way that doesn’t really feel icky or required. It’s built-in revenue capacity, plain and straightforward Beehiiv Google Analytics.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs membership? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors right into advocates without hanging awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you hit a strange bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size tracking requires better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that feels constructed by developers, for developers
Will it address every problem? No. However in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, make extra, and stress much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and in fact range your newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.