When it came time to pick a new email system, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I required something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been searching for just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Influence Public Opinion.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I thought that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to claim– both the wins and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could actually help expand my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was considering this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks start showing. The most significant one? You don’t actually 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 application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting a target market you can never completely get to.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and no platform charges (other than the usual Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Attaching my customized domain name? A couple of minor missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support web content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Influence Public Opinion
Currently right here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome series based upon just how somebody joined.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– dabbling with sectors, using different landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s really created an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your perfectly crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– then decreased a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a quite particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in a manner that does not feel icky or compelled. It’s built-in income potential, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Influence Public Opinion.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit a weird pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size surveillance needs far better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it solve every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand much faster, make extra, and tension much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and in fact range your e-newsletter with real devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.