When it came time to pick a new email platform, 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 helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Lead Magnet.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I believed that too at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the wins and the unusual traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that could really aid grow my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was looking at this through the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t really own your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Does not really feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development devices, and zero system costs (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system generally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A couple of small hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their assistance material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Lead Magnet
Currently here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– playing with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was made by a person who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your perfectly crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then decreased a rabbit opening of testing devices to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, however it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for most creators, 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 (essentially).
But there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links developers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s built-in earnings capacity, plain and easy Beehiiv Lead Magnet.
And when I prepare to release a premium registration? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into advocates without dangling unpleasant boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well basic.
Email size tracking requires better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by creators, for makers
Will it address every problem? No. But in three months, it’s helped me grow much faster, earn extra, and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and really range your newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.