When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Beehiiv LinkedIn Integration.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I believed that too in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can really help expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was taking a look at this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The most significant one? You do not really own your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never totally get to.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and no system fees (aside from the usual Stripe cut). Yet pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform usually seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor missteps, yet nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like someone sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv LinkedIn Integration
Currently right here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based on exactly how someone signed up.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with sections, utilizing different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– just to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually composed a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual procedure, however it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects creators with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel sickening or required. It’s built-in revenue capacity, plain and easy Beehiiv LinkedIn Integration.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium subscription? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without dangling awkward swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck a strange bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size surveillance needs far better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels developed by developers, for makers
Will it fix every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, earn extra, and anxiety less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and actually scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.