When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I required something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a device– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Local Newsletter Accelerator.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I assumed that too at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to state– both the success and the odd peculiarities. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that can actually assist expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was checking out this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The greatest one? You don’t actually own your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights just activate if the place chooses to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no platform charges (aside from the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Connecting my custom domain? A couple of minor hiccups, but nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Additionally, their assistance web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Local Newsletter Accelerator
Currently here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based on just how someone signed up.
I ended up going full investigator setting– dabbling with sections, using separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by someone who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your wonderfully crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a rabbit hole of testing devices to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated procedure, yet it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv about adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I added over 160 new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brand names in a way that does not feel nasty or compelled. It’s integrated earnings capacity, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Local Newsletter Accelerator.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I know precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an odd bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying system tax
You desire something that feels built by designers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, make more, and stress much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and actually range your e-newsletter with real devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.