When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Morning Brew.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack option?” I believed that also initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to say– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might actually assist grow my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was checking out this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never totally get to.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
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 assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and no system fees (aside from the usual Stripe cut). But assurances are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform typically feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Connecting my customized domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance web content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Morning Brew
Now below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based on exactly how a person subscribed.
I ended up going full investigative setting– dabbling with sections, using separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit strings– just to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was made by somebody who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your magnificently crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny hole of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that feared clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated procedure, but it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid ads.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brands in such a way that does not really feel disgusting or forced. It’s integrated revenue possibility, simple and easy Beehiiv Morning Brew.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I recognize exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you hit a strange pest or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well fundamental.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels developed by makers, for designers
Will it resolve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s helped me grow faster, earn a lot more, and anxiety much less about the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and actually scale your e-newsletter with actual tools that respect your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.