When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a tool– I was searching for a correct companion Beehiiv N8N.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I thought that as well in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that can really aid expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was considering this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The biggest one? You do not actually possess your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never fully reach.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the place makes a decision to allow the group see you. Does not really feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– 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 Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development tools, and zero platform costs (besides the normal Stripe cut). But pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform normally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, yet nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Additionally, their assistance material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv N8N
Currently right here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet 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 complicated to individualize welcome series based on just how a person subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative setting– playing with sections, making use of separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by a person who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a rabbit opening of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual procedure, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 new clients to a quite specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links designers with brand names in a way that does not really feel nasty or required. It’s built-in earnings potential, plain and basic Beehiiv N8N.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance needs much better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re aiming to grow fast without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by designers, for designers
Will it solve every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow faster, gain much more, and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and really scale your e-newsletter with real devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.