When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not desire “adequate.” I required something better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Beehiiv Newsletter Affiliate.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I assumed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to claim– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might in fact assist grow my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact have your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting a target market you can never totally reach.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not feel terrific.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth devices, and absolutely no platform costs (aside from the typical Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my personalized domain? A few small missteps, but nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Newsletter Affiliate
Now below’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome series based on just how somebody subscribed.
I wound up going full detective mode– tinkering with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was made by someone who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or two.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message might obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– after that went down a bunny hole of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding better size cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for many designers, 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 ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brands in a manner that does not feel sickening or compelled. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and easy Beehiiv Newsletter Affiliate.
And when I prepare to release a costs subscription? I understand exactly what cut 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’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck a strange bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by designers, for creators
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me expand faster, make more, and tension much less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and actually range your e-newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.