When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After virtually a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Newsletter Course.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack option?” I believed that also at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can really assist expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was looking at this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The largest one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting a target market you can never completely reach.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights just turn on if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Does not really feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth tools, and absolutely no system charges (in addition to the common Stripe cut). Yet assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system normally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain? A few small hiccups, but nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone took a seat and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Newsletter Course
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based on exactly how someone subscribed.
I wound up going complete investigator setting– playing with segments, using different landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– just to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually composed a newsletter or more.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message may get chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that went down a bunny opening of testing tools to maximize HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on procedure, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about adding better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links makers with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel disgusting or compelled. It’s built-in earnings capacity, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Newsletter Course.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs membership? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without hanging unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you hit a weird pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size surveillance needs better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it solve every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s aided me grow faster, make more, and stress less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and actually range your newsletter with real devices that respect your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.