When it came time to select a new email platform, I really did not want “adequate.” I required something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years helping others with email marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Newsletter XP.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I assumed that as well at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to say– both the victories and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that could actually aid expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “comply with” 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’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never fully reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place decides to let the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly think 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 Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth tools, and no platform charges (other than the usual Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, but absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance material– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Newsletter XP
Now right here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based on just how somebody registered.
I wound up going full investigative mode– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– just to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it feels like it was created by a person who’s in fact created a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your magnificently crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny opening of screening tools to enhance HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on process, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv regarding adding far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash since for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brands in a manner that does not really feel sickening or required. It’s integrated revenue capacity, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Newsletter XP.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium registration? I understand precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck a weird pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring needs much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying system tax
You want something that feels built by developers, for creators
Will it fix every problem? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, earn extra, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and actually range your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.