When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Newsletters.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I assumed that as well at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact help expand my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The greatest one? You do not really own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like executing on a stage where the lights just turn on if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Good 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 tools, and zero system fees (besides the common Stripe cut). However promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like crawlers 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 brand-new system generally seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Attaching my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their support material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Newsletters
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based upon just how someone signed up.
I wound up going full detective mode– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– just to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was created by a person who’s actually created a newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that went down a bunny hole of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated process, yet it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches makers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated earnings possibility, ordinary and basic Beehiiv Newsletters.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd pest or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel as well basic.
Email size tracking needs much better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to grow fast without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels developed by designers, for developers
Will it fix every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s helped me expand faster, gain a lot more, and tension much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and actually scale your e-newsletter with real devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.