When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for an appropriate companion Beehiiv OpenSea Email.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I believed that too in the beginning. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to say– both the wins and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that can actually assist expand my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was considering this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little much deeper, and fractures start showing. The biggest one? You don’t actually possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never fully get to.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights just switch on if the venue makes a decision to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development devices, and zero system costs (apart from the common Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system usually feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Connecting my custom domain? A few small hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv OpenSea Email
Now below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based upon just how somebody signed up.
I ended up going full investigator mode– tinkering with sections, utilizing different landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit opening of testing tools to enhance HTML size and avoid that feared clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hands-on procedure, yet it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links makers with brands in a way that does not feel sickening or required. It’s built-in income capacity, plain and straightforward Beehiiv OpenSea Email.
And when I prepare to launch a premium registration? I understand specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
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 visitors right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to succeed. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an odd bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email size monitoring requires much better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels developed by makers, for creators
Will it address every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, make much more, and stress and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and really range your newsletter with real devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.