When it came time to pick a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for just a device– I was searching for an appropriate companion Beehiiv or Ghost.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I assumed that also at first. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to claim– both the wins and the unusual traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact help expand my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like doing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the location chooses to allow the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth tools, and no platform costs (apart from the usual Stripe cut). Yet pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new platform normally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv or Ghost
Currently here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome series based upon just how somebody registered.
I wound up going complete detective mode– dabbling with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s in fact composed a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit opening of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that feared clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on process, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about adding much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction because switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches developers with brand names in a manner that does not really feel nasty or required. It’s built-in revenue potential, plain and straightforward Beehiiv or Ghost.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs subscription? I recognize precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers into advocates without dangling uncomfortable swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck a weird pest or require deep help.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email dimension tracking requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that really feels constructed by developers, for makers
Will it fix every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, earn more, and anxiety much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and really scale your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.