When it came time to select a brand-new email platform, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Overview.
And that’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that too in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to claim– both the success and the unusual traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You’re about to 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 needed a tool that might actually assist grow my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was checking out this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and splits begin revealing. The most significant one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights just activate if the location decides to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and no system costs (aside from the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new system usually seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Linking my customized domain? A couple of minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Overview
Now below’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based on just how someone subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– playing with segments, using different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– simply to build a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by someone who’s really written a newsletter or more.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your beautifully crafted message may get chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit hole of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash due to the fact that for the majority of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel icky or forced. It’s built-in income capacity, plain and simple Beehiiv Overview.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs registration? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers right into supporters without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an unusual insect or need deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance needs far better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by makers, for designers
Will it address every problem? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, earn extra, and stress and anxiety much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and actually range your newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.