When it came time to choose a brand-new email platform, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Phone Number.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack option?” I thought that also at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can in fact help grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was considering this through the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The greatest one? You don’t actually possess your followers.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights only turn on if the location decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and absolutely no platform fees (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). Yet promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system generally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No crises. Attaching my custom-made domain? A couple of small missteps, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their assistance content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Phone Number
Now here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based upon just how somebody signed up.
I ended up going full detective mode– playing with sections, using different landing pages, reading obscure Reddit strings– simply to build a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was developed by somebody who’s really created an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your perfectly crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then went down a bunny opening of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated process, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a quite specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
But there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brands in a way that doesn’t feel nasty or forced. It’s built-in revenue possibility, ordinary and basic Beehiiv Phone Number.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium registration? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development 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 resources. You can transform your viewers into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an odd bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by designers, for makers
Will it resolve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s aided me expand faster, earn extra, and tension much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop settling and in fact scale your newsletter with genuine tools that value your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.