When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Polls Multiple Answer.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I thought that also at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to say– both the victories and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might really help expand my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was considering this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The greatest one? You do not in fact have your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never totally get to.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights just activate if the place makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and no platform fees (other than the usual Stripe cut). However pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new system typically feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing forms? No meltdowns. Linking my custom-made domain name? A few minor missteps, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I actually appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Polls Multiple Answer
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome series based upon just how somebody joined.
I ended up going full detective mode– playing with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s really created an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message may get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny hole of testing tools to maximize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on process, however it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects creators with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel disgusting or forced. It’s integrated income possibility, ordinary and basic Beehiiv Polls Multiple Answer.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs membership? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
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. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension monitoring requires far better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re looking to grow quick without paying system tax
You want something that really feels built by designers, for creators
Will it fix every trouble? No. But in 3 months, it’s helped me expand much faster, make extra, and tension much less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and actually range your e-newsletter with genuine devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.