When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I needed something better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Promotion.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that also in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to state– both the success and the weird peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could really aid grow my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was considering this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks start showing. The biggest one? You don’t actually own your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights just switch on if the venue makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then 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 think they were running a nightclub, 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 stand out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and no platform fees (apart from the common Stripe cut). But guarantees are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system usually seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A few small missteps, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support material– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Promotion
Now below’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based on how a person signed up.
I wound up going complete investigative setting– dabbling with sections, making use of different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was made by a person who’s in fact written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your perfectly crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then went down a rabbit hole of testing tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links makers with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or required. It’s integrated income capacity, plain and simple Beehiiv Promotion.
And when I prepare to release a costs membership? I understand specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual insect or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email dimension tracking requires better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels developed by developers, for designers
Will it address every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, gain extra, and stress and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and actually scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.