When it came time to pick a new e-mail system, I really did not want “adequate.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Raises.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack option?” I believed that also in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to state– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might actually help grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was considering this through the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “follow” button 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 directly. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never fully reach.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights just turn on if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and zero system costs (aside from the typical Stripe cut). Yet assurances are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Linking my custom domain? A few minor hiccups, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance material– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Raises
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome series based on exactly how somebody signed up.
I wound up going full investigative setting– playing with sectors, using separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Terrific, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, preview– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s really written an e-newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message could get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– after that decreased a bunny opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning adding much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new clients to a rather particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid ads.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches developers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel nasty or compelled. It’s integrated earnings capacity, ordinary and easy Beehiiv Raises.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium membership? I know precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size surveillance needs better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels developed by creators, for developers
Will it address every issue? No. But in three months, it’s aided me grow faster, gain more, and stress less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and actually range your e-newsletter with real devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.