When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a device– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Revenue Calculator.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I assumed that also in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to state– both the victories and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can really assist grow my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was considering this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The greatest one? You don’t actually own your followers.
That “adhere to” switch 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’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no platform fees (aside from the typical Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system usually seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A couple of minor missteps, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Revenue Calculator
Now below’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based on exactly how somebody signed up.
I ended up going complete detective setting– tinkering with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s actually written a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message might obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a bunny opening of testing devices to enhance HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including much better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income potential, simple and easy Beehiiv Revenue Calculator.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs registration? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual bug or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel as well standard.
Email size surveillance needs much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by designers, for developers
Will it solve every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s aided me grow quicker, gain more, and stress less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and in fact range your newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.