When it came time to pick a brand-new email system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a years aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Scale Plan.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I thought that too in the beginning. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the weird quirks. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could really aid expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was considering this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The largest one? You don’t actually possess your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers 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 essentially renting out an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only turn on if the venue 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 subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth tools, and zero system charges (besides the normal Stripe cut). However assurances are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like bots 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 new platform normally feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No meltdowns. Connecting my customized domain name? A few minor missteps, however nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Scale Plan
Currently here’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how someone registered.
I wound up going full investigative setting– tinkering with sections, using separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit strings– just to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Excellent, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was designed by someone who’s in fact created an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– then decreased a rabbit hole of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, but it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a rather niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel nasty or required. It’s built-in income possibility, plain and simple Beehiiv Scale Plan.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium membership? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually sets 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 sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without dangling awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by creators, for designers
Will it address every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s helped me expand much faster, make a lot more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and actually scale your newsletter with real tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.