When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Seed Deck.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I believed that also initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to state– both the wins and the weird peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might in fact aid expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The most significant one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting a target market you can never fully get to.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel fantastic.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and no system charges (other than the usual Stripe cut). Yet assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not sound like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No disasters. Connecting my custom domain name? A couple of small hiccups, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Seed Deck
Now right here’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based on how a person signed up.
I wound up going full investigative mode– tinkering with sectors, making use of different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– simply to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it seems like it was created by somebody who’s in fact created a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– then went down a rabbit opening of screening tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a rather niche newsletter. That’s about 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 natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money due to the fact that for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links makers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Seed Deck.
And when I prepare to launch a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your viewers right into supporters without hanging awkward swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual pest or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow quick without paying system tax
You desire something that really feels constructed by creators, for makers
Will it resolve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s helped me grow faster, gain extra, and stress and anxiety much less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and really range your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.