When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a years helping 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 companion Beehiiv Shopify Integration.
And that’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I thought that too initially. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to state– both the success and the odd peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, settle in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that might actually assist grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was checking out this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The biggest one? You do not really own your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting out an audience you can never completely reach.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights just activate if the location determines to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel excellent.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth tools, and no system fees (apart from the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system generally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Connecting my personalized domain name? A few small missteps, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Shopify Integration
Now right here’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based on just how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– tinkering with sections, utilizing different landing pages, reading odd Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s actually created a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your magnificently crafted message might obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– after that went down a bunny opening of testing devices to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, but it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a rather specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money because for many designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links developers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel icky or compelled. It’s built-in earnings capacity, simple and simple Beehiiv Shopify Integration.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium subscription? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into advocates without hanging awkward swag or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a strange insect or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email dimension surveillance requires better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your target market
You’re looking to expand fast without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels developed by designers, for developers
Will it resolve every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me grow faster, earn more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and really range your newsletter with real tools that value your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.