When it came time to choose a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Spam.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I believed that as well initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to state– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can actually assist expand my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks start showing. The greatest one? You do not in fact have your fans.
That “adhere to” button 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’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and zero system charges (apart from the usual Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new platform normally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Connecting my custom-made domain? A couple of small missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
Something I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like someone took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Spam
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator mode– dabbling with segments, making use of separate landing pages, reading rare Reddit threads– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s really created a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your perfectly crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– then went down a bunny hole of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding far better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a rather specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply 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 currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects developers with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or compelled. It’s integrated income capacity, plain and basic Beehiiv Spam.
And when I’m ready to release a premium subscription? I know exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform 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 ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a weird pest or require deep help.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size monitoring requires far better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels constructed by developers, for makers
Will it resolve every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s helped me grow faster, earn extra, and stress much less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop working out and actually range your newsletter with genuine tools that respect your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.