When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not want “good enough.” I required something better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking simply a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Beehiiv Start Trial.
Which’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack option?” I believed that as well in the beginning. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to state– both the wins and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might in fact assist grow my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and cracks begin showing. The most significant one? You do not really own your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never totally reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and absolutely no system charges (besides the typical Stripe cut). But guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like crawlers 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– moving to a brand-new platform generally seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Linking my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Start Trial
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome series based upon exactly how somebody registered.
I wound up going full detective setting– dabbling with sectors, using separate landing pages, checking out odd Reddit strings– just to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by a person who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your beautifully crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny hole of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, however it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
Most of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in earnings possibility, simple and basic Beehiiv Start Trial.
And when I’m ready to release a costs subscription? I recognize precisely what reduced 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 obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck a weird bug or require deep help.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email dimension tracking requires much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to expand fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels built by makers, for makers
Will it solve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s aided me expand faster, earn extra, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop settling and actually scale your newsletter with actual tools that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.