When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not want “adequate.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Subscriber Tagging.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I assumed that also initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to claim– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, resolve in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that might in fact assist grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was considering this through the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The largest one? You don’t actually own your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the venue decides to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth devices, and no system fees (apart from the normal Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem 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 system usually seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Connecting my customized domain? A few small missteps, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Subscriber Tagging
Currently here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based on exactly how a person joined.
I ended up going full detective setting– tinkering with segments, making use of different landing pages, reading rare Reddit strings– just to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your perfectly crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this by hand– then went down a rabbit opening of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on procedure, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about including better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a quite specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s even more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects creators with brands in a manner that does not really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated earnings capacity, simple and simple Beehiiv Subscriber Tagging.
And when I prepare to launch a costs membership? I understand precisely what cut I’ll obtain: 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 have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit a strange pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email dimension tracking requires far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re looking to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for makers
Will it address every problem? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, make a lot more, and stress less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and actually scale your newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.