When it came time to choose a new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Teammates.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I believed that also initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to state– both the victories and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that might actually aid expand my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was considering this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The biggest one? You do not really own your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re essentially renting a target market you can never totally reach.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights just switch on if the place chooses to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and absolutely no platform fees (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). However promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform usually seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my custom domain? A few small hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Teammates
Now below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome sequences based upon just how somebody signed up.
I ended up going full detective setting– playing with sectors, using different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Excellent, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s really written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. 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 bunny hole of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that feared clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new customers to a rather particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash since for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links creators with brand names in a manner that does not feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in earnings possibility, plain and straightforward Beehiiv Teammates.
And when I prepare to launch a costs registration? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into supporters without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck a weird insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too standard.
Email dimension surveillance requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your target market
You’re looking to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that feels developed by designers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, earn much more, and stress and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and really range your newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.