When it came time to pick a new email platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a device– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Testimonials.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I assumed that too at first. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that can really assist grow my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The biggest one? You don’t really own your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the location chooses to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and zero platform costs (apart from the usual Stripe cut). But guarantees are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform normally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Connecting my customized domain name? A few small hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Testimonials
Currently below’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome series based upon exactly how a person subscribed.
I ended up going full investigator setting– dabbling with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit strings– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s actually composed an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your perfectly crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit opening of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on procedure, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv about including much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash since for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brand names in a manner that does not feel icky or forced. It’s built-in revenue potential, plain and easy Beehiiv Testimonials.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I understand exactly what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit an unusual bug or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email size monitoring requires better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by creators, for developers
Will it solve every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand much faster, gain extra, and stress much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and in fact range your e-newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.