When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After virtually a years helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for a proper companion Beehiiv Today’s Ajenda.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I believed that as well in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to state– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might really help grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its perks, but I was checking out this through the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start revealing. The most significant one? You do not really possess your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally leasing a target market you can never ever fully get to.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue determines to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 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, Yet Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and absolutely no platform charges (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not seem like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform normally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Linking my custom-made domain? A few small hiccups, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Likewise, their support content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Today’s Ajenda
Currently here’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome series based on just how a person signed up.
I ended up going complete investigative setting– dabbling with segments, using separate landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– simply to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by somebody who’s actually composed a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then dropped a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual procedure, but it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for most makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel icky or forced. It’s integrated earnings possibility, simple and basic Beehiiv Today’s Ajenda.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium subscription? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email size tracking requires better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re looking to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by developers, for designers
Will it fix every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me grow much faster, gain more, and tension much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and actually range your e-newsletter with genuine 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.