When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After virtually a decade helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a device– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv Trustpilot.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I believed that also initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to say– both the success and the unusual quirks. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can in fact aid expand my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not actually possess your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place determines to let the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and no system costs (besides the usual Stripe cut). Yet promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform usually feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Linking my personalized domain? A couple of minor missteps, however nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Trustpilot
Now here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome sequences based on just how someone signed up.
I wound up going full investigator mode– tinkering with segments, utilizing different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s really created a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message may obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this by hand– then dropped a bunny hole of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated procedure, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding far better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money because for most designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated income capacity, simple and straightforward Beehiiv Trustpilot.
And when I prepare to launch a costs subscription? I know specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual bug or need deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email size surveillance requires much better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow fast without paying platform tax
You desire something that feels constructed by designers, for developers
Will it fix every issue? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me expand quicker, gain more, and tension much less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and really scale your e-newsletter with real tools that value your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.