When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a decade aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv Tyler Denk.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack alternative?” I thought that too initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to state– both the wins and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could really aid grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was looking at this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the location decides to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and zero platform fees (aside from the common Stripe cut). However promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Tyler Denk
Now here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based upon how somebody joined.
I wound up going full investigator mode– playing with segments, making use of different landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s actually composed a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message might obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated process, however it works. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a rather specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brand names in such a way that doesn’t feel disgusting or required. It’s integrated revenue possibility, simple and simple Beehiiv Tyler Denk.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium registration? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into advocates without dangling unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an odd pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too basic.
Email size monitoring needs much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow fast without paying system tax
You want something that really feels built by developers, for makers
Will it fix every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s aided me grow faster, earn extra, and anxiety much less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and actually scale your newsletter with actual devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.