When it came time to choose a new email platform, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been searching for simply a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Unsubscribe Survey.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I thought that also in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to say– both the success and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, work out in. You will get 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 could in fact help expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was considering this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The largest one? You do not really have your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never totally reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and absolutely no system fees (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). But guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform normally feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Attaching my personalized domain? A couple of small hiccups, but absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Unsubscribe Survey
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome series based on how a person joined.
I ended up going full investigator mode– tinkering with sections, making use of different landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit strings– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a rabbit opening of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual procedure, but it works. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning adding much better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brand names in such a way that doesn’t feel icky or required. It’s built-in revenue capacity, simple and simple Beehiiv Unsubscribe Survey.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I know precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers into advocates without hanging awkward swag or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you hit a weird pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email size monitoring needs much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels built by makers, for makers
Will it solve every problem? No. But in three months, it’s helped me expand quicker, make more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and actually range your e-newsletter with real tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.