When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv Vine University.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I thought that also in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to say– both the wins and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that could actually help grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was checking out this through the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The greatest one? You don’t really have your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights only activate if the venue decides to let the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth tools, and absolutely no platform charges (aside from the usual Stripe cut). Yet assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new system typically feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Connecting my personalized domain name? A few small hiccups, yet nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like a person sat down and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vine University
Now below’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each kind can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome series based on how somebody subscribed.
I wound up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with segments, using separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by a person who’s really composed a newsletter or two.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual process, yet it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv about including far better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came 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 customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money due to the fact that for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brand names in a way that does not feel nasty or required. It’s built-in revenue potential, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Vine University.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium membership? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without dangling unpleasant swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you struck an unusual insect or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, 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 platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying system tax
You desire something that really feels constructed by designers, for developers
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand faster, gain much more, and anxiety less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and in fact range your e-newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.