When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a device– I was searching for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Vs Salesforce.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I assumed that also initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that can actually assist grow my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was looking at this through the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures start showing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact have your fans.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly 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’t export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never completely reach.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the place makes a decision to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– 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, But Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth devices, and zero system costs (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). Yet pledges are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system usually feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Linking my custom domain? A couple of minor missteps, yet nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
Something I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody sat down and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vs Salesforce
Now below’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can only be attached to a single automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based on exactly how someone subscribed.
I wound up going complete detective setting– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s in fact created a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your perfectly crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a bunny hole of screening tools to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference since switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links creators with brands in such a way that does not really feel icky or required. It’s built-in income possibility, plain and straightforward Beehiiv Vs Salesforce.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I understand specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized 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 state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck a weird bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email size monitoring requires better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that feels developed by creators, for designers
Will it address every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, earn much more, and stress and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and really range your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.