When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I really did not want “adequate.” I required something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Beehiiv Website Examples.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I believed that too in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to state– both the victories and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that can really help grow my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this through the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The largest one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “follow” button 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’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never totally get to.
It’s like carrying out on a stage where the lights just activate if the place chooses to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and no platform fees (besides the usual Stripe cut). But pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom-made domain? A couple of small missteps, yet absolutely nothing that required swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Website Examples
Now here’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome series based on exactly how a person subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative mode– playing with sections, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit strings– just to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by a person who’s actually created a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your perfectly crafted message may get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a bunny hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on process, yet it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning including much better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a rather particular niche e-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.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money due to the fact that for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brands in a manner that does not really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s built-in revenue capacity, simple and simple Beehiiv Website Examples.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without dangling unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow when you hit an odd bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also standard.
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? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical items or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re aiming to grow fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels constructed by developers, for developers
Will it solve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s aided me grow faster, make extra, and anxiety less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and actually range your e-newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.