When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been seeking just a device– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv Welcome Sequence.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I assumed that also initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to claim– both the success and the strange peculiarities. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, settle 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 required a tool that might in fact help expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was considering this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin showing. The largest one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and zero platform costs (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system typically feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Linking my custom domain name? A few minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance web content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Welcome Sequence
Now below’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based on how someone signed up.
I wound up going full investigative setting– playing with sections, utilizing different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit threads– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by a person who’s in fact written a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a bunny hole of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hands-on process, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just three months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links makers with brand names in a manner that does not feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in income possibility, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Welcome Sequence.
And when I prepare to launch a premium membership? I know specifically what cut 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 have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit an odd insect or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email size tracking requires much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re aiming to expand fast without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by makers, for designers
Will it solve every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s helped me expand quicker, earn much more, and stress and anxiety much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and in fact range your newsletter with real tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.