When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I needed something better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a years assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been looking for just a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner Beehiiv What’s In The Bag.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to state– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that can really aid grow my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was looking at this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The greatest one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– 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 totally reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue determines to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list growth tools, and no system fees (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets 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 jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new platform normally feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Connecting my custom-made domain name? A couple of small missteps, yet nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Additionally, their assistance web content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person sat down and stated, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv What’s In The Bag
Now below’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome sequences based upon exactly how someone subscribed.
I wound up going full investigator mode– playing with sections, using separate landing pages, reading obscure Reddit threads– just to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Great, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s really written a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your perfectly crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny hole of screening tools to enhance HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding far better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new customers to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot less complicated.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brands in a way that does not really feel sickening or forced. It’s integrated income potential, plain and basic Beehiiv What’s In The Bag.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium subscription? I know exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit an unusual insect or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance needs better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by makers, for creators
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me grow quicker, gain extra, and tension much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop clearing up and actually scale your newsletter with genuine tools that value your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.