When it came time to choose a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something much better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Beehiiv Wikipedia.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I assumed that also initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that could actually aid grow my listing and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The biggest one? You do not in fact have your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out a target market you can never ever completely reach.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue determines to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth tools, and zero system charges (besides the usual Stripe cut). However assurances are easy. Execution? 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? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform typically feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my customized domain name? A couple of small hiccups, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their assistance content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Wikipedia
Now right here’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome series based on just how somebody joined.
I wound up going complete investigative setting– playing with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– just to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s really composed a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then went down a bunny opening of testing tools to optimize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual process, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including far better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new customers to a rather specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– 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 e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for the majority of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel icky or forced. It’s integrated earnings capacity, plain and simple Beehiiv Wikipedia.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs membership? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an unusual bug or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email dimension tracking requires far better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by designers, for designers
Will it solve every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand faster, gain more, and tension much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and actually scale your newsletter with genuine tools that value your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.