When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv WordPress Plugin.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I assumed that as well initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to say– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that could in fact help expand my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The most significant one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing a target market you can never completely get to.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the location chooses to let the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and no platform costs (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system normally feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Connecting my customized domain name? A few small missteps, but nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like a person sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv WordPress Plugin
Currently below’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon how a person joined.
I wound up going complete detective mode– playing with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– simply to build a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was developed by someone who’s in fact created a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– after that went down a bunny opening of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual procedure, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv about including far better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I added over 160 new clients to a quite niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel nasty or required. It’s integrated earnings potential, plain and straightforward Beehiiv WordPress Plugin.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs subscription? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors into advocates without hanging awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit a strange insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email size surveillance requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying system tax
You desire something that feels developed by designers, for designers
Will it fix every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me grow quicker, earn more, and tension much less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and in fact scale your newsletter with actual devices that value your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.