When it came time to pick a brand-new email system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a tool– I was searching for a proper partner Can You Make Money on Beehiiv.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I believed that as well at first. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to say– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, work out in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a tool that could actually help expand my list and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was looking at this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The biggest one? You do not really own your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think 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 Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development tools, and absolutely no system costs (aside from the usual Stripe cut). However promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform normally feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Connecting my custom domain name? A few minor missteps, however nothing that required swearing at the screen.
Something I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Can You Make Money on Beehiiv
Now right here’s where things obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based upon how someone joined.
I ended up going full detective setting– playing with segments, making use of different landing pages, checking out rare Reddit strings– simply to build a few customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s really composed a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message could get sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a bunny opening of screening devices to enhance HTML size and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best approach?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hands-on procedure, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a quite niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a great deal easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash due to the fact that for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects creators with brand names in a way that does not really feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in earnings capacity, ordinary and basic Can You Make Money on Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium registration? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into advocates without dangling awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit a strange pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel too standard.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your target market
You’re looking to expand fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels built by makers, for creators
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me grow much faster, earn much more, and stress much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact scale your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.