When it came time to select a new email platform, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a years assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a device– I was hunting for a correct partner Dakota Robertson Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack option?” I thought that too at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to state– both the success and the strange traits. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built 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 simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start revealing. The biggest one? You do not really have your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly 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’t export them. You’re basically renting an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the place chooses to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development tools, and zero platform charges (apart from the common Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new platform typically seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of small missteps, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the screen.
Something I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Dakota Robertson Beehiiv
Now here’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based upon just how someone joined.
I ended up going full investigative setting– dabbling with sectors, using different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit strings– just to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was made by someone who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That implies your beautifully crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of screening devices to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, but it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for many creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just 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 three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches designers with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income potential, simple and straightforward Dakota Robertson Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to release a costs subscription? I know exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email dimension surveillance requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re looking to grow fast without paying system tax
You desire something that feels developed by designers, for designers
Will it resolve every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, make a lot more, and anxiety much less concerning the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and actually range your e-newsletter with real tools that respect your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.