When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I really did not want “adequate.” I required something better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Does Beehiiv Use PayPal.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I thought that also initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to state– both the victories and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might actually help grow my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, however I was taking a look at this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The greatest one? You don’t really have your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing a target market you can never totally reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights just activate if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And afterwards 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 ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and no system fees (aside from the typical Stripe cut). Yet pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new system typically seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Connecting my customized domain name? A couple of minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Does Beehiiv Use PayPal
Currently below’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how somebody signed up.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– playing with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– simply to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. However if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– after that dropped a bunny hole of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual procedure, however it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I added over 160 new customers to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
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 clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links makers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel disgusting or compelled. It’s built-in revenue capacity, plain and easy Does Beehiiv Use PayPal.
And when I prepare to launch a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What really sets 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 transform your readers into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck an odd pest or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel also fundamental.
Email size monitoring needs better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by makers, for developers
Will it fix every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me expand much faster, gain a lot more, and stress and anxiety much less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact scale your newsletter with real tools that respect your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.