When it came time to choose a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “adequate.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After nearly a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Does Morning Brew Use Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I thought that too at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to state– both the victories and the weird traits. If you’re trying to choose 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 honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that could actually help expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its benefits, yet I was considering this via the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits begin revealing. The greatest one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting out an audience you can never fully reach.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the location determines to allow the crowd see you. Does not really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think 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 Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no platform costs (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). However guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system normally seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Linking my custom-made domain? A couple of minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I actually appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Does Morning Brew Use Beehiiv
Currently right here’s where points got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how someone signed up.
I ended up going full investigator setting– playing with segments, utilizing different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– simply to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by someone who’s in fact created an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a bunny hole of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hands-on procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a quite specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal simpler.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links designers with brands in a way that does not feel sickening or required. It’s built-in earnings possibility, ordinary and basic Does Morning Brew Use Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to launch a premium membership? I know specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an odd insect or require deep help.
Some automations still really feel as well basic.
Email dimension tracking requires far better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels constructed by designers, for designers
Will it address every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s helped me expand quicker, earn more, and stress much less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and actually scale your newsletter with real devices that respect your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.