When it came time to select a new email system, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a years assisting others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was hunting for an appropriate partner Good Shabbos Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack choice?” I assumed that also initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to state– both the success and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that could in fact help grow my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was looking at this via the lens of somebody who takes e-mail 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 very first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The greatest one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never ever completely get to.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only switch on if the venue decides to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel terrific.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth tools, and absolutely no system fees (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system normally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No crises. Linking my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, but nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our users today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Good Shabbos Beehiiv
Now here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome sequences based on just how a person subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– playing with segments, making use of different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– simply to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a bunny hole of testing devices to optimize HTML size and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on procedure, however it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a great deal much easier.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash since for most makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches developers with brands in such a way that does not feel sickening or required. It’s integrated revenue possibility, ordinary and simple Good Shabbos Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs registration? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an odd bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size monitoring needs far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your target market
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels constructed by makers, for makers
Will it fix every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, make much more, and tension less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and really scale your e-newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.