When it came time to pick a new e-mail system, I really did not want “adequate.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion How To Migrate From ConvertKit To Beehiiv.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I assumed that as well initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to claim– both the success and the odd traits. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, work out in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might in fact help grow my listing and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was taking a look at this through the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin showing. The biggest one? You do not really possess your fans.
That “adhere to” switch 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 straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never ever completely reach.
It’s like executing on a stage where the lights just activate if the venue chooses to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel fantastic.
And then there’s the money 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 nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development tools, and zero platform charges (aside from the usual Stripe cut). However pledges are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform generally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Linking my personalized domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Additionally, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: How To Migrate From ConvertKit To Beehiiv
Currently below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each type can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based on just how a person joined.
I wound up going full investigator setting– tinkering with segments, using separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– just to build 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 going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– after that dropped a bunny hole of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading test emails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding adding far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since 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 (actually).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects developers with brand names in a way that doesn’t feel icky or compelled. It’s integrated revenue possibility, ordinary and simple How To Migrate From ConvertKit To Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium membership? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors right into advocates without dangling uncomfortable boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that just wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be slow-moving when you hit a strange pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email dimension monitoring needs much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a list, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow fast without paying system tax
You want something that really feels built by developers, for makers
Will it address every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me expand much faster, gain a lot more, and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and in fact scale your newsletter with actual devices that respect your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.