When it came time to select a brand-new email platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I required something much better– something built for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking simply a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner How To Use Beehiiv.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a great deal to say– both the victories and the strange quirks. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the best platform for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could really assist expand my list and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was considering this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little deeper, and cracks start revealing. The greatest one? You do not really possess your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing a target market you can never totally get to.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the location determines to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And then there’s the cash 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 bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and absolutely no platform costs (apart from the typical Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound 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 inform you– migrating to a new platform generally feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain name? A few small hiccups, but nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Also, their support web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: How To Use Beehiiv
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based on just how someone subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative mode– tinkering with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit threads– simply to construct a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by someone who’s in fact created a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message could obtain cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a rabbit opening of testing tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that feared clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a manual process, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a pretty specific niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash due to the fact that for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches developers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel sickening or forced. It’s integrated earnings potential, plain and basic How To Use Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without hanging awkward boodle or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual bug or require deep help.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email size monitoring requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or simply tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it resolve every trouble? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s helped me expand much faster, earn extra, and stress much less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and really range your newsletter with genuine devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.