When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not desire “adequate.” I required something much better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Is Beehiiv Worth It.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I believed that also at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a lot to say– both the victories and the weird traits. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that might in fact aid grow my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was considering this with the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and cracks begin showing. The greatest one? You don’t actually have your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting out a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It’s like carrying out on a phase where the lights only turn on if the location chooses to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and zero system costs (other than the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system generally seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No disasters. Attaching my personalized domain name? A few small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support web content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Is Beehiiv Worth It
Now here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to customize welcome series based upon exactly how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– dabbling with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, reading odd Reddit threads– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s really written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your beautifully crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny hole of testing devices to optimize HTML dimension and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual procedure, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction given that changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just three months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for the majority of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network links makers with brands in a manner that does not feel icky or forced. It’s built-in revenue potential, plain and simple Is Beehiiv Worth It.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I understand precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly establishes 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 resources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without hanging uncomfortable boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a strange insect or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or desire abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your target market
You’re looking to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels built by creators, for developers
Will it resolve every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s aided me expand quicker, gain more, and tension less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact scale your e-newsletter with real devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.