When it came time to pick a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “sufficient.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a tool– I was hunting for a correct companion Ken White Beehiiv.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that also initially. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a whole lot to say– both the victories and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the right 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 straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that could in fact help expand my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its advantages, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never completely get to.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the place decides to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel great.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and no platform fees (besides the normal Stripe cut). Yet pledges are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not seem like bots 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 new platform normally feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A couple of small missteps, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
One point I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support material– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Ken White Beehiiv
Now here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome series based on exactly how a person signed up.
I wound up going complete investigator setting– dabbling with segments, making use of different landing pages, checking out odd Reddit threads– simply to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s actually created a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your beautifully crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a bunny opening of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual procedure, however it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv concerning including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid ads.
The majority of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your method a lot much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brand names in a way that does not really feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in income possibility, ordinary and simple Ken White Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to release a costs registration? I understand precisely what cut I’ll get: 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 e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a weird bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email dimension monitoring requires better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow fast without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by creators, for developers
Will it solve every trouble? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow quicker, gain more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop resolving and actually scale your newsletter with actual tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.