When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner List of Beehiiv Newsletters.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that also initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to claim– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can in fact aid grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The biggest one? You do not in fact possess your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting a target market you can never ever completely reach.
It’s like executing on a phase where the lights just activate if the location makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And after that there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and absolutely no system costs (in addition to the typical Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new platform typically feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Connecting my customized domain? A couple of minor missteps, however nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Also, their assistance content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: List of Beehiiv Newsletters
Currently here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based upon just how somebody registered.
I ended up going full investigative setting– dabbling with segments, using different landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by a person who’s in fact composed an e-newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your magnificently crafted message may get sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that decreased a rabbit opening of testing tools to maximize HTML size and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual procedure, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 new customers to a quite niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
But there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel nasty or required. It’s built-in income potential, plain and simple List of Beehiiv Newsletters.
And when I’m ready to launch a premium membership? I know specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an unusual pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size tracking requires better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying platform tax
You desire something that really feels developed by creators, for makers
Will it solve every problem? No. However in three months, it’s aided me expand much faster, make more, and tension less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and actually range your newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply could fall in love like I did.