When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t looking for just a device– I was searching for an appropriate companion Matt Mcgarry Newsletter.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack option?” I thought that also initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to say– both the victories and the odd traits. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, clear up in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can in fact assist grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at 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, however I was taking a look at this through the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The largest one? You don’t actually own your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like doing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the place determines to allow the group see you. Does not really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth tools, and zero platform costs (in addition to the normal Stripe cut). However guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers 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– moving to a new system usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No disasters. Linking my custom domain name? A few small hiccups, yet nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One point I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support material– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Matt Mcgarry Newsletter
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome series based on just how somebody subscribed.
I ended up going complete detective setting– tinkering with segments, utilizing different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– simply to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That indicates your perfectly crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– then dropped a bunny hole of screening devices to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hand-operated process, however it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a whole lot easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel sickening or forced. It’s integrated income potential, plain and simple Matt Mcgarry Newsletter.
And when I prepare to release a costs membership? I recognize exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without dangling awkward swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an unusual pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email dimension monitoring requires much better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a developer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that feels built by creators, for designers
Will it fix every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, earn a lot more, and stress and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop settling and actually scale your newsletter with genuine devices that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.