When it came time to pick a brand-new email system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been seeking simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner The InSneider Newsletter.
And that’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack option?” I thought that too initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to claim– both the victories and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, resolve in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that might in fact help expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, however I was considering this through the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s prominent.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The greatest one? You do not actually have your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never fully reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights just activate if the place determines to allow the crowd see you. Does not really feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and zero platform charges (other than the normal Stripe cut). Yet promises are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system generally seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No meltdowns. Linking my custom-made domain? A couple of minor hiccups, however nothing that required swearing at the screen.
Something I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support material– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our individuals today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: The InSneider Newsletter
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based on how someone signed up.
I wound up going complete investigator mode– playing with segments, using different landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit strings– simply to build a few customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s in fact created a newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit hole of testing devices to enhance HTML size and avoid that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual procedure, however it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv about adding far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction since changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 new customers to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money since for many makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links developers with brand names in such a way that does not really feel nasty or forced. It’s built-in earnings possibility, plain and easy The InSneider Newsletter.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs membership? I know exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What actually 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 sources. You can turn your readers right into supporters without dangling uncomfortable swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to succeed. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size monitoring requires far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your target market
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it fix every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s helped me grow faster, earn extra, and anxiety less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and really range your e-newsletter with actual tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.