When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “good enough.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was hunting for a proper partner The Men’s Hope Beehiiv.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that also in the beginning. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a lot to claim– both the wins and the strange traits. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, work out 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 embeded 2013. I required a tool that might actually aid expand my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, but I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
Yet dig a little deeper, and cracks start showing. The greatest one? You don’t in fact own your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re generally leasing an audience you can never completely reach.
It resembles performing on a stage where the lights just switch on if the location decides to allow the crowd see you. Does not really feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development tools, and no system costs (apart from the common Stripe cut). However guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing forms? No crises. Attaching my custom domain? A couple of minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their support web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: The Men’s Hope Beehiiv
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome sequences based upon how someone subscribed.
I ended up going full investigative setting– playing with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing rare Reddit threads– simply to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your wonderfully crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then decreased a rabbit opening of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual process, however it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding adding better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a rather specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in revenue possibility, plain and easy The Men’s Hope Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium subscription? I know exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel as well standard.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app informs (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by creators, for designers
Will it address every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow quicker, earn a lot more, and stress much less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and in fact range your e-newsletter with actual devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.