When it came time to choose a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something much better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a years aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Top Newsletters on Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack choice?” I thought that as well at first. However after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to state– both the wins and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, work out in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that might really assist grow my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the common suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was looking at this with the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The largest one? You do not actually have your followers.
That “adhere to” button 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’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re essentially leasing an audience you can never ever completely reach.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights just turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel fantastic.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Too Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development devices, and zero system charges (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). However assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a new platform typically feels like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No disasters. Connecting my customized domain? A few small hiccups, but nothing that called for swearing at the display.
One thing I really appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not irritate the heck out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Top Newsletters on Beehiiv
Currently below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome series based upon exactly how someone joined.
I wound up going full investigative mode– playing with sectors, utilizing different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little bit of a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, preview– it seems like it was made by someone who’s actually composed a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message may get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– then went down a rabbit hole of screening devices to maximize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual process, however it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference because changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a pretty niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (assume e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot less complicated.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links developers with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel sickening or required. It’s built-in income potential, ordinary and straightforward Top Newsletters on Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs membership? I know exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers into advocates without hanging uncomfortable swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that desires you to prosper. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit a weird bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email size monitoring needs better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re looking to expand quick without paying system tax
You want something that feels developed by makers, for creators
Will it solve every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, earn much more, and stress and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and actually range your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.