When it came time to select a brand-new email platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was searching for a proper companion What Is Beehiiv Used For.
Which’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack option?” I assumed that as well initially. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a lot to state– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might really aid grow my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its perks, but I was looking at this through the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start revealing. The most significant one? You don’t really have your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never totally get to.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the location makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth tools, and absolutely no platform costs (apart from the common Stripe cut). Yet promises are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new platform usually seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No crises. Linking my custom domain? A few minor hiccups, however nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Additionally, their support content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like someone took a seat and said, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our customers today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: What Is Beehiiv Used For
Now here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome sequences based on just how someone subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigator setting– tinkering with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it seems like it was created by someone who’s in fact written a newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your wonderfully crafted message may get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– then dropped a rabbit opening of screening devices to enhance HTML size and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual procedure, but it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference given that changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot less complicated.
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% much better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brands in a manner that doesn’t feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in income capacity, simple and basic What Is Beehiiv Used For.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs subscription? I know exactly what reduced 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 have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to prosper. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an odd bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size monitoring requires far better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it fix every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, earn extra, and stress and anxiety less concerning the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop working out and actually range your e-newsletter with real devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.