When it came time to choose a new email platform, I really did not desire “adequate.” I needed something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find simply a device– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Who Is The Founder of Beehiiv.
Which’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I assumed that also in the beginning. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the success and the odd quirks. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can really assist expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was looking at this through the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The most significant one? You do not really have your fans.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily leasing a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles executing on a stage where the lights only switch on if the venue makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel great.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development tools, and zero platform fees (in addition to the usual Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t 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 brand-new system typically seems like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support content– video clips, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Who Is The Founder of Beehiiv
Now here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be attached to a single automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome series based on exactly how a person signed up.
I wound up going full investigative mode– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit strings– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, preview– it feels like it was made by somebody who’s really composed an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That suggests your wonderfully crafted message might obtain chopped in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– then dropped a bunny opening of testing tools to enhance HTML dimension and prevent that feared clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual process, however it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction given that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In just 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new customers to a quite niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid ads.
Most of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money since for many makers, 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 (actually).
But there’s even more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel disgusting or required. It’s integrated earnings possibility, plain and basic Who Is The Founder of Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to release a costs registration? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling unpleasant swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck an odd pest or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email size tracking requires much better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by developers, for developers
Will it resolve every trouble? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me expand quicker, gain extra, and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop clearing up and really range your e-newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your job and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.