When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I really did not want “sufficient.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I had not been seeking just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate partner Who Owns Beehiiv.
And that’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I believed that as well initially. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve got a whole lot to claim– both the wins and the weird traits. If you’re trying to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can actually help grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was checking out this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin showing. The most significant one? You do not actually own your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re primarily renting a target market you can never completely reach.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights just activate if the venue decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think they were running a bar, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Too Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth devices, and no platform costs (apart from the typical Stripe cut). However pledges are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system normally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Connecting my customized domain? A few minor hiccups, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One point I actually appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their support web content– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone took a seat and stated, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our users today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Who Owns Beehiiv
Currently here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, however do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based upon exactly how a person registered.
I wound up going full investigative setting– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit strings– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was created by someone who’s really written a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That means your wonderfully crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I discovered this by hand– after that dropped a rabbit opening of testing tools to maximize HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hands-on process, yet it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv about including far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Really Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new customers to a rather specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
Most of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (assume newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for the majority of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects makers with brands in such a way that does not really feel disgusting or required. It’s integrated earnings capacity, plain and simple Who Owns Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to introduce a costs registration? I know precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your visitors into advocates without hanging unpleasant swag or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Assistance can be sluggish when you hit a strange pest or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring needs much better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying system tax obligation
You want something that really feels built by creators, for makers
Will it address every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, gain much more, and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and in fact scale your e-newsletter with actual tools that respect your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.