If you’re even remotely right into e-mail newsletters, you have actually possibly listened to the buzz around Beehiiv lately. And no, it’s not just hype. There’s something various concerning this platform, something that makes developers like you stop, breathe, and state, “Hold up … could this be the one?” Beehiiv Cup of Coffee…
I have actually been precisely where you are. Attempting to choose the right email tool. Wondering if I’m making a move I’ll regret in a couple of months. However after almost ten years helpful individuals navigate e-mail marketing and 2 years running my own e-newsletter, I lastly took the plunge and gave Beehiiv a proper, honest-to-goodness test run.
And spoiler: I didn’t just dabble. I relocated every little thing over. Here’s why you might want to do the very same.
Why I Dumped Substack and Why You May Wish to?
Let’s be real, Substack isn’t bad. They’re reputable. They’ve obtained a tidy interface and a devoted community of authors. But when it involves monetization and target market possession, they drop the ball. Difficult.
Let me break it down.
You Don’t Very Own Your Target Market on Substack
You understand that little “comply with” feature on Substack? It seems amazing theoretically, right? Like, a lot more exposure, more interaction?
Yeah … not exactly.
See, those “fans” aren’t genuine subscribers. They’re locked inside Substack’s little walled yard. They don’t obtain your emails in their inbox. You can not call them directly. And worst of all? If you ever decide to leave Substack, you can’t take them with you.
So basically, you’re building a listing … that you do not possess.
Now contrast that to Beehiiv or perhaps Ghost. When someone subscribes, that e-mail is yours. You can take it with you. You can build an actual relationship. That’s exactly how it ought to be.
The Hidden Expense of Convenience
Now let’s chat money. Each time somebody pays for your e-newsletter on Substack, you lose 13% straight off the top. That’s 10% to Substack and 3% to Stripe.
So your $7 subscriber? You’re taking simply over $6. Not terrible … till you scale.
With Beehiiv? No system charges. Simply Stripe’s 3%. You maintain the rest. That extra cash builds up quick, particularly if you’re intending to grow or monetize seriously.
And honestly, if you’re mosting likely to develop a company (even a side one), you require a system that’s not eating right into your profits before you also begin.
What It’s In Fact Like Starting on Beehiiv
Alright, so let’s talk setup. If you’re fretted that moving your listing or setting up automations will be a pain … do not be.
I have actually done the whole ESP shuffle prior to. You recognize the drill: damaged types, ghosted subscribers, styling problems. Yet with Beehiiv, things went surprisingly smooth.
Their onboarding? Top-tier. I’m talking valuable video clips, clear walkthroughs, and real assistance when you need it.
Setting Up Your Domain
One thing that blew me away was domain warming. As opposed to just throwing your email domain name right into the wild (and hoping you don’t land in spam), Beehiiv progressively presents your domain using their own infrastructure. It’s smart. Like, truly wise.
And importing my checklist? Smooth. No funky CSV issues. No subscribers going away right into the void. Even attaching my website was fine– alright, the styling took a bit of elbow grease, but hey, no platform’s ideal.
The Email Builder: Respectable (With Some Caveats)
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the email builder isn’t flawless. However it’s good. Actually excellent.
You can drag, go down, design, and preview with ease. If you’re refraining from doing anything too design-heavy, you’ll possibly like it. Wish to drop in an ad block? Done. Need a callout or an enroller section? Easy.
Watch Out for the Gmail Clipping Monster
Currently, a word of caution: Gmail clips emails over 102KB. And Beehiiv doesn’t constantly advise you when you’re close to that restriction. So yeah, I have actually had beautifully composed newsletters obtain cut off mid-sentence. Not fun.
However I located a workaround: using Parcel.io and AboutMy.Email to inspect HTML dimension before sending out. It’s a little bit manual, certain, once you master it, you’ll prevent the dreaded clipping issue.
Growing Your Listing with Beehiiv: Lastly, Some Genuine Tools
This is where Beehiiv absolutely beams.
It resembles they actually desire you to expand your audience. Surprising, appropriate?
Referral Programs That Job
Beehiiv’s integrated referral program lets your existing subscribers bring in new ones– and it really functions. No janky third-party hacks. Just clean, trackable referrals baked right into the system.
Want to run a giveaway? Deal a bonus offer for signups? Done. Beehiiv makes that very easy.
And with their Boosts feature (essentially a paid referral program), you can pay to enter front of various other e-newsletters’ target markets. Consider it like cross-promotion with steroids.
Money making: Even More Cash, Less Frustrations
This was among the most significant reasons I relocated to Beehiiv, I wished to generate income from smarter, not harder.
No platform costs. Tidy integration with Stripe. And also:.
Built-in advertisement network that links you with genuine enrollers.
Personalized paid registrations with full control.
Boosts for purchasing website traffic or earning by promoting others.
Three months in, I was currently making more than I ever did on my old system and with less initiative.
Your Beehiiv Internet Site: Simple, Sleek, Effective
Let’s be sincere: a lot of e-newsletter tools uncommitted concerning your landing page. However Beehiiv? They provide you a whole mini-website.
You obtain:
- A tidy, modern-day homepage
- Archive web pages for your past concerns
- Custom types, branding and Beehiiv Cup of Coffee
It’s not a full-blown CMS, but for most developers, it’s sufficient. And it simply works. No unpleasant DNS configs or broken embeds. Simply connect it in and go.
Analytics That In Fact Mean Something
Beehiiv’s analytics are chef’s kiss. You do not simply obtain open and click rates. You get genuine understandings:.
Where subscribers originated from.
Which referral sources are working.
How much money you’ve made.
Who’s clicking what and why.
You can track, modify, and optimize every action of your funnel, from kind to open to acquire. Which kind of visibility? Invaluable when you’re trying to expand on purpose.
What Beehiiv Might Enhance?
No platform is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained space to expand. Below’s what to look out for:.
The automation system is a bit stiff. One kind = one automation? Meh.
The e-mail builder’s defaults require some tender loving care.
You’ll miss some shopping features if you’re running a shop (no Shopify integration or transactional automations).
Assistance could be much faster on the strange edge instances.
However below’s the thing, Beehiiv actually listens. I’ve currently seen updates turn out based upon user comments, which’s an actually excellent sign.
The Bottom Line: Beehiiv Cup of Coffee
If you’re a creator, writer, or indie author who desires:
- To grow your listing fast,
- To keep full possession of your subscribers,
- To really generate income without platform penalties,
- And to not combat with clunky email building contractors …
After that of course, you should definitely provide Beehiiv a shot.
Look, it’s not for everyone. If you’re running an ecommerce shop or want sophisticated CRM automations, maybe look in other places. However if you’re constructing a community, an individual brand name, or an interest job?
Beehiiv’s obtained your back.
FAQs About
1. Can I migrate my existing email list to Beehiiv?
Yes! Migration is smooth and totally supported. No CSV nightmares below.
2. Does Beehiiv take a cut of my paid memberships?
Nope. Just the typical Stripe 3% cost. The rest is all yours.
3. Is Beehiiv great for newbies?
Definitely. The onboarding process is clear and easy, even if you have actually never ever set up an e-newsletter prior to.
4. What makes Beehiiv better than Substack?
Target market ownership, much better money making devices, no system fees, and a lot more list-growth alternatives.
5. Can I use my own domain?
Yes. And they’ll also assist you heat it up for far better deliverability.
6. Exist built-in money making tools?
Yes! Boosts, references, advertisement networks and paid registrations are all native features.