Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium – Scale Your Newsletter Like a Pro!

So, you’ve been dabbling the idea of transforming your email checklist right into an earnings stream, however you’re overwhelmed by all the options available. Audio acquainted? You’re not alone. If you have actually been making use of a standard e-mail service and damaging your head concerning sponsorships, ads, and paid memberships, it may be time to have a look at beehiiv. In this overview, I’ll walk you via everything you require to find out about making use of beehiiv to transform your newsletter into cash– all from my very own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium

Why You Might Be Stuck with Your Current Email Platform

You have actually most likely tried the normal suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (now Kit), Substack, or something comparable. And if you resemble the majority of small material creators, right here’s what likely occurred:

• Restricted Money Making Alternatives

You have a handful of loyal customers– maybe 500 to 1,000 people– but zero easy method to earn money. Sponsorships seem like an international language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brand names each month.

• Do It Yourself Automation Headaches

You wish to leak campaign new customers, send a welcome collection, and segment individuals for targeted e-mails … but setting up those automations seems like you need a computer technology degree.

• System Fees Draw

Every single time you think of paid registrations, the platform takes a huge portion, and the payment setup is extra difficult than it deserves.

• Development Delays

Development hacks seem to help every person else– however not for you. You wish there was an easy way to find new customers without by hand chasing them down.

I remained in your footwear at the start of 2024. I would certainly been using Kit (previously ConvertKit), but it seemed like a dead end for monetization. Don’t get me wrong– Kit is wonderful for developing funnels and setting up fundamental automations. Yet when it concerned making a few hundred dollars a month from a small checklist, there had not been a noticeable “on” button.

Get in beehiiv.

My Switch to beehiiv: A Truth Inspect

In January 2024, I lastly shot and moved my e-newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Here’s the honest truth: I really did not have time to pursue sponsors, discuss rates, or develop complex paid funnels. I run a search engine optimization writing organization full-time, so my newsletter was constantly mosting likely to be a side project. I needed something that practically ran itself.

The “Offer Me” Moment

What sold me on beehiiv was basic:

• Integrated Money making: Right from the start, beehiiv yells, “Hey, you can make money right here!” It had not been an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
• Low-Effort Sponsorships: As opposed to me scouring LinkedIn for sponsors, beehiiv brings deals right to my control panel. All I have to do is click “accept,” drop in the advertisement duplicate, and hit send.
• Passive Earnings Boosts: By advertising various other newsletters in my regular e-mail, I make $1–$ 3 per referred subscriber. No hefty lifting, no challenging analytics– just stable, incremental income.

Looter alert: It settled. In my first complete year on beehiiv (2024 ), I drew in $940 from advertisement sponsorships and boosts alone– on a list that never topped 1,000 subscribers. I didn’t create a paid training course. I really did not launch a product and I simply let beehiiv do its point.

My Partner Program Windfall

As if that had not been enough, I likewise joined the beehiiv Partner Program– basically an affiliate program. By discussing beehiiv on my blog site and sharing my experience with friends, I pocketed $5,108 in referral compensations with the end of 2024. Yep, you read that right: over 5 grand, just by talking about the platform.

So if you’re asking yourself whether beehiiv is worth it for little creators or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. However, certainly, it isn’t perfect. Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the amazing stuff you require to understand.

The Benefit of Using beehiiv

1. Monetization Made Unbelievably Straightforward

What I enjoy finest about beehiiv is how easy it is to generate income on auto-pilot. You do not require a significant audience. Below’s just how it functions:

• Advertisement Network Sponsorships: When you hit just 1,000 energetic customers, brands begin lining up. You obtain 3– 6 advertisement requests monthly generally. You choose the ones you like, insert the copy, and you’re done. They ppc or view– no challenging invoicing. And because beehiiv matches you with pertinent brands, your customers are most likely to click.
• Boosts Referral Income: Don’t have sponsors yet? Not a problem. Promote various other creator newsletters for $1–$ 3 per client. It’s like Amazon’s affiliate program, however, for e-mail listings. I earned several hundred dollars in this manner without breaking a sweat.
• Paid Subscriptions (When You prepare): Down the line, if you determine to charge for premium content, beehiiv takes a marginal fee (2.9% + $0.30 per deal by means of Stripe). You can set up multiple pricing rates, run complimentary trials, or perhaps let clients “call their price.”.
• Partner Program Commissions: Not in it for the brief haul? Sign up for the affiliate program. Make 60% payment on beehiiv’s monthly or annual plans when a person join your code. It’s essentially additional cash for sharing something you currently enjoy.

In other words, beehiiv transforms money making into an integrated feature, instead of a task you dread.

2. Analytics That Do Not Make Your Head Explode

If you’ve ever stared at a dashboard reasoning, “What does any of this in fact suggest?”, you’ll value beehiiv’s strategy:.

• Clear Client Growth Graphs: See precisely how many new individuals joined, the amount of dropped off, and why your listing shrank (a lot more on that particular in a sec).
• Open Up and Click Prices: Beehiiv breaks down efficiency over the last thirty days, so you can detect fads right away. For example, I watched on my open rate (floating around 64%– not bad) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either metric dips, I modify my subject lines or calls-to-action.
• Monetization Dashboards: Sponsorship income, boosts income, partner referral incomes– you understand. Revenue streams are neatly separated so absolutely nothing gets shed in the shuffle.

It resembles having a partner who informs you, “Hey, your January e-mail killed it– below’s why,” or “Uh oh, your February open rates are tanking– let’s fix this.”.

3. Growing Your List Without Selling Your Spirit

Most e-newsletter systems will bill you for every additional customer after a limit. Not so with beehiiv– for approximately 2,500 clients, it’s complimentary. You get:.

• Unrestricted email sends.
• Access to the boosts network (expand your audience by advertising your e-newsletter on other beehiiv newsletters).
• Fundamental analytics and kinds.

If you’re a beginner or have a small target market, this is massive. You can explore subject lines, send out regularity, and different lead magnets without fretting about hitting a paywall.

4. Built-In Web Site & Personalized Pages

Envision abandoning WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace altogether since your newsletter system doubles as a website builder. That’s beehiiv in a nutshell:.

• Newsletter Archive Pages: All your past emails survive a blog-like page that’s instantly SEO-optimized.
• Customized Landing Pages: Need a lead magnet page? A thank-you page? A page to market a product? You can construct it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
• Mobile-Friendly Templates: Everything looks excellent on phones– crucial because a ton of individuals check out e-mails on mobile.

Sure, you won’t obtain every fancy drag-and-drop that a committed website builder supplies, however, for the majority of creators, it’s more than enough.

5. Referral Program to Turbo Charge Growth

Beehiiv’s referral program is incredible if you wish to tap into a community of similar developers. When your subscriber clicks “Recommend This Newsletter” and joins, both you and the referring developer obtain credit report. It’s a wise method to grow your checklist without spamming.

The Downsides: What to Look out for

No item is excellent– and beehiiv has its hiccups. Before you dive in, right here’s what may trip you up:.

Feature Overload at First

When you visit, there are numerous options– Forms, Boosts, Advertisements, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can really feel frustrating. If you have actually just made use of a simple service that sends out one-off emails, you could require a number of days to obtain comfy.

Pointless Ad Requests

In some cases the enrollers beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your specific niche. A pc gaming newsletter might get supplied a code-review tool for designers. Make sure to decrease anything that does not jive with your audience, or you’ll storage tank your click-throughs.

No Time Area– Based Sends

If your listing is international, you can not instantly schedule emails based on each subscriber’s time zone. All sends out go out at the same time, so you could get up to reduced open prices if half your listing is asleep.

Personalized Page Builder Isn’t Extremely User-friendly

Producing a landing page is possible, yet the UI could be smoother. I spent a few hours (and a helpful chat with support) getting a free offer opt-in page just right. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you might discover it cumbersome.

Minimal Integrations

If you use Gumroad to market products, you’re out of luck– no straight integration yet. You’ll have to make use of embed codes or a Zapier workaround.

All that stated, beehiiv’s group is continuously turning out updates– and those cons are gradually yet certainly being addressed.

Who Should Think about beehiiv?

Not everybody requires a totally included e-newsletter platform. However if any of the complying with defines you, beehiiv might be a match made in paradise:.

1. Outright Beginners: You have actually never sent out an e-mail blast, you don’t want to invest money upfront, and you require a free, easy method to experiment. Beehiiv lets you begin free of cost, send out endless e-mails to approximately 2,500 clients, and grow organically with the boosts network.
2. Small-List Creators: If you already have a couple of hundred or a couple thousand subscribers however no hint exactly how to transform that into income, beehiiv’s advertisement and boost programs are custom-made for you. In my very first ten months, I was making about $92/month with a ~ 1k listing. Not bad for coffee money, right?
3. Designers Who Despise “Salesy” Stuff: You don’t want to pitch products nonstop or sling digital training courses. You prefer to share value, build count on, and let the money come in on autopilot. Beehiiv’s advertisement network and boosts let you gain without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
4. Switchers Who Do Not Wish To Reconstruct Every Little Thing: Possibly you’re on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your email automations are a twisted mess. Beehiiv promises a smooth migration from those platforms. Plus, if you have a large listing (say 10k+), you can obtain help from beehiiv’s assistance group to relocate every little thing over without shedding your automations.

Beginning: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Register and Explore the Dashboard

When you produce an account, beehiiv drops you into a control panel where you see your subscriber count, open rates, click-through prices, and any kind of pending advertisement offers. Think of it as your mission control– everything you need is just a click away.

Build Your Very First Subscribe Type

Browse to Audience �’ Subscribe Kinds �’ Create New Form. You’ll need:

• A headline that hooks visitors
• A short blurb explaining what your newsletter is about
• A call-to-action button (e.g., “Join My E-newsletter”)
• Your logo or a pertinent picture
• A post-subscribe message or redirect (e.g., “Thanks for joining! Examine your inbox in a sec.”)

You can choose from various kind styles: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (simply the e-mail area), or progressed (with monitoring codes). The modification alternatives are standard– colors for buttons and history images– but it’s remarkably reliable for recording e-mails.

Establish Your Website and Personalized Pages

If you want greater than just a type, jump right into Layout �’ Website Builder �’ Personalized Pages �’ Internal Web Page. Use this to:

Host your e-newsletter archive (all past problems, searchable and SEO-friendly).

Develop a landing page for a giveaway (e.g., “Download my SEO cheat sheet”).

Develop a thank-you page that goes real-time after somebody subscribes.

I spent a couple of hours tweaking my very first landing page, once I mastered it, I understood exactly how powerful it is to have every little thing under one roofing system. Rather than managing Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.

Draft Your Very First Newsletter

Click the big “Begin Creating” button in the top-right edge. You’ll see a clean, distraction-free editor where you can:

• Compose your e-mail duplicate Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium
• Insert photos, headers, and custom HTML blocks
• Preview just how it’ll search in inboxes and on your site
• Arrange or send promptly

One catch: Customization is restricted. Every subscriber sees “Hey there” rather than “Hi there [Given name]” If you require hyper-personalization, you may miss out on that. But for a lot of folks, a pleasant, conversational introductory is enough.

Activate Monetization

As soon as you hit 1,000 active subscribers, beehiiv will certainly welcome you to:.

• Join the Advertisement Network: Immediately get sponsorship requests that match your particular niche. Pick which ones to accept, insert the ad duplicate right into your newsletter, and get paid per click/view.
• Establish Boosts: Apply to promote other newsletters. If someone joins by means of your link, you gain $1–$ 3 per customer.

For paid e-newsletters, navigate to Monetization �’ Paid Memberships. You’ll link your Stripe account (beehiiv doesn’t bill added fees past Stripe’s handling), establish your pricing plans (monthly, annual, or “Call Your Cost”), and determine what web content goes behind the paywall.

Screen and Enhance

Check your analytics weekly. If open rates go down listed below 40%, rethink your subject lines. If a sponsorship gets no clicks, it could be pointless to your target market– decrease similar future advertisements. When a boost transforms well, send even more boost requests or modify your offer.

It could seem like a great deal in the beginning, but I guarantee you’ll master it within a couple of days. And the incentives– both monetary and in terms of your audience’s growth– are worth the initial contour.

Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Monetization Options

If you’re serious about transforming your newsletter right into an economic equipment, let’s break down each income stream carefully.

1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Incomes)

Think about this as beehiiv’s affiliate program. Right here’s the lowdown:.

• How It Functions: You sign up for the Partner Program, get your special referral link, and share it on your blog site, Twitter, LinkedIn, any place. When somebody clicks, signs up for a paid plan (Range or Max), you earn a payment.
• Commission Rates: As Much As 60% of their first-year repayment. If they pay $100, you might see $60. Cha-ching.
• Payment: Beehiiv pays month-to-month by means of PayPal. No minimum threshold, no hoops to leap through.

In my case, I published a Medium blog post strolling individuals with my beehiiv experience (looter: this guide right here becomes part of that initiative). Through a mix of blog web traffic and word-of-mouth, I made over $5,000 in affiliate payments by December 2024. All I did was share my real experience.

2. Boosts: Gain by Assisting Others Expand

Boosts are primarily funded promotions– beehiiv’s spin on a “send for pay” version. Below’s the scoop:.

• Become a Boost Sponsor: If you think your e-newsletter can assist others grow, apply in the Boosts dashboard. You’ll discuss why your audience is an excellent fit and set a cost you would certainly pay for a brand-new customer.
• Apply to Boost Others: If you desire fast subscribers, you can pay to boost your e-newsletter on various other makers’ checklists. Yet what the majority of tiny makers like is the opposite: you put on be a boost partner for other newsletters. When a person register via your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
• Restrictions:
  • You can send up to 25 boost provides each month, however beehiiv only surfaces 3 offers at once to potential partners.
  • If a boost is executing well, various other creators will select it up rapidly.

Right here’s a quick example: In October 2024, I advertised a fellow search engine optimization creator’s e-newsletter for $1.75 per client. Over 2 weeks, I created 200 brand-new clients for them– and gained concerning $350 in the process. Win-win.

3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Advertisements)

This is where the large bucks can can be found in, even if your listing is “little.” Below’s exactly how it goes:

• Eligibility: You need at least 1,000 active subscribers and a consistent send out routine (a minimum of one email each month, though weekly is perfect).
• Automation: When approved, you’ll start getting 3– 5 sponsorship requests per month. Beehiiv matches you with brands based on your target market’s passions– so a marketing SaaS firm may come close to an SEO-focused newsletter, as an example.
• Payment Design:
  • Price Per Click (CPC): You earn money every single time a person clicks the ad in your email.
  • Price Per Mille (CPM): You earn based upon a thousand perceptions.
• Reduce of Use: You can accept or decline each offer right from your control panel. Beehiiv manages all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the advertisement into your newsletter.

In 2024, I ran 37 funded ads, including a couple of high-profile brand names like HubSpot. I made $632 from advertisements alone, with my top campaign producing $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Bear in mind: relevance is king. Unnecessary ads container click-through rates, so be discerning.

4. Paid Subscriptions (” Costs Material”)

If you create genuinely unique web content– deep dive reports, special tutorials, or insider analyses– you may take into consideration a paid rate. Right here’s the 101:

• Arrangement: Go to Monetization �’ Paid Memberships, attach Stripe, and choose your pricing:
  • Monthly
  • Yearly (generally discounted)
  • One-time payment (for a solitary guide or course)
  • Name Your Price (your customers select what they can manage)
• Revenue Split: Beehiiv doesn’t bill you a platform fee; they just pass Stripe’s handling cost (2.9% + $0.30) on to you.
• Instances: If you have 100 customers paying $7/month, that’s $700/month = $8,400/ year (minus Stripe fees). Not bad, ideal? Of course, reaching 100 paid clients suggests you need a devoted, involved base.

Now, be practical: Paid subscriptions are a grind. You require regular, high-value web content that makes people comfortable pulling out their wallets. If you’re simply starting, the advertisement network and boosts might be quicker success.

Pricing Plans: What You’ll Pay (and Obtain)

I recognize pricing is a big question mark when you’re thinking of changing platforms. Here’s the break down since mid-2025:.

• Free Plan (as much as 2,500 customers): Great for pet projects or if you’re evaluating the waters. You still get boosts for list development, basic analytics, and limitless sends out– just no ad network or paid memberships yet.
• Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Suitable if you’re serious about generating income from. You obtain ad network gain access to, boosts, paid registrations, and the AI Writing Aide to quicken your e-newsletter production.
• Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (photo generation, grammar taking care of, translation) issue to you, and you desire concern assistance, this is the sweet spot. Plus, you can introduce a mobile app for your customers.
• Enterprise (100k+ clients): For brand names and mega-creators who require custom movements, service-level agreements, and progressed security. Few tiny creators require this.

My referral? Start on the Free plan. Get a feel for the dashboard, expand your list to 1,000, after that update to Scale when you know you classifieds revenue and boosts.

Special Features Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium

You could be thinking, “Okay, advertisements and boosts are cool. Yet what else can beehiiv do that can’t?” Let me highlight a few standout features:.

1. Audio E-newsletters

Ever considered transforming your e-mail into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s integrated audio e-newsletter feature automatically converts your emails right into spoken-word sound. No extra modifying software application, no outsourcing to Fiverr– just toggle it on, and your subscribers can listen on the move. For active audiences who drive or work out, this is a convenient way to stay connected.

2. Custom Mobile Apps for Readers

Many systems offer you a “mobile-optimized website.” Beehiiv goes one step better: you can launch a custom mobile app for your subscribers. Once they add it to their home display, your newsletter comes to be a one-tap experience– no inbox mess. Imagine waking up and seeing application notifications when you go down a new concern. Speak about involvement.

3. “Name Your Rate” Subscriptions

Rather than forcing everyone into $5 or $7 tiers, let your most loyal fans choose what to pay. It’s a trust-building relocation and can cause greater life time value. I haven’t tested this feature personally yet, however, for makers who really feel a bit uneasy regarding rate points, it’s a pleasant alternative to experiment with.

4. beehiiv AI Collection

For those on Scale and Max plans, beehiiv’s AI tools are a godsend:

• AI Writing Aide: Generate e-newsletter drafts based on bullet factors or subjects. For days when you’re staring at a blank web page, this boosts your creativity.
• AI Text Device: Grammar, spelling, tone checks– no need for Grammarly. You get a tidy, refined draft that really feels human Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium.
• AI Picture Tool: Produce custom header pictures or illustrations without acquiring stock images. Simply type a timely, and voila.
• AI Translator: Wish to send your e-newsletter in numerous languages? Equate your web content into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese immediately.

These features can cut hours off material creation and aid you explore brand-new styles.

Pro Tips For Doing well on beehiiv

Since you recognize what beehiiv can do, right here are some expert hacks to maximize it:

Clean Your Checklist for Better Efficiency

In August 2024, I cut my subscriber matter in half (from concerning 2,400 to 1,200) by removing non-active e-mails– individuals who hadn’t opened anything in 6 months. My open rates jumped from ~ 45% to over 60%, which implied marketers paid even more per click. It hurt to shed customers, yet a lean, involved list deserves more than a puffed up, passive one.

Trying Out Subject Lines Like a Pro

Subject lines make or break open rates. Do A/B examinations on tiny sectors before sending out to your whole checklist. Short, punchy, question-based subjects (” Ready to double your web traffic?”) usually outperform generic ones (” April E-newsletter”).

Be Pickier with Ad Offers

If an ad doesn’t reverberate with your particular niche, say no. Pointless ads irritate viewers and storage tank click metrics. Over time, beehiiv’s algorithm will certainly learn what fits your target market– decrease sufficient off-topic deals, and they’ll quit sending them.

Use Boosts to Check New Audiences

Got a brand-new classification you wish to check out? Try improving your newsletter in a relevant niche. The cost per subscriber standards $1.63– yet if those clients linger, it deserves it. I once improved a SEO newsletter in a digital marketing target market and got a surprising uptick in retention.

Utilize AI for Faster Production

On evenings when I’m worn out, I ask the AI Composing Assistant to draft a rough outline: introductory, 3 bottom lines, final thought. Then I flesh it out with my very own narratives and design tweaks. It’s not perfect, however it’s a strong structure that saves me 30– 45 mins per e-mail.

Benefit from the Mobile App

Motivate clients to mount your e-newsletter’s mobile app. In your following email, create a fast “Just how to Add Our E-newsletter to Your Home Screen” tutorial. More application sets up mean even more exposure, and press notices defeat inbox sound.

Offer Occasional Paid-Only Web Content

Instead of making every issue complimentary, tease a “bonus record” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Promote it greatly to your checklist. Even if you just market 20 copies, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your monthly beehiiv costs.

Concluding: Is beehiiv Right for You?

If you have actually stuck to me this much, you possibly fall into among these camps:

• You’ve never sent out an e-newsletter, yet you’re itching to begin– beehiiv’s free plan and instinctive tools are perfect for learning the ropes.
• You have a small list (< 2,500) and wish to monetize without migraines-- beehiiv's ad network and boosts pay you for doing practically absolutely nothing additional.
• You’re a mid-sized creator (1k+ clients) aiming to range– beehiiv’s analytics, AI tools, and referral program aid you grow much faster and make more.
• You hate complicated e-mail platforms– beehiiv strikes an equilibrium in between powerful features and straightforward design.

Certain, the feature collection can feel intimidating initially, and you could obtain a couple of irrelevant advertisement requests. However consider this: in under a year, I made nearly $1,000 on a little list and over $5,000 in affiliate compensations simply by sharing my experience. I’ve seen enough to know that if you invest a little time learning the system, the returns can be considerable.

So, what are you awaiting? Enroll in beehiiv, check out the control panel, and let the money making engines turn. Your future self will thank you when the checks roll in.