So, you’ve been toying with the concept of turning your email listing right into a revenue stream, however you’re bewildered by all the choices out there. Sound familiar? You’re not the only one. If you’ve been using a standard email solution and damaging your head about sponsorships, ads, and paid memberships, it may be time to take a look at beehiiv. In this overview, I’ll walk you via whatever you need to find out about making use of beehiiv to transform your newsletter right into cash money– all from my very own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in Above The Hollow Beehiiv
Why You May be Stuck with Your Current Email System
You’ve probably tried the common suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (now Kit), Substack, or something comparable. And if you resemble the majority of small-scale web content developers, here’s what likely took place:
- Limited Monetization Options
You have a handful of loyal subscribers– perhaps 500 to 1,000 people– but no easy method to make money. Sponsorships feel like an international language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brands each month.
- Do It Yourself Automation Headaches
You wish to leak campaign brand-new subscribers, send a welcome series, and segment folks for targeted emails … but setting up those automations seems like you need a computer science degree.
- Platform Fees Suck
Whenever you think of paid memberships, the platform takes a big portion, and the payment arrangement is a lot more complex than it’s worth.
- Development Stalls
Growth hacks seem to benefit every person else– yet not for you. You desire there was an easy way to discover new subscribers without by hand chasing them down.
I remained in your shoes at the start of 2024. I ‘d been using Kit (previously ConvertKit), yet it seemed like a stumbling block for monetization. Don’t get me wrong– Kit is fantastic for developing funnels and establishing standard automations. Yet when it concerned making even a couple of hundred dollars a month from a small listing, there wasn’t an evident “on” switch.
Enter beehiiv.
My Switch over to beehiiv: A Reality Inspect
In January 2024, I ultimately shot and relocated my e-newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Here’s the honest truth: I didn’t have time to hunt down enrollers, discuss rates, or develop complex paid funnels. I run a SEO writing service full-time, so my newsletter was constantly going to be a side project. I needed something that practically ran itself.
The “Market Me” Moment
What marketed me on beehiiv was simple:
- Integrated Monetization: Right from the beginning, beehiiv yells, “Hey, you can generate income here!” It wasn’t an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
- Low-Effort Sponsorships: As opposed to me combing LinkedIn for sponsors, beehiiv brings deals directly to my dashboard. All I need to do is click “approve,” decrease in the advertisement duplicate, and struck send.
- Easy Revenue Boosts: By promoting various other e-newsletters in my weekly e-mail, I earn $1–$ 3 per referred subscriber. No hefty training, no difficult analytics– just consistent, step-by-step revenue.
Spoiler alert: It paid off. In my first full year on beehiiv (2024 ), I drew in $940 from ad sponsorships and boosts alone– on a list that never ever topped 1,000 subscribers. I really did not develop a paid course. I really did not introduce a product and I just let beehiiv do its thing.
My Partner Program Windfall
As if that wasn’t sufficient, I also signed up with the beehiiv Partner Program– basically an affiliate program. By blogging about beehiiv on my blog and sharing my experience with pals, I stole $5,108 in referral compensations with the end of 2024. Yep, you check out that right: over 5 grand, just by discussing the platform.
So if you’re wondering whether beehiiv is worth it for little makers or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. Yet, of course, it isn’t remarkable. Let’s break down the great, the bad, and the trendy stuff you need to know.
The Upside of Using beehiiv
1. Monetization Made Unbelievably Straightforward
What I love ideal about beehiiv is exactly how easy it is to make money on auto-pilot. You do not need a huge audience. Right here’s just how it works:
- Advertisement Network Sponsorships: As soon as you hit just 1,000 energetic subscribers, brand names begin lining up. You obtain 3– 6 ad requests per month usually. You select the ones you like, put the duplicate, and you’re done. They pay per click or view– no difficult invoicing. And since beehiiv matches you with pertinent brand names, your customers are more likely to click.
- Boosts Referral Earnings: Don’t have sponsors yet? No worry. Advertise various other designer e-newsletters for $1–$ 3 per subscriber. It resembles Amazon’s affiliate program, but for e-mail checklists. I earned numerous hundred dollars in this manner without breaking a sweat.
- Paid Subscriptions (When You prepare): Down the line, if you decide to charge for exceptional web content, beehiiv takes a minimal cost (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction using Stripe). You can set up numerous pricing rates, run totally free tests, or perhaps let clients “call their rate.”.
- Partner Program Compensations: Not in it for the short haul? Register for the affiliate program. Make 60% compensation on beehiiv’s month-to-month or annual plans when a person signs up with your code. It’s essentially extra cash money for sharing something you currently love.
Simply put, beehiiv turns money making right into a built-in feature, instead of a job you dread.
2. Analytics That Do Not Make Your Head Explode
If you’ve ever looked at a dashboard reasoning, “What does any of this in fact suggest?”, you’ll appreciate beehiiv’s technique:.
- Clear Subscriber Development Charts: See precisely how many new individuals joined, the amount of handed over, and why your listing shrank (much more on that in a sec).
- Open and Click Prices: Beehiiv breaks down efficiency over the last thirty day, so you can find patterns today. As an example, I kept an eye on my open price (floating around 64%– okay) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either statistics dips, I modify my subject lines or calls-to-action.
- Money making Dashboards: Sponsorship earnings, boosts revenue, companion referral incomes– you get the picture. Profits streams are neatly divided so nothing obtains shed in the shuffle.
It resembles having a sidekick who informs you, “Hey, your January email eliminated it– right here’s why,” or “Uh oh, your February open rates are tanking– let’s fix this.”.
3. Growing Your List Without Marketing Your Heart
Most newsletter systems will bill you for every extra client after a threshold. Not so with beehiiv– for approximately 2,500 clients, it’s totally free. You obtain:.
- Unrestricted e-mail sends out.
- Access to the boosts network (grow your target market by promoting your e-newsletter on other beehiiv e-newsletters).
- Fundamental analytics and kinds.
If you’re a newbie or have a little target market, this is significant. You can explore subject lines, send frequency, and various lead magnets without fretting about hitting a paywall.
4. Built-In Web Site & Custom Pages
Picture abandoning WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace completely since your e-newsletter platform functions as a website builder. That’s beehiiv basically:.
- Newsletter Archive Pages: All your past emails live on a blog-like web page that’s immediately SEO-optimized.
- Customized Landing Pages: Required a lead magnet web page? A thank-you page? A web page to offer an item? You can construct it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
- Mobile-Friendly Templates: Whatever looks fantastic on phones– vital since a ton of people read emails on mobile.
Sure, you won’t get every fancy drag-and-drop that a dedicated website builder uses, however, for the majority of developers, it’s ample.
5. Referral Program to Supercharge Development
Beehiiv’s referral program is outstanding if you wish to take advantage of a community of like-minded developers. When your client clicks “Recommend This Newsletter” and joins, both you and the referring maker get credit. It’s a smart method to expand your checklist without spamming.
The Downsides: What to Look out for
No product is perfect– and beehiiv has its missteps. Prior to you dive in, right here’s what may journey you up:.
Feature Overload in the beginning
When you visit, there are numerous choices– Forms, Boosts, Advertisements, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can feel overwhelming. If you’ve only made use of a basic solution that sends out one-off emails, you could require a number of days to get comfortable.
Irrelevant Ad Requests
Occasionally the enrollers beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your particular niche. A pc gaming e-newsletter might get offered a code-review device for developers. Make sure to decrease anything that does not jive with your audience, or you’ll storage tank your click-throughs.
No Time Zone– Based Sends Out
If your listing is international, you can not immediately arrange e-mails based upon each customer’s time zone. All sends head out simultaneously, so you could awaken to reduced open rates if half your checklist is asleep.
Custom-made Web Page Builder Isn’t Super User-friendly
Producing a landing page is feasible, yet the UI could be smoother. I invested a couple of hours (and a useful chat with support) getting a freebie opt-in page perfect. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you could locate it cumbersome.
Limited Integrations
If you use Gumroad to offer products, you’re out of good luck– no straight integration yet. You’ll have to make use of embed codes or a Zapier workaround.
All that said, beehiiv’s team is frequently rolling out updates– and those cons are slowly yet surely being attended to.
Who Should Think about beehiiv?
Not every person needs a totally included newsletter platform. Yet if any one of the complying with explains you, beehiiv could be a match made in heaven:.
- Absolute Beginners: You’ve never ever sent an e-mail blast, you don’t intend to spend money ahead of time, and you need a free, simple way to experiment. Beehiiv lets you start completely free, send out unrestricted e-mails to as much as 2,500 customers, and grow organically with the boosts network.
- Small-List Creators: If you already have a few hundred or a couple thousand clients however no idea exactly how to transform that right into revenue, beehiiv’s advertisement and boost programs are tailor-made for you. In my very first 10 months, I was making regarding $92/month with a ~ 1k checklist. Okay for coffee cash, right?
- Developers Who Dislike “Salesy” Stuff: You do not want to pitch items continuously or sling digital programs. You ‘d rather share value, develop trust, and let the money been available in on autopilot. Beehiiv’s ad network and boosts let you gain without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
- Switchers Who Do Not Want to Rebuild Whatever: Perhaps you get on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your e-mail automations are a twisted mess. Beehiiv guarantees a smooth migration from those systems. Plus, if you have a big checklist (say 10k+), you can obtain assist from beehiiv’s support team to move every little thing over without shedding your automations.
Getting Started: A Detailed Walkthrough
Join and Discover the Dashboard
Once you produce an account, beehiiv drops you into a control panel where you see your client matter, open prices, click-through rates, and any type of pending advertisement offers. Think about it as your mission control– every little thing you need is just a click away.
Construct Your First Subscribe Type
Browse to Target Market ’ Subscribe Kinds ’ Create New Kind. You’ll require:
- A headline that hooks site visitors
- A short blurb describing what your e-newsletter has to do with
- A call-to-action switch (e.g., “Join My Newsletter”)
- Your logo design or an appropriate photo
- A post-subscribe message or redirect (e.g., “Thanks for joining! Examine your inbox in a sec.”)
You can select from various type styles: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (simply the e-mail area), or progressed (with tracking codes). The customization choices are fundamental– shades for switches and history images– but it’s remarkably effective for recording emails.
Establish Your Website and Customized Pages
If you want greater than simply a form, jump right into Layout ’ Website Builder ’ Custom-made Pages ’ Internal Web Page. Use this to:
Host your e-newsletter archive (all previous problems, searchable and SEO-friendly).
Create a landing page for a giveaway (e.g., “Download my search engine optimization rip off sheet”).
Build a thank-you web page that goes live after someone subscribes.
I spent a couple of hours tweaking my initial landing page, once I got the hang of it, I recognized just how powerful it is to have everything under one roofing system. As opposed to juggling Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.
Draft Your First E-newsletter
Click the large “Start Composing” switch in the top-right edge. You’ll see a clean, distraction-free editor where you can:
- Compose your email duplicate Above The Hollow Beehiiv
- Put pictures, headers, and customized HTML obstructs
- Preview how it’ll search in inboxes and on your website
- Set up or send out immediately
One catch: Customization is restricted. Every customer sees “Hello there” instead of “Hey [First Name]” If you require hyper-personalization, you may miss out on that. But also for the majority of individuals, a friendly, conversational introductory is enough.
Turn On Monetization
As soon as you strike 1,000 active subscribers, beehiiv will certainly invite you to:.
- Sign Up With the Ad Network: Immediately receive sponsorship requests that match your particular niche. Choose which ones to accept, place the advertisement duplicate right into your newsletter, and make money per click/view.
- Establish Boosts: Relate to advertise various other e-newsletters. If somebody signs up with through your web link, you make $1–$ 3 per subscriber.
For paid e-newsletters, navigate to Monetization ’ Paid Subscriptions. You’ll attach your Stripe account (beehiiv does not charge additional charges beyond Stripe’s handling), set your pricing plans (monthly, yearly, or “Name Your Cost”), and choose what content goes behind the paywall.
Screen and Optimize
Inspect your analytics weekly. If open prices drop below 40%, reconsider your subject lines. If a sponsorship gets zero clicks, it might be pointless to your target market– decrease comparable future ads. When a boost transforms well, submit even more boost demands or tweak your offer.
It might feel like a whole lot at first, but I assure you’ll get the hang of it within a few days. And the incentives– both financial and in regards to your audience’s growth– are worth the preliminary contour.
Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Monetization Options
If you’re serious about turning your newsletter into a money-making equipment, let’s break down each income stream thoroughly.
1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Profits)
Think of this as beehiiv’s affiliate program. Here’s the lowdown:.
- How It Works: You sign up for the Partner Program, grab your one-of-a-kind referral web link, and share it on your blog site, Twitter, LinkedIn, anywhere. When a person clicks, register for a paid plan (Scale or Max), you make a compensation.
- Commission Fees: Approximately 60% of their first-year repayment. If they pay $100, you could see $60. Cha-ching.
- Payment: Beehiiv pays regular monthly using PayPal. No minimum limit, no hoops to jump via.
In my instance, I released a Medium blog post strolling people with my beehiiv experience (spoiler: this guide right here belongs to that effort). Via a mix of blog web traffic and word-of-mouth, I transformed $5,000 in associate commissions by December 2024. All I did was share my authentic experience.
2. Boosts: Make by Helping Others Grow
Boosts are basically funded promos– beehiiv’s spin on a “send for pay” design. Here’s the scoop:.
- Come To Be a Boost Sponsor: If you think your e-newsletter can help others grow, apply in the Boosts dashboard. You’ll discuss why your audience is a good fit and set a price you would certainly pay for a new subscriber.
- Apply to Boost Others: If you want quick customers, you can pay to boost your newsletter on other designers’ listings. However what a lot of tiny creators enjoy is the opposite: you apply to be a boost partner for other e-newsletters. When a person signs up with your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
- Limitations:
- You can send up to 25 boost provides each month, however beehiiv just surface areas three offers each time to prospective companions.
- If a boost is doing well, various other designers will select it up rapidly.
Below’s a fast instance: In October 2024, I promoted a fellow SEO creator’s e-newsletter for $1.75 per client. Over 2 weeks, I generated 200 brand-new clients for them– and earned concerning $350 at the same time. Win-win.
3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Advertisements)
This is where the large dollars can be available in, even if your listing is “little.” Here’s how it goes:
- Qualification: You require at the very least 1,000 active subscribers and a regular send out timetable (at the very least one e-mail per month, though once a week is excellent).
- Automation: Once authorized, you’ll start getting 3– 5 sponsorship demands per month. Beehiiv matches you with brand names based on your target market’s passions– so a marketing SaaS business could approach an SEO-focused newsletter, for instance.
- Payment Version:
- Price Per Click (CPC): You earn money every single time a person clicks the advertisement in your email.
- Cost Per Mille (CPM): You gain based on a thousand impressions.
- Reduce of Use: You can approve or decrease each deal right from your dashboard. Beehiiv takes care of all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the advertisement into your newsletter.
In 2024, I ran 37 funded advertisements, consisting of a couple of high-profile brand names like HubSpot. I made $632 from advertisements alone, with my top campaign creating $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Remember: significance is king. Unimportant ads container click-through rates, so be selective.
4. Paid Subscriptions (” Costs Content”)
If you produce really special web content– deep dive reports, unique tutorials, or insider evaluations– you might think about a paid tier. Below’s the 101:
- Setup: Most Likely To Monetization ’ Paid Registrations, link Stripe, and pick your pricing:
- Regular monthly
- Yearly (generally marked down)
- Single repayment (for a single guide or course)
- Name Your Price (your subscribers select what they can manage)
- Profits Split: Beehiiv does not bill you a system cost; they only pass Stripe’s handling cost (2.9% + $0.30) on you.
- Examples: If you have 100 clients paying $7/month, that’s $700/month = $8,400/ year (minus Stripe fees). Tolerable, appropriate? Certainly, getting to 100 paid subscribers indicates you need a loyal, involved base.
Currently, be sensible: Paid registrations are a work. You need regular, high-value web content that makes people comfortable pulling out their purses. If you’re just beginning, the advertisement network and boosts may be quicker success.
Pricing Plans: What You’ll Pay (and Get)
I recognize pricing is a large question mark when you’re thinking of switching systems. Below’s the break down as of mid-2025:.
- Free Plan (as much as 2,500 clients): Great for pet projects or if you’re testing the waters. You still obtain boosts for list development, fundamental analytics, and unrestricted sends– just no ad network or paid subscriptions yet.
- Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Perfect if you’re serious about monetizing. You obtain ad network gain access to, boosts, paid memberships, and the AI Creating Assistant to quicken your newsletter production.
- Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (picture generation, grammar dealing with, translation) issue to you, and you desire priority support, this is the sweet place. And also, you can launch a mobile app for your clients.
- Enterprise (100k+ clients): For brands and mega-creators who need customized movements, service-level contracts, and advanced security. Few tiny makers require this.
My referral? Start on the Free plan. Obtain a feel for the control panel, grow your listing to 1,000, after that upgrade to Scale when you understand you classified ad revenue and boosts.
One-of-a-kind Features Above The Hollow Beehiiv
You might be believing, “Okay, ads and boosts are amazing. But what else can beehiiv do that others can not?” Let me highlight a few standout features:.
1. Audio E-newsletters
Ever before considered turning your email into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s integrated sound newsletter feature automatically transforms your e-mails into spoken-word audio. No additional modifying software, no outsourcing to Fiverr– just toggle it on, and your customers can listen on the move. For busy audiences who drive or exercise, this is a convenient method to remain linked.
2. Personalized Mobile Application for Readers
Most systems provide you a “mobile-optimized website.” Beehiiv goes one action further: you can release a personalized mobile app for your customers. Once they include it to their home display, your e-newsletter comes to be a one-tap experience– no inbox clutter. Visualize awakening and seeing application notifications when you go down a brand-new concern. Speak about interaction.
3. “Name Your Price” Memberships
Instead of compeling every person into $5 or $7 rates, let your most faithful followers choose what to pay. It’s a trust-building step and can lead to higher lifetime worth. I haven’t tested this feature personally yet, but also for developers who feel a little bit anxious about rate factors, it’s a pleasant alternative to try out.
4. beehiiv AI Suite
For those on Scale and Max plans, beehiiv’s AI tools are a godsend:
- AI Writing Aide: Produce e-newsletter drafts based upon bullet factors or subjects. For days when you’re staring at a blank web page, this starts your imagination.
- AI Text Device: Grammar, punctuation, tone checks– no demand for Grammarly. You obtain a tidy, sleek draft that feels human Above The Hollow Beehiiv.
- AI Photo Device: Create personalized header photos or pictures without buying stock pictures. Just type a prompt, and voila.
- AI Translator: Wish to send your e-newsletter in numerous languages? Convert your web content into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese instantaneously.
These features can cut hours off material creation and help you explore brand-new formats.
Pro Tips For Succeeding on beehiiv
Since you know what beehiiv can do, here are some expert hacks to maximize it:
Clean Your Listing for Better Efficiency
In August 2024, I cut my customer count in half (from concerning 2,400 to 1,200) by eliminating non-active emails– individuals who had not opened up anything in 6 months. My open prices leapt from ~ 45% to over 60%, which meant advertisers paid even more per click. It injured to shed customers, however a lean, engaged listing deserves greater than a bloated, easy one.
Try Out Subject Lines Like a Pro
Subject lines make or burst rates. Do A/B examinations on tiny sections prior to sending to your whole checklist. Short, punchy, question-based subjects (” Ready to double your traffic?”) commonly outperform common ones (” April Newsletter”).
Be Pickier with Ad Offers
If an ad doesn’t resonate with your specific niche, say no. Irrelevant ads irritate visitors and tank click metrics. With time, beehiiv’s algorithm will certainly discover what fits your audience– decline enough off-topic deals, and they’ll stop sending them.
Usage Boosts to Evaluate New Audiences
Obtained a new classification you wish to check out? Try increasing your newsletter in a related niche. The expense per client averages $1.63– however if those subscribers remain, it deserves it. I as soon as enhanced a SEO e-newsletter in a digital marketing audience and got a surprising uptick in retention.
Leverage AI for Faster Production
On evenings when I’m stressed out, I ask the AI Composing Assistant to prepare a rough outline: introductory, three main points, conclusion. Then I flesh it out with my own stories and style tweaks. It’s not excellent, yet it’s a strong structure that conserves me 30– 45 mins per email.
Make use of the Mobile App
Motivate subscribers to install your e-newsletter’s mobile app. In your following email, write a quick “Exactly how to Add Our Newsletter to Your Home Screen” tutorial. More app installs indicate more exposure, and press notices beat inbox noise.
Offer Periodic Paid-Only Material
Instead of making every concern totally free, tease a “bonus offer record” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Advertise it heavily to your listing. Even if you just offer 20 copies, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your month-to-month beehiiv expense.
Concluding: Is beehiiv Right for You?
If you’ve stuck with me this much, you probably fall into among these camps:
- You have actually never sent a newsletter, but you’re itching to start– beehiiv’s free plan and intuitive devices are excellent for learning the ropes.
- You have a tiny checklist (< 2,500) and wish to monetize without migraines-- beehiiv's advertisement network and boosts pay you for doing nearly nothing extra.
- You’re a mid-sized maker (1k+ customers) aiming to scale– beehiiv’s analytics, AI devices, and referral program aid you expand much faster and make extra.
- You hate intricate e-mail systems– beehiiv strikes an equilibrium in between effective features and straightforward design.
Certain, the feature collection can feel intimidating at first, and you may obtain a couple of unnecessary advertisement requests. Yet consider this: in under a year, I made nearly $1,000 on a tiny list and over $5,000 in associate commissions simply by sharing my experience. I have actually seen sufficient to know that if you spend a little bit of time learning the system, the returns can be substantial.
So, what are you waiting on? Register for beehiiv, explore the dashboard, and let the monetization engines turn. Your future self will thank you when the checks roll in.