So, you’ve been toying with the concept of turning your e-mail list into an earnings stream, however you’re bewildered by all the options around. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. If you have actually been utilizing a fundamental e-mail service and damaging your head regarding sponsorships, advertisements, and paid subscriptions, it might be time to take a look at beehiiv. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to understand about using beehiiv to transform your e-newsletter into cash– all from my own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in Does Beehiiv Have a Free Plan
Why You Might Be Stuck with Your Existing Email System
You’ve probably attempted the typical suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (now Kit), Substack, or something similar. And if you resemble most small-scale material creators, below’s what likely happened:
- Limited Monetization Choices
You have a handful of loyal subscribers– maybe 500 to 1,000 individuals– however no easy means to make money. Sponsorships seem like a foreign language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brand names every month.
- DIY Automation Headaches
You intend to drip campaign new clients, send a welcome collection, and segment people for targeted emails … yet establishing those automations feels like you need a computer technology level.
- Platform Costs Suck
Each time you consider paid registrations, the system takes a massive piece, and the payment setup is much more challenging than it’s worth.
- Growth Delays
Development hacks appear to benefit everyone else– but not for you. You want there was an easy way to discover new subscribers without manually chasing them down.
I remained in your footwear at the start of 2024. I would certainly been utilizing Kit (formerly ConvertKit), however it felt like a dead end for monetization. Do not get me wrong– Kit is great for building funnels and establishing basic automations. Yet when it pertained to making a couple of hundred bucks a month from a tiny listing, there wasn’t a noticeable “on” button.
Go into beehiiv.
My Switch over to beehiiv: A Reality Inspect
In January 2024, I finally pulled the trigger and relocated my e-newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Below’s the honest truth: I didn’t have time to hound sponsors, bargain rates, or develop complicated paid funnels. I run a SEO writing company permanent, so my e-newsletter was constantly going to be a side project. I required something that virtually ran itself.
The “Sell Me” Moment
What marketed me on beehiiv was easy:
- Integrated Monetization: Right from the start, beehiiv yells, “Hey, you can generate income below!” It wasn’t an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
- Low-Effort Sponsorships: Instead of me combing LinkedIn for enrollers, beehiiv brings offers directly to my control panel. All I need to do is click “approve,” decrease in the advertisement duplicate, and hit send.
- Passive Revenue Boosts: By promoting various other newsletters in my regular e-mail, I make $1–$ 3 per referred client. No heavy lifting, no complex analytics– just constant, incremental earnings.
Spoiler alert: It settled. In my first complete year on beehiiv (2024 ), I drew in $940 from advertisement sponsorships and boosts alone– on a checklist that never covered 1,000 subscribers. I didn’t develop a paid course. I really did not release an item and I simply let beehiiv do its point.
My Partner Program Windfall
As if that wasn’t enough, I also joined the beehiiv Partner Program– basically an affiliate program. By discussing beehiiv on my blog site and sharing my experience with buddies, I pocketed $5,108 in referral compensations through completion of 2024. Yep, you check out that right: over five grand, just by discussing the platform.
So if you’re wondering whether beehiiv is worth it for small developers or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. Yet, obviously, it isn’t remarkable. Let’s break down the excellent, the bad, and the cool stuff you need to recognize.
The Benefit of Using beehiiv
1. Money Making Made Extremely Easy
What I enjoy ideal concerning beehiiv is how very easy it is to earn money on auto-pilot. You do not need a substantial audience. Below’s exactly how it works:
- Advertisement Network Sponsorships: As soon as you strike just 1,000 energetic customers, brand names start lining up. You get 3– 6 ad demands each month generally. You select the ones you like, place the copy, and you’re done. They ppc or watch– no complicated invoicing. And since beehiiv matches you with pertinent brands, your customers are most likely to click.
- Boosts Referral Revenue: Do not have sponsors yet? No worry. Promote various other developer newsletters for $1–$ 3 per subscriber. It resembles Amazon’s affiliate program, but for e-mail listings. I gained numerous hundred dollars in this manner without breaking a sweat.
- Paid Subscriptions (When You’re Ready): Down the line, if you determine to bill for superior content, beehiiv takes a minimal cost (2.9% + $0.30 per deal using Stripe). You can set up numerous pricing rates, run totally free trials, and even let customers “name their price.”.
- Partner Program Compensations: Not in it for the brief haul? Sign up for the affiliate program. Earn 60% compensation on beehiiv’s monthly or annual plans when somebody register with your code. It’s essentially added money for sharing something you already love.
Put simply, beehiiv turns money making into an integrated feature, instead of a job you dread.
2. Analytics That Don’t Make Your Head Explode
If you’ve ever stared at a control panel thinking, “What does any of this actually imply?”, you’ll value beehiiv’s strategy:.
- Clear Client Growth Charts: See exactly the amount of brand-new people signed up with, the number of dropped off, and why your list shrank (a lot more on that in a sec).
- Open and Click Prices: Beehiiv breaks down performance over the last thirty days, so you can spot patterns today. As an example, I kept an eye on my open rate (hovering around 64%– okay) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either metric dips, I modify my subject lines or calls-to-action.
- Money making Dashboards: Sponsorship income, boosts revenue, companion referral revenues– you get the picture. Income streams are nicely divided so nothing obtains lost in the shuffle.
It resembles having a partner who informs you, “Hey, your January email killed it– here’s why,” or “Uh oh, your February open rates are tanking– let’s repair this.”.
3. Growing Your List Without Marketing Your Spirit
A lot of newsletter systems will certainly bill you for each added customer after a threshold. Not so with beehiiv– for up to 2,500 customers, it’s complimentary. You get:.
- Unrestricted email sends.
- Accessibility to the boosts network (grow your target market by advertising your newsletter on various other beehiiv e-newsletters).
- Basic analytics and kinds.
If you’re a beginner or have a small target market, this is significant. You can trying out subject lines, send out frequency, and various lead magnets without stressing over hitting a paywall.
4. Built-In Internet Site & Custom Pages
Imagine dumping WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace altogether since your e-newsletter system functions as a website builder. That’s beehiiv essentially:.
- Newsletter Archive Pages: All your past emails reside on a blog-like web page that’s immediately SEO-optimized.
- Custom-made Landing Pages: Required a lead magnet page? A thank-you web page? A web page to offer a product? You can build it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
- Mobile-Friendly Templates: Everything looks terrific on phones– essential considering that a ton of people check out emails on mobile.
Sure, you will not get every expensive drag-and-drop that a devoted website builder supplies, but also for the majority of makers, 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 similar designers. When your customer clicks “Recommend This E-newsletter” and joins, both you and the referring creator get debt. It’s a wise means to grow your list without spamming.
The Downsides: What to Look out for
No product is ideal– and beehiiv has its missteps. Before you dive in, here’s what may journey you up:.
Feature Overload at First
When you log in, there are many alternatives– Types, Boosts, Ads, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can feel frustrating. If you’ve just used a basic solution that sends out one-off e-mails, you may need a number of days to get comfy.
Unnecessary Advertisement Requests
Occasionally the sponsors beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your niche. A video gaming newsletter may get offered a code-review tool for programmers. Make sure to decline anything that does not jive with your target market, or you’ll storage tank your click-throughs.
No Time Area– Based Sends
If your listing is global, you can’t instantly set up e-mails based upon each customer’s time zone. All sends out go out at the same time, so you may get up to low open prices if half your listing is asleep.
Customized Web Page Builder Isn’t Extremely Intuitive
Producing a landing page is possible, however the UI could be smoother. I spent a couple of hours (and a valuable conversation with support) obtaining a freebie opt-in page ideal. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you may locate it confusing.
Restricted Integrations
If you make use of Gumroad to market products, you’re out of good luck– no direct integration yet. You’ll have to use embed codes or a Zapier workaround.
All that stated, beehiiv’s group is continuously presenting updates– and those disadvantages are slowly yet surely being dealt with.
Who Should Think about beehiiv?
Not everybody requires a completely featured newsletter platform. But if any one of the adhering to describes you, beehiiv could be a match made in paradise:.
- Outright Beginners: You have actually never sent an e-mail blast, you don’t intend to invest money in advance, and you require a free, easy means to experiment. Beehiiv lets you begin completely free, send out limitless e-mails to approximately 2,500 clients, and grow naturally with the boosts network.
- Small-List Creators: If you already have a few hundred or a pair thousand clients but no clue exactly how to transform that into earnings, beehiiv’s ad and boost programs are custom-made for you. In my first 10 months, I was making regarding $92/month with a ~ 1k list. Not bad for coffee cash, right?
- Makers Who Despise “Salesy” Stuff: You do not want to pitch products continuously or sling digital training courses. You ‘d rather share value, construct trust, and let the cash can be found in on autopilot. Beehiiv’s ad network and boosts let you earn without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
- Switchers Who Don’t Wish To Reconstruct Every Little Thing: Maybe you get on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your e-mail automations are a twisted mess. Beehiiv promises a smooth movement from those systems. Plus, if you have a huge list (say 10k+), you can obtain assist from beehiiv’s assistance group to relocate whatever over without shedding your automations.
Getting Started: A Detailed Walkthrough
Subscribe and Explore the Control panel
When you produce an account, beehiiv drops you right into a dashboard where you see your client count, open rates, click-through rates, and any type of pending ad deals. Think about it as your mission control– whatever you need is just a click away.
Develop Your First Subscribe Form
Navigate to Target Market ’ Subscribe Kinds ’ Produce New Type. You’ll require:
- A heading that hooks visitors
- A brief blurb clarifying what your newsletter is about
- A call-to-action button (e.g., “Join My E-newsletter”)
- Your logo design or an appropriate photo
- A post-subscribe message or redirect (e.g., “Many thanks for signing up with! Check your inbox in a sec.”)
You can pick from different kind styles: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (just the e-mail area), or advanced (with tracking codes). The customization alternatives are basic– colors for buttons and background images– yet it’s remarkably efficient for capturing emails.
Establish Your Web Site and Personalized Pages
If you desire more than simply a type, hop right into Layout ’ Website Builder ’ Personalized Pages ’ Internal Web Page. Utilize this to:
Host your e-newsletter archive (all previous problems, searchable and SEO-friendly).
Develop a landing page for a free offer (e.g., “Download my SEO cheat sheet”).
Develop a thank-you web page that goes real-time after a person subscribes.
I spent a couple of hours tweaking my first landing page, but once I got the hang of it, I realized exactly how effective it is to have every little thing under one roofing. As opposed to managing Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.
Draft Your First E-newsletter
Click the large “Start Creating” button in the top-right edge. You’ll see a tidy, distraction-free editor where you can:
- Compose your email duplicate Does Beehiiv Have a Free Plan
- Put images, headers, and customized HTML blocks
- Preview just how it’ll look in inboxes and on your web site
- Set up or send out promptly
One catch: Customization is limited. Every customer sees “Hey there” rather than “Hello [First Name]” If you need hyper-personalization, you might miss that. However, for a lot of folks, a friendly, conversational introductory is enough.
Activate Monetization
When you strike 1,000 active customers, beehiiv will invite you to:.
- Join the Ad Network: Automatically obtain sponsorship demands that match your specific niche. Pick which ones to accept, place the advertisement copy right into your newsletter, and make money per click/view.
- Establish Boosts: Apply to advertise various other newsletters. If somebody signs up with using your link, you make $1–$ 3 per client.
For paid e-newsletters, navigate to Money making ’ Paid Subscriptions. You’ll link your Stripe account (beehiiv doesn’t bill extra fees past Stripe’s processing), set your pricing plans (monthly, yearly, or “Name Your Cost”), and decide what web content goes behind the paywall.
Screen and Optimize
Inspect your analytics weekly. If open prices drop listed below 40%, reassess your subject lines. If a sponsorship obtains absolutely no clicks, it may be unnecessary to your target market– decrease comparable future ads. When a boost converts well, send more boost requests or tweak your deal.
It may feel like a lot initially, however I promise you’ll get the hang of it within a few days. And the incentives– both monetary and in terms of your target market’s growth– deserve the preliminary contour.
Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Money making Options
If you’re serious about transforming your newsletter right into a money-making maker, let’s break down each earnings stream thoroughly.
1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Profits)
Consider this as beehiiv’s affiliate program. Below’s the lowdown:.
- How It Functions: You register for the Partner Program, grab your special referral web link, and share it on your blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, any place. When someone clicks, signs up for a paid plan (Scale or Max), you earn a compensation.
- Payment Fees: As Much As 60% of their first-year payment. If they pay $100, you might see $60. Cha-ching.
- Payment: Beehiiv pays month-to-month through PayPal. No minimum limit, no hoops to jump with.
In my case, I published a Medium article walking individuals via my beehiiv experience (looter: this guide right here belongs to that effort). Via a combination of blog traffic and word-of-mouth, I made over $5,000 in associate commissions by December 2024. All I did was share my authentic experience.
2. Boosts: Earn by Aiding Others Expand
Boosts are primarily funded promotions– beehiiv’s spin on a “send for pay” model. Here’s the scoop:.
- End Up Being a Boost Sponsor: If you believe your e-newsletter can help others grow, apply in the Boosts dashboard. You’ll discuss why your target market is an excellent fit and established a rate you ‘d pay for a new client.
- Apply to Boost Others: If you desire quick subscribers, you can pay to boost your newsletter on various other developers’ checklists. But what many small makers love is the opposite: you apply to be a boost partner for various other e-newsletters. When someone signs up through your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
- Limitations:
- You can send up to 25 boost uses each month, yet beehiiv just surfaces 3 deals each time to potential partners.
- If a boost is carrying out well, various other designers will certainly select it up promptly.
Below’s a quick example: In October 2024, I promoted a fellow SEO creator’s newsletter for $1.75 per subscriber. Over 2 weeks, I generated 200 new subscribers for them– and made regarding $350 at the same time. Win-win.
3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Ads)
This is where the big bucks can come in, even if your checklist is “small.” Below’s how it goes:
- Eligibility: You require at the very least 1,000 energetic subscribers and a consistent send out routine (at least one email per month, though regular is excellent).
- Automation: Once approved, you’ll start receiving 3– 5 sponsorship demands per month. Beehiiv matches you with brand names based on your target market’s rate of interests– so a marketing SaaS company could come close to an SEO-focused newsletter, for instance.
- Settlement Design:
- Expense Per Click (CPC): You generate income every time a person clicks the advertisement in your email.
- Expense Per Mille (CPM): You earn based upon a thousand impressions.
- Alleviate of Use: You can accept or decrease each offer right from your control panel. Beehiiv takes care of all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the ad into your newsletter.
In 2024, I ran 37 funded ads, including a couple of top-level brands like HubSpot. I made $632 from ads alone, with my leading campaign creating $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Keep in mind: relevance is king. Unnecessary advertisements container click-through rates, so be selective.
4. Paid Subscriptions (” Premium Content”)
If you produce absolutely distinct web content– deep dive records, special tutorials, or insider analyses– you could think about a paid rate. Right here’s the 101:
- Arrangement: Go to Monetization ’ Paid Memberships, connect Stripe, and select your pricing:
- Monthly
- Yearly (usually marked down)
- Single repayment (for a single overview or training course)
- Name Your Price (your subscribers choose what they can afford)
- Earnings Split: Beehiiv does not bill you a platform cost; they just pass Stripe’s handling cost (2.9% + $0.30) on you.
- Examples: If you have 100 subscribers paying $7/month, that’s $700/month = $8,400/ year (minus Stripe fees). Okay, ideal? Of course, reaching 100 paid subscribers indicates you require a faithful, involved base.
Now, be realistic: Paid registrations are a grind. You need consistent, high-value web content that makes individuals comfortable taking out their pocketbooks. If you’re just starting, the ad network and boosts might be quicker victories.
Pricing Plans: What You’ll Pay (and Get)
I know pricing is a large question mark when you’re thinking of changing systems. Here’s the break down as of mid-2025:.
- Free Plan (as much as 2,500 clients): Great for pet projects or if you’re evaluating the waters. You still get boosts for checklist development, fundamental analytics, and endless sends out– simply no advertisement network or paid registrations yet.
- Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Perfect if you’re serious about generating income from. You get ad network gain access to, boosts, paid memberships, and the AI Composing Aide to accelerate your e-newsletter creation.
- Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (picture generation, grammar taking care of, translation) issue to you, and you desire concern support, this is the sweet spot. And also, you can introduce a mobile application for your subscribers.
- Enterprise (100k+ clients): For brands and mega-creators who require custom-made movements, service-level contracts, and progressed safety. Very few tiny designers require this.
My suggestion? Beginning on the Free plan. Get a feel for the control panel, expand your listing to 1,000, then upgrade to Scale once you recognize you classified ad revenue and boosts.
Special Features Does Beehiiv Have a Free Plan
You might be thinking, “Okay, advertisements and boosts are cool. However what else can beehiiv do that others can’t?” Let me highlight a few standout features:.
1. Audio Newsletters
Ever considered turning your email right into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s integrated sound e-newsletter feature instantly transforms your emails right into spoken-word audio. No added modifying software program, no outsourcing to Fiverr– just toggle it on, and your customers can pay attention on the move. For hectic audiences who drive or work out, this is a handy means to stay connected.
2. Customized Mobile Apps for Readers
The majority of platforms offer you a “mobile-optimized web site.” Beehiiv goes one action further: you can introduce a custom mobile application for your customers. Once they include it to their home screen, your e-newsletter ends up being a one-tap experience– no inbox mess. Visualize awakening and seeing application alerts when you drop a new problem. Discuss interaction.
3. “Call Your Rate” Memberships
Instead of requiring everybody right into $5 or $7 rates, let your most devoted followers choose what to pay. It’s a trust-building move and can cause higher lifetime worth. I haven’t tested this feature directly yet, but for developers who feel a bit uneasy about cost points, it’s a wonderful option to try out.
4. beehiiv AI Suite
For those on Scale and Max plans, beehiiv’s AI devices are a godsend:
- AI Composing Aide: Create e-newsletter drafts based on bullet points or topics. For days when you’re looking at an empty page, this boosts your creativity.
- AI Text Tool: Grammar, spelling, tone checks– no demand for Grammarly. You get a tidy, refined draft that feels human Does Beehiiv Have a Free Plan.
- AI Image Device: Develop custom header photos or pictures without acquiring stock photos. Simply type a timely, and voila.
- AI Translator: Want to send your e-newsletter in numerous languages? Translate your material into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese promptly.
These features can cut hours off material creation and help you experiment with brand-new formats.
Pro Tips For Doing well on beehiiv
Since you know what beehiiv can do, below are some expert hacks to take advantage of it:
Clean Your List for Better Efficiency
In August 2024, I cut my subscriber count in half (from about 2,400 to 1,200) by eliminating non-active emails– individuals who had not opened up anything in six months. My open prices jumped from ~ 45% to over 60%, which suggested marketers paid more per click. It harmed to lose customers, but a lean, engaged list is worth more than a puffed up, easy one.
Trying Out Topic Lines Like a Pro
Subject lines make or burst rates. Do A/B tests on little sectors before sending out to your whole list. Short, punchy, question-based subjects (” Ready to double your website traffic?”) often outperform generic ones (” April Newsletter”).
Be Pickier with Ad Offers
If an advertisement does not resonate with your specific niche, say no. Irrelevant advertisements frustrate visitors and storage tank click metrics. With time, beehiiv’s formula will learn what fits your target market– decline enough off-topic deals, and they’ll quit sending them.
Usage Boosts to Evaluate New Audiences
Obtained a new group you intend to discover? Try improving your newsletter in an associated particular niche. The cost per subscriber standards $1.63– yet if those customers remain, it’s worth it. I when increased a search engine optimization newsletter in a digital marketing target market and obtained an unexpected uptick in retention.
Leverage AI for Faster Manufacturing
On evenings when I’m burnt out, I ask the AI Writing Assistant to compose a rough outline: introductory, three bottom lines, final thought. Then I flesh it out with my very own anecdotes and style tweaks. It’s not perfect, yet it’s a strong foundation that saves me 30– 45 minutes per email.
Take Advantage of the Mobile Application
Encourage clients to install your e-newsletter’s mobile app. In your following e-mail, write a quick “How to Add Our E-newsletter to Your Home Display” tutorial. Even more app mounts indicate even more exposure, and push notifications beat inbox sound.
Deal Periodic Paid-Only Content
Rather than making every concern free, tease a “bonus offer report” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Promote it heavily to your checklist. Even if you just sell 20 duplicates, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your regular monthly beehiiv expense.
Completing: Is beehiiv Right for You?
If you’ve stuck with me this much, you possibly fall under one of these camps:
- You have actually never ever sent out a newsletter, but you’re itching to start– beehiiv’s free plan and intuitive tools are best for learning the ropes.
- You have a little checklist (< 2,500) and want to generate income from without migraines-- beehiiv's ad network and boosts pay you for doing nearly nothing extra.
- You’re a mid-sized maker (1k+ subscribers) seeking to scale– beehiiv’s analytics, AI tools, and referral program aid you expand much faster and make much more.
- You dislike intricate e-mail platforms– beehiiv strikes a balance between powerful features and straightforward design.
Certain, the feature set can feel discouraging at first, and you might get a few unimportant ad demands. However consider this: in under a year, I made nearly $1,000 on a tiny listing and over $5,000 in associate compensations just by sharing my experience. I’ve seen sufficient to know that if you invest a little time learning the platform, the returns can be significant.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for beehiiv, discover the dashboard, and let the monetization engines turn. Your future self will certainly thanks when the checks roll in.