Pros and Cons of Beehiiv – Launch Your Newsletter in Minutes!

So, you’ve been toying with the idea of transforming your email listing right into a profits stream, yet you’re bewildered by all the options available. Audio familiar? You’re not the only one. If you have actually been utilizing a basic e-mail service and scraping your head regarding sponsorships, advertisements, and paid subscriptions, it may be time to check out beehiiv. In this overview, I’ll walk you via whatever you require to learn about using beehiiv to transform your newsletter right into money– all from my very own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in Pros and Cons of Beehiiv

Why You Could be Stuck with Your Present Email System

You’ve probably attempted the normal suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (currently Kit), Substack, or something similar. And if you resemble many small-scale material designers, here’s what likely occurred:

• Limited Money Making Choices

You have a handful of faithful subscribers– perhaps 500 to 1,000 individuals– however absolutely no very easy means to earn money. Sponsorships feel like a foreign language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brand names every month.

• DIY Automation Headaches

You wish to leak campaign brand-new customers, send a welcome series, and segment people for targeted e-mails … however establishing those automations feels like you require a computer science degree.

• System Fees Suck

Each time you consider paid registrations, the system takes a huge chunk, and the settlement configuration is extra difficult than it deserves.

• Growth Delays

Growth hacks appear to benefit everyone else– however except you. You desire there was an easy means to find brand-new clients without by hand chasing them down.

I was in your shoes at the beginning of 2024. I would certainly been using Kit (formerly ConvertKit), yet it seemed like a stumbling block for monetization. Don’t get me wrong– Kit is fantastic for constructing funnels and establishing standard automations. However when it concerned making a couple of hundred dollars a month from a tiny list, there had not been an obvious “on” switch.

Go into beehiiv.

My Switch to beehiiv: A Truth Check

In January 2024, I finally shot and relocated my newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Right here’s the honest truth: I didn’t have time to hound enrollers, work out prices, or develop complicated paid funnels. I run a SEO writing business permanent, so my newsletter was always mosting likely to be a side project. I needed something that almost ran itself.

The “Offer Me” Moment

What offered me on beehiiv was easy:

• Integrated Money making: Right from the beginning, beehiiv shouts, “Hey, you can make money below!” It wasn’t an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
• Low-Effort Sponsorships: As opposed to me combing LinkedIn for sponsors, beehiiv brings offers right to my dashboard. All I have to do is click “approve,” decrease in the advertisement duplicate, and struck send.
• Passive Earnings Boosts: By advertising other newsletters in my once a week email, I make $1–$ 3 per referred subscriber. No hefty lifting, no complicated analytics– simply consistent, incremental income.

Looter alert: It paid off. In my initial full year on beehiiv (2024 ), I pulled in $940 from advertisement sponsorships and boosts alone– on a checklist that never covered 1,000 subscribers. I didn’t produce a paid program. I really did not launch an item and I just let beehiiv do its thing.

My Partner Program Windfall

As if that wasn’t sufficient, I additionally joined the beehiiv Partner Program– primarily an affiliate program. By writing about beehiiv on my blog and sharing my experience with friends, I filched $5,108 in referral payments with the end of 2024. Yep, you review that right: over 5 grand, simply by speaking about the platform.

So if you’re wondering whether beehiiv is worth it for small creators or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. However, naturally, it isn’t remarkable. Let’s break down the good, the poor, and the awesome things you require to understand.

The Upside of Using beehiiv

1. Monetization Made Ridiculously Basic

What I enjoy finest regarding beehiiv is how easy it is to earn money on autopilot. You do not require a significant audience. Right here’s exactly how it functions:

• Advertisement Network Sponsorships: Once you strike simply 1,000 active clients, brand names begin aligning. You obtain 3– 6 ad demands each month usually. You select the ones you like, insert the duplicate, and you’re done. They ppc or check out– no difficult invoicing. And because beehiiv matches you with appropriate brands, your clients are more probable to click.
• Boosts Referral Revenue: Do not have sponsors yet? No problem. Advertise other developer newsletters for $1–$ 3 per subscriber. It’s like Amazon’s affiliate program, but also for e-mail checklists. I earned several hundred bucks this way without breaking a sweat.
• Paid Subscriptions (When You prepare): Down the line, if you make a decision to charge for exceptional content, beehiiv takes a minimal cost (2.9% + $0.30 per deal through Stripe). You can establish multiple pricing tiers, run cost-free trials, or perhaps let clients “call their price.”.
• Partner Program Compensations: Not in it for the short haul? Sign up for the affiliate program. Gain 60% payment on beehiiv’s month-to-month or yearly plans when somebody register with your code. It’s literally additional cash money for sharing something you currently love.

Simply put, beehiiv turns monetization right into an integrated feature, as opposed to a job you fear.

2. Analytics That Do Not Make Your Head Explode

If you’ve ever looked at a dashboard reasoning, “What does any one of this really imply?”, you’ll appreciate beehiiv’s strategy:.

• Clear Client Growth Graphs: See specifically the amount of new people joined, the number of left, and why your listing shrank (much more on that particular in a sec).
• Open and Click Prices: Beehiiv breaks down efficiency over the last 1 month, so you can spot patterns as soon as possible. As an example, I watched on my open price (floating around 64%– okay) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either metric dips, I modify my subject lines or calls-to-action.
• Monetization Dashboards: Sponsorship earnings, boosts income, partner referral profits– you understand. Earnings streams are neatly divided so nothing obtains lost in the shuffle.

It resembles having a sidekick who informs you, “Hey, your January e-mail eliminated it– right here’s why,” or “Uh oh, your February open rates are tanking– let’s repair this.”.

3. Growing Your Checklist Without Marketing Your Heart

The majority of newsletter platforms will certainly bill you for each extra customer after a threshold. Not so with beehiiv– for up to 2,500 customers, it’s free. You get:.

• Limitless email sends out.
• Accessibility to the boosts network (expand your target market by advertising your newsletter on various other beehiiv e-newsletters).
• Standard analytics and forms.

If you’re a novice or have a little target market, this is substantial. You can try out subject lines, send regularity, and different lead magnets without stressing over striking a paywall.

4. Built-In Site & Personalized Pages

Think of dumping WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace entirely due to the fact that your e-newsletter system functions as a website builder. That’s beehiiv in a nutshell:.

• Newsletter Archive Pages: All your past e-mails live on a blog-like web page that’s immediately SEO-optimized.
• Customized Landing Pages: Need a lead magnet page? A thank-you page? A web page to sell a product? You can construct it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
• Mobile-Friendly Templates: Every little thing looks terrific on phones– vital considering that a ton of folks review emails on mobile.

Sure, you will not obtain every elegant drag-and-drop that a devoted website builder uses, however, for a lot of designers, it’s more than enough.

5. Referral Program to Supercharge Growth

Beehiiv’s referral program is incredible if you wish to use a community of similar designers. When your customer clicks “Recommend This E-newsletter” and joins, both you and the referring designer get credit rating. It’s a smart method to grow your list without spamming.

The Downsides: What to Keep an eye out for

No product is best– and beehiiv has its missteps. Prior to you dive in, below’s what might journey you up:.

Feature Overload in the beginning

When you visit, there are a lot of options– Forms, Boosts, Ads, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can feel frustrating. If you’ve only used a basic solution that sends out one-off e-mails, you may need a couple of days to get comfy.

Pointless Advertisement Requests

In some cases the sponsors beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your specific niche. A gaming e-newsletter could get offered a code-review device for designers. Make sure to decline anything that does not jive with your audience, or you’ll container your click-throughs.

No Time At All Zone– Based Sends

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

Custom-made Web Page Builder Isn’t Very User-friendly

Developing a landing page is possible, however the UI could be smoother. I spent a couple of hours (and a valuable conversation with assistance) obtaining a freebie opt-in web page perfect. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you may find it confusing.

Limited Integrations

If you use Gumroad to offer products, you’re out of good luck– no direct integration yet. You’ll need to make use of embed codes or a Zapier workaround.

All that stated, beehiiv’s team is constantly presenting updates– and those cons are slowly however undoubtedly being addressed.

Who Should Take into consideration beehiiv?

Not everybody requires a totally featured e-newsletter system. But if any of the following explains you, beehiiv could be a suit made in paradise:.

1. Absolute Beginners: You’ve never ever sent an e-mail blast, you don’t wish to spend money ahead of time, and you need a complimentary, easy way to experiment. Beehiiv lets you begin absolutely free, send out unrestricted emails to up to 2,500 customers, and grow naturally with the boosts network.
2. Small-List Creators: If you already have a couple of hundred or a couple thousand customers however no clue just how to turn that right into earnings, beehiiv’s ad and boost programs are custom-made for you. In my first ten months, I was making concerning $92/month with a ~ 1k listing. Okay for coffee cash, right?
3. Makers Who Hate “Salesy” Stuff: You don’t wish to pitch products nonstop or sling digital training courses. You ‘d rather share value, construct trust, and let the cash been available in on autopilot. Beehiiv’s advertisement network and boosts let you make without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
4. Switchers Who Do Not Wish To Rebuild Every Little Thing: Possibly you’re on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your e-mail automations are a twisted mess. Beehiiv assures a smooth movement from those platforms. Plus, if you have a huge listing (claim 10k+), you can get help from beehiiv’s support team to move whatever over without shedding your automations.

Getting Started: A Detailed Walkthrough

Register and Explore the Control panel

Once you create an account, beehiiv drops you into a control panel where you see your client matter, open prices, click-through rates, and any kind of pending ad deals. Consider it as your mission control– every little thing you need is just a click away.

Build Your Very First Subscribe Form

Browse to Target Market �’ Subscribe Forms �’ Produce New Kind. You’ll require:

• A heading that hooks visitors
• A short blurb clarifying what your newsletter has to do with
• A call-to-action switch (e.g., “Join My E-newsletter”)
• Your logo design or a relevant image
• A post-subscribe message or redirect (e.g., “Thanks for joining! Inspect your inbox in a sec.”)

You can choose from various type designs: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (just the email field), or advanced (with monitoring codes). The personalization choices are basic– shades for buttons and background pictures– however it’s remarkably efficient for recording emails.

Set Up Your Internet Site and Custom Pages

If you desire greater than simply a type, hop into Style �’ Website Builder �’ Custom Pages �’ Internal Web Page. Use this to:

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

Produce a landing page for a freebie (e.g., “Download my search engine optimization rip off sheet”).

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

I spent a couple of hours tweaking my very first landing page, but once I mastered it, I realized how powerful it is to have every little thing under one roof covering. As opposed to juggling Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.

Draft Your Initial Newsletter

Click the big “Beginning Writing” switch in the top-right edge. You’ll see a tidy, distraction-free editor where you can:

• Write your email duplicate Pros and Cons of Beehiiv
• Insert photos, headers, and custom-made HTML blocks
• Preview how it’ll search in inboxes and on your website
• Arrange or send immediately

One catch: Personalization is restricted. Every client sees “Hey there” as opposed to “Hello [Given name]” If you require hyper-personalization, you may miss that. However, for the majority of individuals, a pleasant, conversational intro suffices.

Turn On Monetization

As soon as you strike 1,000 energetic clients, beehiiv will welcome you to:.

• Join the Advertisement Network: Immediately receive sponsorship demands that match your specific niche. Pick which ones to approve, put the ad copy into your newsletter, and make money per click/view.
• Establish Boosts: Apply to promote various other e-newsletters. If somebody signs up with through your web link, you make $1–$ 3 per client.

For paid e-newsletters, browse to Money making �’ Paid Memberships. You’ll attach your Stripe account (beehiiv doesn’t charge additional costs beyond Stripe’s processing), set your pricing plans (monthly, yearly, or “Call Your Rate”), and choose what content goes behind the paywall.

Monitor and Optimize

Examine your analytics weekly. If open rates drop listed below 40%, reconsider your subject lines. If a sponsorship gets absolutely no clicks, it could be unnecessary to your audience– decrease similar future advertisements. When a boost converts well, submit even more boost requests or fine-tune your offer.

It may seem like a lot initially, but I assure you’ll master it within a few days. And the rewards– both monetary and in terms of your audience’s growth– deserve the first curve.

Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Monetization Options

If you’re serious about transforming your newsletter right into a lucrative maker, let’s break down each revenue stream thoroughly.

1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Earnings)

Consider this as beehiiv’s affiliate program. Here’s the lowdown:.

• How It Functions: You enroll in the Partner Program, grab your unique referral web link, and share it on your blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, any place. When someone clicks, signs up for a paid plan (Range or Max), you gain a compensation.
• Compensation Fees: As Much As 60% of their first-year payment. If they pay $100, you might see $60. Cha-ching.
• Payment: Beehiiv pays monthly through PayPal. No minimum limit, no hoops to leap through.

In my case, I released a Medium blog post strolling people through my beehiiv experience (looter: this guide right here is part of that effort). Through a mix of blog site website traffic and word-of-mouth, I made over $5,000 in affiliate commissions by December 2024. All I did was share my real experience.

2. Boosts: Gain by Helping Others Expand

Boosts are basically sponsored promos– 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 assist others expand, apply in the Boosts dashboard. You’ll clarify why your audience is a great fit and set a rate you ‘d pay for a brand-new subscriber.
• Put on Boost Others: If you want fast subscribers, you can pay to boost your newsletter on various other designers’ checklists. Yet what many tiny creators enjoy is the reverse: you relate to be a boost partner for other newsletters. When someone signs up through your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
• Limitations:
  • You can send up to 25 boost supplies per month, yet beehiiv just surfaces three offers each time to possible companions.
  • If a boost is executing well, other makers will certainly pick it up rapidly.

Here’s a quick instance: In October 2024, I promoted a fellow SEO maker’s newsletter for $1.75 per subscriber. Over 2 weeks, I created 200 brand-new customers for them– and earned about $350 while doing so. Win-win.

3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Ads)

This is where the huge dollars can come in, even if your checklist is “tiny.” Right here’s exactly how it goes:

• Eligibility: You need at the very least 1,000 energetic subscribers and a regular send out timetable (at the very least one email monthly, though regular is suitable).
• Automation: When approved, you’ll start receiving 3– 5 sponsorship demands monthly. Beehiiv matches you with brand names based on your audience’s rate of interests– so a marketing SaaS company could come close to an SEO-focused e-newsletter, for example.
• Settlement Design:
  • Cost Per Click (CPC): You earn money every time somebody clicks the advertisement in your email.
  • Cost Per Mille (CPM): You gain based on a thousand impacts.
• Ease of Use: You can approve or decrease each offer right from your dashboard. Beehiiv deals with all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the advertisement into your e-newsletter.

In 2024, I ran 37 sponsored ads, including a few prominent brands like HubSpot. I made $632 from ads alone, with my top campaign creating $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Remember: significance is king. Irrelevant ads container click-through rates, so be discerning.

4. Paid Subscriptions (” Costs Content”)

If you produce really distinct material– deep dive reports, exclusive tutorials, or expert analyses– you may take into consideration a paid rate. Right here’s the 101:

• Setup: Most Likely To Monetization �’ Paid Subscriptions, link Stripe, and select your pricing:
  • Month-to-month
  • Yearly (generally marked down)
  • Single settlement (for a solitary guide or training course)
  • Call Your Cost (your clients select what they can afford)
• Income Split: Beehiiv doesn’t bill you a platform charge; they just pass Stripe’s processing charge (2.9% + $0.30) on you.
• Instances: If you have 100 subscribers paying $7/month, that’s $700/month = $8,400/ year (minus Stripe charges). Okay, best? Naturally, getting to 100 paid clients indicates you require a faithful, involved base.

Now, be practical: Paid subscriptions are a work. You require regular, high-value material that makes people comfortable taking out their wallets. If you’re simply starting, the ad network and boosts could be quicker wins.

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

I recognize pricing is a huge enigma when you’re thinking about changing systems. Right here’s the failure as of mid-2025:.

• Free Plan (as much as 2,500 clients): Great for pet projects or if you’re examining the waters. You still obtain boosts for checklist development, basic analytics, and limitless sends– just no advertisement network or paid registrations yet.
• Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Ideal if you’re serious about generating income from. You get ad network accessibility, boosts, paid registrations, and the AI Writing Aide to speed up your newsletter production.
• Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (image generation, grammar fixing, translation) issue to you, and you desire concern assistance, this is the sweet area. Plus, you can introduce a mobile app for your clients.
• Enterprise (100k+ clients): For brands and mega-creators who need personalized movements, service-level contracts, and progressed safety and security. Few tiny developers require this.

My referral? Start on the Free plan. Get a feel for the control panel, grow your list to 1,000, then upgrade to Scale when you recognize you classifieds income and boosts.

Distinct Features Pros and Cons of Beehiiv

You could be thinking, “Okay, ads and boosts are great. But what else can beehiiv do that can not?” Let me highlight a few standout features:.

1. Sound Newsletters

Ever considered transforming your e-mail into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s built-in audio newsletter feature instantly converts your emails into spoken-word sound. No extra modifying software, no outsourcing to Fiverr– simply toggle it on, and your subscribers can listen on the move. For hectic target markets who drive or exercise, this is a handy way to remain connected.

2. Custom Mobile Apps for Readers

Most platforms offer you a “mobile-optimized site.” Beehiiv goes one step additionally: you can introduce a custom mobile application for your subscribers. Once they add it to their home display, your e-newsletter ends up being a one-tap experience– no inbox clutter. Visualize getting up and seeing app notifications when you drop a brand-new concern. Talk about interaction.

3. “Call Your Rate” Memberships

Instead of requiring every person right into $5 or $7 tiers, let your most faithful followers choose what to pay. It’s a trust-building action and can lead to greater lifetime value. I have not examined this feature personally yet, but also for designers who feel a bit uneasy regarding price points, it’s a pleasant choice to trying out.

4. beehiiv AI Suite

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

• AI Creating Aide: Generate e-newsletter drafts based upon bullet factors or subjects. For days when you’re looking at a blank web page, this boosts your creativity.
• AI Text Tool: Grammar, spelling, tone checks– no requirement for Grammarly. You get a clean, sleek draft that really feels human Pros and Cons of Beehiiv.
• AI Picture Tool: Produce customized header pictures or images without purchasing stock photos. Just type a punctual, and voila.
• AI Translator: Intend to send your newsletter in numerous languages? Equate your content into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese instantaneously.

These features can cut hours off material development and aid you explore new styles.

Pro Tips For Succeeding on beehiiv

Since you recognize what beehiiv can do, below are some insider hacks to maximize it:

Tidy Your Checklist for Better Performance

In August 2024, I cut my client matter in half (from regarding 2,400 to 1,200) by eliminating non-active emails– individuals who hadn’t opened anything in six months. My open prices jumped from ~ 45% to over 60%, which implied marketers paid more per click. It harmed to shed customers, yet a lean, engaged list is worth more than a puffed up, easy one.

Explore Topic Lines Like a Pro

Subject lines make or burst rates. Do A/B examinations on tiny segments before sending out to your entire list. Brief, punchy, question-based topics (” Ready to double your traffic?”) frequently outperform generic ones (” April Newsletter”).

Be Pickier with Ad Offers

If an ad doesn’t resonate with your specific niche, say no. Pointless ads frustrate viewers and tank click metrics. With time, beehiiv’s algorithm will certainly discover what fits your target market– decrease enough off-topic deals, and they’ll stop sending them.

Usage Boosts to Examine New Audiences

Got a new group you intend to discover? Try boosting your e-newsletter in an associated particular niche. The price per customer standards $1.63– however if those clients remain, it’s worth it. I when increased a search engine optimization newsletter in a digital marketing audience and obtained a surprising uptick in retention.

Take Advantage Of AI for Faster Manufacturing

On nights when I’m stressed out, I ask the AI Composing Assistant to compose a rough outline: introductory, three bottom lines, final thought. After that I flesh it out with my own narratives and design tweaks. It’s not ideal, but it’s a solid foundation that conserves me 30– 45 mins per e-mail.

Capitalize on the Mobile App

Urge customers to install your e-newsletter’s mobile application. In your next e-mail, write a quick “Exactly how to Include Our E-newsletter to Your Home Display” tutorial. More app mounts suggest more presence, and push notifications defeat inbox noise.

Offer Occasional Paid-Only Web Content

Instead of making every concern totally free, tease a “perk record” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Promote it greatly to your listing. Even if you only offer 20 copies, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your regular monthly beehiiv bill.

Completing: Is beehiiv Right for You?

If you’ve stuck to me this much, you most likely fall under one of these camps:

• You have actually never ever sent a newsletter, however you’re itching to start– beehiiv’s free plan and user-friendly devices are excellent for learning the ropes.
• You have a small listing (< 2,500) and intend to monetize without frustrations-- beehiiv's ad network and boosts pay you for doing practically nothing added.
• You’re a mid-sized developer (1k+ clients) looking to range– beehiiv’s analytics, AI tools, and referral program aid you grow quicker and gain more.
• You hate complicated email systems– beehiiv strikes an equilibrium in between effective features and easy to use style.

Certain, the feature collection can really feel daunting initially, and you may get a few pointless advertisement demands. Yet consider this: in under a year, I made virtually $1,000 on a tiny list and over $5,000 in associate compensations simply by sharing my experience. I’ve seen sufficient to understand that if you invest a little bit of time learning the platform, the returns can be significant.

So, what are you awaiting? Register for beehiiv, discover the control panel, and let the money making engines turn. Your future self will thanks when the checks roll in.