What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Medium

So, you’ve been dabbling the concept of transforming your email list right into a revenue stream, however you’re bewildered by all the options out there. Audio acquainted? You’re not the only one. If you have actually been making use of a fundamental e-mail solution and scratching your head concerning sponsorships, advertisements, and paid memberships, it could be time to check out beehiiv. In this overview, I’ll walk you with everything you require to learn about using beehiiv to transform your e-newsletter into cash– all from my very own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Medium

Why You Could be Stuck with Your Current Email System

You’ve possibly attempted the usual suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (currently Kit), Substack, or something comparable. And if you resemble a lot of small-scale web content makers, right here’s what likely happened:

Restricted Monetization Options

You have a handful of loyal clients– perhaps 500 to 1,000 individuals– however zero very easy means to generate income. Sponsorships seem like an international language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brand names on a monthly basis.

DIY Automation Headaches

You wish to leak campaign new clients, send out a welcome collection, and section folks for targeted e-mails … yet setting up those automations feels like you need a computer technology level.

System Charges Suck

Each time you think about paid memberships, the platform takes a substantial portion, and the settlement arrangement is much more complicated than it’s worth.

Growth Stalls

Development hacks appear to benefit every person else– yet not for you. You desire there was a very easy way to find new subscribers without by hand chasing them down.

I was in your shoes at the beginning of 2024. I would certainly been making use of Kit (formerly ConvertKit), however it seemed like a dead end for money making. Don’t get me wrong– Kit is great for building funnels and setting up basic automations. Yet when it came to making even a couple of hundred dollars a month from a small checklist, there wasn’t an evident “on” switch.

Enter beehiiv.

My Change to beehiiv: A Truth Inspect

In January 2024, I finally shot and moved my newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Below’s the honest truth: I didn’t have time to hunt down sponsors, negotiate prices, or build complicated paid funnels. I run a SEO creating company full-time, so my newsletter was always going to be a side project. I needed something that practically ran itself.

The “Offer Me” Moment

What offered me on beehiiv was simple:

Built-In Money making: Right from the beginning, beehiiv yells, “Hey, you can make money here!” It had not been an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
Low-Effort Sponsorships: As opposed to me searching LinkedIn for sponsors, beehiiv brings deals directly to my control panel. All I need to do is click “approve,” drop in the ad copy, and struck send out.
Passive Income Boosts: By promoting various other e-newsletters in my once a week e-mail, I earn $1–$ 3 per referred client. No heavy training, no complex analytics– simply consistent, incremental revenue.

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 topped 1,000 subscribers. I really did not create a paid program. I didn’t introduce an item and I simply let beehiiv do its thing.

My Partner Program Windfall

As if that wasn’t sufficient, I likewise joined the beehiiv Partner Program– primarily an affiliate program. By writing about beehiiv on my blog and sharing my experience with buddies, I pocketed $5,108 in referral commissions through the end of 2024. Yep, you read that right: over five grand, simply by discussing the platform.

So if you’re questioning whether beehiiv is worth it for tiny creators or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. Yet, of course, it isn’t remarkable. Let’s break down the good, the poor, and the amazing things you require to know.

The Advantage of Using beehiiv

1. Money Making Made Ridiculously Straightforward

What I love finest about beehiiv is just how simple it is to generate income on auto-pilot. You do not need a massive audience. Right here’s exactly how it works:

Ad Network Sponsorships: When you hit simply 1,000 active customers, brand names start lining up. You get 3– 6 ad demands monthly on average. You pick the ones you like, put the copy, and you’re done. They pay per click or watch– no difficult invoicing. And due to the fact that beehiiv matches you with relevant brands, your customers are more probable to click.
Boosts Referral Earnings: Don’t have enrollers yet? No problem. Advertise various other creator e-newsletters for $1–$ 3 per customer. It’s like Amazon’s affiliate program, but for e-mail checklists. I made several hundred bucks by doing this without breaking a sweat.
Paid Subscriptions (When You’re Ready): Down the line, if you choose to charge for superior content, beehiiv takes a marginal fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Stripe). You can establish multiple pricing rates, run complimentary trials, and even let subscribers “call their price.”.
Partner Program Payments: Not in it for the brief haul? Register for the affiliate program. Make 60% compensation on beehiiv’s month-to-month or yearly plans when someone join your code. It’s essentially added cash for sharing something you already love.

Simply put, beehiiv turns money making into a built-in feature, rather than a job you fear.

2. Analytics That Don’t Make Your Head Explode

If you’ve ever before looked at a control panel thinking, “What does any one of this actually imply?”, you’ll appreciate beehiiv’s method:.

Clear Client Development Charts: See precisely how many brand-new individuals signed up with, how many handed over, and why your checklist reduced (much more on that particular in a sec).
Open Up and Click Rates: Beehiiv breaks down efficiency over the last one month, so you can spot patterns immediately. For instance, I kept an eye on my open price (floating around 64%– okay) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either metric dips, I fine-tune my subject lines or calls-to-action.
Money making Dashboards: Sponsorship profits, boosts revenue, companion referral profits– you get the picture. Profits streams are nicely separated so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

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

3. Expanding Your Listing Without Selling Your Soul

Most newsletter systems will certainly bill you for every added customer after a limit. Not so with beehiiv– for approximately 2,500 subscribers, it’s totally free. You obtain:.

Unrestricted e-mail sends out.
Access to the boosts network (grow your audience by promoting your e-newsletter on various other beehiiv newsletters).
Basic analytics and forms.

If you’re a novice or have a little audience, this is massive. You can try out subject lines, send regularity, and different lead magnets without bothering with striking a paywall.

4. Integrated Web Site & Personalized Pages

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

E-newsletter Archive Pages: All your past e-mails live on a blog-like page that’s automatically SEO-optimized.
Custom Landing Pages: Need a lead magnet page? A thank-you web page? A web page to sell a product? You can construct it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
Mobile-Friendly Templates: Whatever looks fantastic on phones– critical because a lots of folks read emails on mobile.

Certain, you will not obtain every fancy drag-and-drop that a dedicated website builder supplies, but for most creators, it’s sufficient.

5. Referral Program to Supercharge Development

Beehiiv’s referral program is remarkable if you wish to take advantage of a community of like-minded designers. When your subscriber clicks on “Recommend This Newsletter” and joins, both you and the referring designer get credit report. It’s a clever means to expand your listing without spamming.

The Downsides: What to Keep an eye 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 initially

When you log in, there are numerous alternatives– Types, Boosts, Ads, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can feel overwhelming. If you have actually just used a basic service that sends one-off e-mails, you could need a couple of days to obtain comfy.

Unimportant Advertisement Requests

Sometimes the sponsors beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your particular niche. A gaming newsletter may obtain used a code-review device for programmers. Ensure to decline anything that doesn’t jive with your target market, or you’ll container your click-throughs.

No Time At All Area– Based Sends

If your list is international, you can not instantly arrange emails based upon each customer’s time zone. All sends head out at the same time, so you might wake up to reduced open rates if half your list is asleep.

Customized Page Builder Isn’t Very Instinctive

Producing a landing page is feasible, yet the UI could be smoother. I invested a few hours (and a valuable chat with assistance) obtaining a giveaway opt-in page perfect. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you could find it confusing.

Limited Integrations

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

All that said, beehiiv’s group is regularly turning out updates– and those disadvantages are slowly however certainly being resolved.

Who Should Think about beehiiv?

Not every person requires a completely featured newsletter platform. However if any one of the complying with describes you, beehiiv may be a suit made in paradise:.

Absolute Beginners: You have actually never sent out an email blast, you do not wish to invest money upfront, and you require a cost-free, easy method to experiment. Beehiiv allows you begin totally free, send unlimited emails to up to 2,500 clients, and expand naturally with the boosts network.
Small-List Creators: If you already have a couple of hundred or a pair thousand clients however no hint just how to transform that into income, beehiiv’s advertisement and boost programs are tailor-made for you. In my initial ten months, I was making concerning $92/month with a ~ 1k listing. Okay for coffee cash, right?
Makers Who Hate “Salesy” Things: You do not want to pitch items nonstop or sling digital courses. You prefer to share value, develop depend on, and let the cash been available in on auto-pilot. Beehiiv’s ad network and boosts let you gain without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
Switchers Who Do Not Wish To Reconstruct Every Little Thing: Maybe you get on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your email automations are a tangled mess. Beehiiv guarantees a smooth movement from those systems. And also, if you have a large checklist (say 10k+), you can get assist from beehiiv’s assistance group to relocate every little thing over without shedding your automations.

Getting Started: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Join and Check Out the Dashboard

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

Construct Your Very First Subscribe Kind

Navigate to Target Market �’ Subscribe Forms �’ Develop New Kind. You’ll need:

A headline that hooks visitors
A brief blurb explaining what your newsletter is about
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., “Many thanks for signing up with! Inspect your inbox in a sec.”)

You can pick from different type styles: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (simply the email field), or advanced (with monitoring codes). The modification alternatives are fundamental– colors for buttons and background pictures– but it’s remarkably efficient for recording emails.

Establish Your Site and Customized Pages

If you desire more than simply a form, hop into Layout �’ Website Builder �’ Customized Pages �’ Internal Web Page. Utilize this to:

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

Create a landing page for a giveaway (e.g., “Download my search engine optimization cheat sheet”).

Build a thank-you page that goes online after a person subscribes.

I invested a few hours tweaking my initial landing page, once I mastered it, I recognized how effective it is to have whatever under one roof covering. As opposed to juggling Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.

Draft Your First Newsletter

Click the huge “Begin Composing” button in the top-right corner. You’ll see a tidy, distraction-free editor where you can:

Write your e-mail duplicate What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Medium
Put pictures, headers, and custom HTML blocks
Preview just how it’ll look in inboxes and on your site
Set up or send out immediately

One catch: Personalization is limited. Every customer sees “Hello there” instead of “Hi [Given name]” If you need hyper-personalization, you may miss out on that. But for many individuals, a friendly, conversational intro is enough.

Turn On Monetization

Once you strike 1,000 energetic customers, beehiiv will welcome you to:.

Join the Advertisement Network: Instantly receive sponsorship demands that match your niche. Pick which ones to accept, insert the advertisement duplicate right into your e-newsletter, and make money per click/view.
Set Up Boosts: Put on advertise other e-newsletters. If a person signs up with by means of your link, you gain $1–$ 3 per client.

For paid newsletters, navigate to Money making �’ Paid Subscriptions. You’ll link your Stripe account (beehiiv doesn’t charge additional costs beyond Stripe’s processing), establish your pricing plans (monthly, yearly, or “Name Your Rate”), and choose what material goes behind the paywall.

Screen and Maximize

Examine your analytics weekly. If open rates drop listed below 40%, reassess your subject lines. If a sponsorship obtains absolutely no clicks, it may be unimportant to your audience– decrease similar future advertisements. When a boost converts well, send more boost demands or modify your deal.

It may seem like a whole lot in the beginning, yet I guarantee you’ll get the hang of it within a few days. And the rewards– both monetary and in regards to your target market’s growth– are worth the initial curve.

Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Monetization Options

If you’re serious about turning your e-newsletter right into an economic device, let’s break down each income stream in detail.

1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Incomes)

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

How It Works: You register for the Partner Program, order your one-of-a-kind referral web link, and share it on your blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, any place. When a person clicks, register for a paid plan (Scale or Max), you earn a commission.
Payment Rates: Up to 60% of their first-year settlement. If they pay $100, you might see $60. Cha-ching.
Payment: Beehiiv pays monthly using PayPal. No minimum limit, no hoops to leap through.

In my situation, I released a Medium blog post strolling individuals via my beehiiv experience (spoiler: this overview right here becomes part of that effort). With a combination of blog web traffic and word-of-mouth, I made over $5,000 in associate commissions by December 2024. All I did was share my genuine experience.

2. Boosts: Gain by Assisting Others Expand

Boosts are generally funded promos– beehiiv’s spin on a “send for pay” version. Right here’s the scoop:.

Become a Boost Sponsor: If you believe your newsletter can assist others expand, apply in the Boosts dashboard. You’ll describe why your audience is a great fit and established a price you ‘d pay for a brand-new customer.
Relate to Boost Others: If you desire quick clients, you can pay to boost your newsletter on various other developers’ lists. However what a lot of small creators love is the reverse: you put on be a boost partner for other newsletters. When somebody subscribe through your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
Restrictions:
- You can send up to 25 boost offers per month, but beehiiv just surface areas 3 offers each time to prospective companions.
- If a boost is executing well, various other developers will pick it up rapidly.

Here’s a quick instance: In October 2024, I advertised a fellow SEO designer’s e-newsletter for $1.75 per subscriber. Over 2 weeks, I produced 200 new subscribers for them– and made about $350 while doing so. Win-win.

3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Advertisements)

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

Eligibility: You need at the very least 1,000 active customers and a consistent send schedule (a minimum of one email monthly, though weekly is optimal).
Automation: As soon as approved, you’ll begin receiving 3– 5 sponsorship demands each month. Beehiiv matches you with brands based upon your audience’s interests– so a marketing SaaS company may approach an SEO-focused newsletter, for example.
Payment Version:
- Cost Per Click (CPC): You make money every time somebody clicks the advertisement in your e-mail.
- Cost Per Mille (CPM): You earn based upon a thousand impressions.
Relieve of Use: You can approve or decline each deal right from your dashboard. Beehiiv takes care of all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the ad into your e-newsletter.

In 2024, I ran 37 sponsored ads, including a couple of prominent brands like HubSpot. I made $632 from advertisements alone, with my top campaign producing $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Keep in mind: importance is king. Unimportant ads storage tank click-through rates, so be careful.

4. Paid Subscriptions (” Premium Content”)

If you create genuinely special web content– deep dive reports, unique tutorials, or expert evaluations– you could consider a paid tier. Right here’s the 101:

Arrangement: Most Likely To Money Making �’ Paid Registrations, connect Stripe, and pick your pricing:
- Regular monthly
- Annual (typically discounted)
- Single settlement (for a solitary guide or program)
- Call Your Cost (your subscribers select what they can manage)
Profits Split: Beehiiv doesn’t charge you a platform charge; they only pass Stripe’s processing charge (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, right? Certainly, getting to 100 paid customers suggests you require a loyal, involved base.

Currently, be practical: Paid registrations are a grind. You need regular, high-value material that makes people comfortable taking out their pocketbooks. If you’re just beginning, the advertisement network and boosts could be quicker victories.

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

I know pricing is a large enigma when you’re thinking about changing systems. Right here’s the break down since mid-2025:.

Free Plan (as much as 2,500 subscribers): Great for pet projects or if you’re examining the waters. You still get boosts for checklist development, fundamental analytics, and unrestricted sends– simply no ad network or paid subscriptions yet.
Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Ideal if you’re serious about generating income from. You get advertisement network gain access to, boosts, paid memberships, and the AI Composing Assistant to quicken your e-newsletter creation.
Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (image generation, grammar dealing with, translation) matter to you, and you want priority assistance, this is the sweet place. And also, you can introduce a mobile app for your clients.
Enterprise (100k+ clients): For brand names and mega-creators who require customized migrations, service-level agreements, and advanced protection. Not many small developers require this.

My referral? Begin on the Free plan. Get a feel for the dashboard, expand your listing to 1,000, after that update to Scale once you know you want ad income and boosts.

Distinct Features What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Medium

You might be assuming, “Okay, advertisements and boosts are cool. However what else can beehiiv do that others can not?” Let me highlight a couple of standout features:.

1. Audio Newsletters

Ever before thought of transforming your email into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s integrated sound e-newsletter feature immediately converts your emails into spoken-word audio. No additional editing and enhancing software application, no outsourcing to Fiverr– simply toggle it on, and your clients can pay attention on the move. For active target markets who drive or exercise, this is a handy way to remain linked.

2. Custom-made Mobile Apps for Viewers

Most platforms provide you a “mobile-optimized website.” Beehiiv goes one step better: you can introduce a custom-made mobile application for your customers. Once they include it to their home display, your e-newsletter comes to be a one-tap experience– no inbox clutter. Think of getting up and seeing application notifications when you drop a new concern. Speak about engagement.

3. “Name Your Cost” Memberships

As opposed to forcing every person right into $5 or $7 tiers, let your most loyal fans determine what to pay. It’s a trust-building action and can lead to greater lifetime worth. I have not checked this feature directly yet, however, for makers who feel a bit uneasy about price points, it’s a wonderful choice to explore.

4. beehiiv AI Suite

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

AI Creating Aide: Create newsletter drafts based on bullet factors or subjects. For days when you’re staring at a blank web page, this boosts your creative thinking.
AI Text Device: Grammar, punctuation, tone checks– no requirement for Grammarly. You obtain a tidy, refined draft that feels human What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Medium.
AI Photo Device: Produce personalized header pictures or images without purchasing supply images. Simply type a punctual, and voila.
AI Translator: Intend to send your newsletter in numerous languages? Convert your web content into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese instantly.

These features can cut hours off material creation and aid you try out brand-new layouts.

Pro Tips For Prospering on beehiiv

Now that you recognize what beehiiv can do, here are some insider hacks to make the most of it:

Clean Your Listing for Better Performance

In August 2024, I cut my subscriber matter in half (from about 2,400 to 1,200) by eliminating non-active emails– individuals who hadn’t opened anything in 6 months. My open rates jumped from ~ 45% to over 60%, which indicated marketers paid more per click. It injured to lose clients, however a lean, engaged checklist deserves greater than a puffed up, easy one.

Experiment with Subject Lines Like a Pro

Subject lines make or burst prices. Do A/B examinations on tiny sections prior to sending out to your whole listing. Short, punchy, question-based topics (” Ready to increase your website traffic?”) usually outperform common ones (” April Newsletter”).

Be Pickier with Ad Offers

If an ad does not reverberate with your specific niche, say no. Pointless ads annoy viewers and storage tank click metrics. Over time, beehiiv’s formula will certainly discover what fits your target market– decline enough off-topic offers, and they’ll stop sending them.

Usage Boosts to Test New Audiences

Obtained a brand-new group you intend to check out? Attempt increasing your e-newsletter in an associated niche. The price per client standards $1.63– yet if those subscribers stay, it’s worth it. I when increased a SEO newsletter in a digital marketing audience and obtained an unusual uptick in retention.

Take Advantage Of AI for Faster Production

On evenings when I’m worn out, I ask the AI Creating Aide to draft a rough outline: introduction, three main points, verdict. After that I flesh it out with my very own anecdotes and style tweaks. It’s not excellent, however it’s a strong foundation that conserves me 30– 45 minutes per e-mail.

Make the most of the Mobile App

Motivate subscribers to mount your e-newsletter’s mobile application. In your following e-mail, compose a fast “Just how to Add Our Newsletter to Your Home Screen” tutorial. More application installs imply more exposure, and press alerts beat inbox sound.

Deal Occasional Paid-Only Web Content

Rather than making every issue cost-free, tease a “benefit report” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Advertise it heavily to your list. Even if you just market 20 copies, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your month-to-month beehiiv expense.

Wrapping Up: Is beehiiv Right for You?

If you have actually stuck with me this much, you most likely come under among these camps:

You’ve never sent out a newsletter, however you’re itching to begin– beehiiv’s free plan and user-friendly tools are best for learning the ropes.
You have a small checklist (< 2,500) and want to generate income from without headaches-- beehiiv's advertisement network and boosts pay you for doing almost nothing additional.
You’re a mid-sized designer (1k+ subscribers) wanting to range– beehiiv’s analytics, AI devices, and referral program aid you grow quicker and earn much more.
You dislike complicated email systems– beehiiv strikes a balance in between effective features and easy to use style.

Certain, the feature collection can feel intimidating in the beginning, and you may get a couple of pointless ad requests. But consider this: in under a year, I made practically $1,000 on a little checklist and over $5,000 in associate payments simply by sharing my experience. I’ve seen adequate to understand that if you invest a little time learning the platform, the returns can be considerable.

So, what are you waiting on? Enroll in beehiiv, check out the dashboard, and let the monetization engines transform. Your future self will certainly thank you when the checks roll in.