Beehiiv Review June 2024: The Ultimate Platform for Content Creators to Grow and Monetize Newsletters

Between 2021 and 2022, 402 million emails were sent using Beehiiv. In 2023, the volume rose to 4.5 billion emails.

As a content creator and website owner, choosing the right tools to grow your online business can feel overwhelming. With an abundance of options, it’s crucial to find a platform that aligns with your needs and goals. One such tool that has significantly impacted my business is Beehiiv, a newsletter growth platform launched in 2021. This review aims to share my experience with Beehiiv, how it works, and its benefits for content creators.

What is Beehiiv?

Beehiiv was founded by Benjamin Hargett, Jacob Hurd, and Tyler Denk 🐝 , a former product manager at Google. Tyler Denk, who played a pivotal role in the development of Morning Brew, brings a wealth of experience in product management and newsletter growth. His background in scaling successful digital products significantly influences Beehiiv’s design and functionality, ensuring it meets the needs of modern content creators.

One of the most amazing things about Tyler is how accessible he is. Whether on LinkedIn, Beehiiv Slack, or other channels, this is one CEO that truly engages with his customers. He even started his own newsletter to make sure he is a user of his product, and has another direct channel to the user community.

Tyler and the Beehiiv team closed on a $33 million Series B round of funding in April 2024. After which they proceeded to offer direct investment to their users. #Community

How Beehiiv Works

Beehiiv offers three subscription plans: Launch, Scale, and Max. The Launch plan is free and supports up to 2,500 subscribers, making it an excellent choice for those starting out. Paid plans come with a 30-day free trial, allowing you to test the platform before committing. If you subscribe through my link you will also get 20% off your first three paid months. Impressive discount.

Setting Up

When you first join Beehiiv, you’ll be directed to a dashboard that displays your subscribers’ statistics and the performance of your email campaigns over the last 30 days. Here, you can see the number of active subscribers, average open rates, and click rates. The dashboard is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for beginners.

To start capturing email addresses, navigate to Settings > Publication > Subscribe Form > Create a new form. You can customize the headline, description, call-to-action (CTA), and logo. The form design is simple but effective for capturing new subscribers.

Building a Landing Page

Creating landing pages on Beehiiv is one of its standout features. These pages can be used to publish content, promote freebies, or even replace a traditional website. To create a page, go to Settings > Website > Pages > Add an internal page. Customizing these pages is straightforward and doesn’t require any coding skills.

Writing and Sending Newsletters

Beehiiv’s content editor allows you to create and send newsletters, as well as publish posts on your Beehiiv-hosted website. The editor is actually one of the most user-friendly editors I’ve worked with across any platform, and even has command-line access for expert users to rely on.

My Journey with Beehiiv

In 2024, I decided to move my newsletter to Beehiiv and start fresh. The results were remarkable. In under two months, I locked my sights on nearly 10,000 subscribers. This rapid growth was facilitated by Beehiiv’s user-friendly tools, effective subscription and referral strategies, and the supportive Beehiiv Slack community.

By the time I produced by second issue on Beehiiv I had already received paid Ad Network offers. More than just hype. Beehiiv was putting cash in my pocket in my first month.

Check out an example of my newsletter, the second Beehiiv issue of AccessibleAI For Real Estate Newsletter, here.

Subscriber Management

Effectively managing your subscribers is crucial for maintaining an engaged and healthy audience. Beehiiv’s subscriber management tools simplify this process, allowing you to segment your audience based on various criteria such as demographics (age, location), behavior (open rates, click rates), and engagement levels (active, inactive). This segmentation enables you to deliver more personalized content, ensuring each group receives messages relevant to their interests and behaviors. Additionally, Beehiiv provides detailed analytics on subscriber behavior, offering insights into what content resonates most with your audience. This data-driven approach helps refine your content strategy, boost engagement rates, and foster a more loyal subscriber base.

Beehiiv Monetization Opportunities

Beehiiv offers several monetization options that can help content creators generate revenue from their newsletters. Basically they have automated the whole process of finding ads sponsorships and newsletter recommendations to turn your revenue on cruise control. It’s pretty amazing.

1. Beehiiv Partner Program

The Beehiiv Partner Program is an excellent way to earn money by promoting the platform. By registering as a partner, you can earn a 50% commission from every sale during the first year for referring new paid customers to Beehiiv. My experience with the Partner Program has been very positive, resulting in significant earnings.

Referred subscribers get 30 days free then 20% off their first three paid months just for using my affiliate link. Win-win.

2. Boosts

Boosts allow you to promote your newsletter among thousands of qualified Beehiiv newsletters to reach your target audience. Additionally, you can apply to boost other newsletters and get paid for every new subscriber. This feature can significantly accelerate your email list growth.

3. Ad Network

The Beehiiv ad network connects newsletter creators with premium brands, allowing you to earn revenue by featuring ads in your newsletters. To join, you must have over 1,000 subscribers and actively send emails on Beehiiv. This hands-off approach to ad sales is ideal for busy content creators.

4. Paid Subscriptions

Beehiiv supports paid subscriptions, allowing you to create recurring revenue from your newsletter. You can set up a paywall, offer different pricing plans, and track your subscription revenue. Beehiiv’s low transaction fees make it an attractive option for monetizing your content.

Beehiiv Pricing (Updated for 2024)

Beehiiv offers a range of plans to suit different needs. The Launch plan is free and supports up to 2,500 subscribers. The Scale plan costs $39 per month and includes advanced features like custom HTML blocks and automated journeys. The Max plan, at $99 per month, offers additional benefits such as a custom sending domain and priority support. For content creators with over 100,000 subscribers, Beehiiv provides customized enterprise plans.

Plan Comparison Table

Beehiiv vs. Competitors

Beehiiv vs. Convertkit

Convertkit offers pre-built landing pages for various purposes, which can be set up quickly. However, Beehiiv provides more customization options for newsletters and monetization features, such as Boosts and the Partner Program. While Convertkit is user-friendly, Beehiiv’s comprehensive toolkit for monetizing newsletters gives it an edge.

Why Beehiiv is Superior

1. Customization: Beehiiv allows for extensive customization of newsletters and landing pages, giving creators more control over their brand presentation.

2. Monetization: With features like Boosts and the Partner Program, Beehiiv offers more ways to monetize content than Convertkit.

3. Analytics: Beehiiv provides detailed analytics, including real-time email verification and 3D analytics, helping creators optimize their strategies effectively.

Beehiiv vs. Mailchimp

When comparing Beehiiv and Mailchimp for newsletter platforms, several key differences stand out. While Mailchimp is a versatile tool widely used for email marketing, Beehiiv offers unique advantages tailored specifically for newsletter creators.

Why Beehiiv is Superior

1. Cost Efficiency: Unlike Mailchimp’s tiered pricing model, which increases with the number of subscribers, Beehiiv offers a flat fee structure. This predictable cost model becomes more economical as your subscriber list grows, avoiding the incremental costs that come with Mailchimp’s pricing plans.

2. Monetization Variety: Beehiiv provides diverse monetization options, including paid subscriptions, the Partner Program, and ad network integrations. This variety offers multiple revenue streams, whereas Mailchimp’s focus is more on traditional email marketing without as many built-in monetization tools for content creators.

3. Comprehensive Tools: Beehiiv includes advanced features like custom HTML blocks and automated journeys, which allow for a high level of customization and automation. While Mailchimp does offer automation and design flexibility, Beehiiv’s tools are more robust and specifically geared towards enhancing the newsletter creation and distribution experience.

Beehiiv vs. Substack

Both Beehiiv and Substack are popular platforms for newsletters. However, Beehiiv’s flat fee structure can be more cost-effective as your earnings grow. Substack charges a percentage of your revenue, which can become expensive over time. Beehiiv’s monetization options, including paid subscriptions and ad network, offer more opportunities for revenue generation.

Why Beehiiv is Superior

1. Cost Efficiency: Beehiiv’s flat fee structure ensures predictable costs, making it more affordable as your subscriber base grows.

2. Monetization Variety: Beehiiv’s diverse monetization methods, such as Boosts and the Partner Program, provide multiple revenue streams.

3. Comprehensive Tools: Beehiiv includes advanced features like custom HTML blocks and automated journeys, which are not as robust in Substack.

Feature Comparison Chart

User-Friendly Interface

Beehiiv’s dashboard is designed with user experience in mind. The clean, intuitive layout makes it easy to navigate and manage all aspects of your newsletter, from content creation to analytics. Even beginners can quickly get up to speed with minimal learning curve.

Website Customization

Beehiiv’s website customization features allow you to modify slugs, add thumbnails, and change SEO settings for better visibility. This flexibility helps create a cohesive and branded experience for your audience.

Embeddable Forms

Beehiiv offers a robust tool for growing your subscriber list through embeddable signup forms. These forms can be tailored to fit your website or blog’s design, providing a cohesive user experience. You can strategically place these forms at key locations, such as the end of blog posts, sidebars, or as pop-ups, to capture visitors’ information at optimal moments. Designed to be user-friendly and quick to complete, Beehiiv’s forms minimize friction and encourage more sign-ups. By integrating these forms across your site, you can consistently gather email addresses from visitors who value your content.

Custom Domains and Advanced Web Builder

For those looking to create a more personalized and professional appearance, Beehiiv offers custom domain support and an advanced web builder. These features enable you to design a unique website that aligns with your brand’s aesthetics and goals, further enhancing your online presence.

Referral Program

A standout feature of Beehiiv is its integrated referral program tools. These programs are a proven way to organically grow your subscriber list by leveraging your current subscribers’ networks. Beehiiv simplifies the setup and management of referral programs, allowing you to incentivize subscribers to refer friends and colleagues. Rewards can include exclusive content, discounts, or prize draw entries for each successful referral. With built-in tracking and management, you can monitor the performance of these campaigns and make necessary adjustments. This approach not only expands your reach but also uses the trust and credibility of your existing audience to attract new subscribers.

SEO Optimization

Beehiiv includes SEO optimization features to enhance your newsletter’s visibility on search engines. This is particularly useful for driving organic traffic to your newsletter and increasing your subscriber base.

Performance Metrics

Beehiiv allows you to track essential performance metrics, giving you a clear picture of how your newsletters are performing. Key metrics include open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber growth over time. By monitoring these metrics, you can gauge the effectiveness of your content and campaigns, understanding what resonates with your audience and what needs adjustment. This data-driven approach ensures that you are always aware of your newsletter’s performance, enabling you to make informed decisions to enhance engagement and reach.

Detailed Reports

Generating detailed reports is a breeze with Beehiiv. These reports provide in-depth insights into how your audience engages with your content. You can see which articles or sections of your newsletter are the most popular, track individual subscriber interactions, and identify trends in reader behavior. These insights help you understand your audience better, allowing you to tailor your content to meet their preferences and needs. Detailed reports also highlight areas for improvement, helping you refine your strategy and content to maximize impact.

A/B Testing for Optimization

Beehiiv includes A/B testing capabilities, enabling you to test different subject lines, email content, and send times to determine what resonates best with your audience. This feature helps you optimize your campaigns for higher engagement and conversion rates.

Automation

Drip Campaigns

Drip campaigns are fundamental to effective email marketing, and Beehiiv simplifies the setup of these automated email sequences. They allow you to nurture new subscribers by gradually introducing them to your content and offerings over time.

For instance, when someone subscribes to your newsletter, you can automatically send them a welcome email, followed by a series of emails that provide valuable information, showcase popular content, or promote specific products or services. These automated sequences help build a relationship with your subscribers, increasing engagement and loyalty. By delivering targeted content at the right time, you can guide your subscribers through a journey that leads to higher conversion rates and deeper engagement.

Event-Triggered Emails

Beehiiv also supports event-triggered emails, which are sent automatically based on specific subscriber actions or milestones. This type of automation ensures that your communication is timely and relevant, enhancing the subscriber experience.

For example, you can set up emails to greet new subscribers as soon as they join your list, creating a positive first impression. Additionally, you can implement re-engagement campaigns that trigger emails to inactive subscribers, encouraging them to reconnect with your content. Event-triggered emails can also celebrate milestones, such as anniversaries or birthdays, adding a personal touch to your communication. By responding to subscriber actions in real-time, you can maintain a dynamic and responsive relationship with your audience.

Integrations & API

Beehiiv offers a robust set of integrations and an API that extends the platform’s capabilities, making it an excellent choice for creators who want to streamline their workflows. Beehiiv’s API allows users to create custom integrations, enabling seamless communication with various tools and services.

Popular integrations include Zapier, which connects Beehiiv to thousands of other applications like Google Sheets, Facebook Lead Ads, and Shopify. This flexibility allows you to automate processes such as social media sharing, e-commerce integrations, and data synchronization without any coding knowledge.

For more advanced users, the API access on the more advanced plans unlocks even greater possibilities. You can develop custom workflows, integrate with CRM systems, or build bespoke solutions tailored to your specific needs. This is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to maintain a cohesive digital ecosystem.

Beehiiv’s focus on integrations and API capabilities ensures that users can enhance their newsletter operations, creating a more efficient and connected experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, Beehiiv’s integration options provide the tools needed to optimize your newsletter’s performance and reach.

Support, Community, and Networking

Beehiiv stands out in offering robust support and resources, ensuring both beginners and experienced creators can fully leverage the platform.

Their customer support team is highly responsive, addressing queries and issues promptly via email or through their support portal.

Beehiiv also provides a comprehensive knowledge base filled with articles, tutorials, and FAQs covering a wide range of topics. This self-help resource is invaluable for users who prefer to troubleshoot independently or learn new features at their own pace.

Additionally, Beehiiv hosts regular webinars and provides in-depth guides on best practices for newsletter growth, SEO optimization, and monetization strategies. The active community forums and social media groups allow users to share experiences, tips, and get advice from fellow Beehiiv users.

Being part of the Beehiiv Slack community offers access to a network of like-minded creators. This support system provides inspiration, collaborative opportunities, and real-time solutions to any challenges you may face.

Overall, Beehiiv’s support and resources are top-notch, making it easier for users to navigate the platform and utilize its full potential.

Conclusion

Beehiiv is an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced newsletter creators. The free plan is ideal for those just starting, while the Grow and Scale plans offer advanced features for serious creators. Beehiiv’s comprehensive toolkit, coupled with its supportive community and robust monetization options, makes it a standout platform for newsletter growth.

If you’re looking to elevate your email marketing game, I highly recommend giving Beehiiv a try. You can start with their free plan and explore the various features before deciding to upgrade.