It's honestly mind-blowing to think that nearly 10,000 people eagerly await my weekly thoughts about social media strategy. But what's even more incredible? The same platform that delivers those insights to their inboxes also builds my website AND automatically finds sponsors to fund my content creation.

Welcome to beehiiv—the newsletter platform that's redefining what it means to own your audience in 2025.

Why Social Media Managers Need to Pay Attention

As social media managers, we're constantly at the mercy of algorithm changes, platform policies, and the whims of big tech. One day your content is reaching thousands, the next day you're shouting into the void. beehiiv represents something different: true audience ownership.

While we're busy chasing engagement on platforms we don't control, smart creators are building direct relationships with their audiences through email. And beehiiv is making that process not just possible, but profitable.

The All-in-One Approach

Most platforms promise to be "all-in-one" but deliver a mediocre experience across multiple functions. beehiiv breaks this pattern by excelling at three core areas that matter most to content creators:

Newsletter Creation That Doesn't Suck

The editor is intuitive without being limiting. You can create beautiful, branded newsletters that actually look professional—not like they were cobbled together in 2005. The design tools are powerful enough for sophisticated layouts but simple enough that you won't spend hours fighting with formatting.

Website Building Without the Headache

Here's where beehiiv gets interesting for social media managers. Instead of maintaining separate tools for your newsletter and website, beehiiv handles both. Your newsletter content automatically becomes web content, creating an SEO-friendly archive of your expertise. No more duplicate work, no more keeping multiple platforms in sync.

Monetization That Actually Generates Revenue

This is where beehiiv truly shines. According to their 2025 State of Email Newsletters report, the platform generated over$14 million in revenue for creators in 2024 alone:

  • $3.7 million* through their Ad Network

  • $2.1 million* via Boosts (newsletter cross-promotion)

  • $8.7 million* from paid subscriptions

The Ad Network: Passive Income for Content Creators

As someone who's struggled with finding quality sponsors, beehiiv's Ad Network is a game-changer. Instead of cold-pitching brands or working with sketchy ad networks, beehiiv connects you with premium advertisers automatically. The platform handles the sales process, you just approve the ads that align with your brand.

In 2024, nearly 5,000 newsletters used the Ad Network, proving this isn't just a nice-to-have feature—it's a legitimate revenue stream.

Growth Features That Actually Drive Results

beehiiv includes growth tools that most platforms charge extra for:

  • Referral Programs: Turn your readers into growth engines

  • Boosts: Cross-promote with other newsletters and get paid for it

  • Magic Links: Track exactly which content drives subscriptions

  • Pop-ups and Subscribe Forms: Capture leads without being annoying

  • Recommendations: Leverage beehiiv's network effect for organic growth

The Social Media Manager's Secret Weapon

Here's what makes beehiiv particularly valuable for social media managers: it solves the content multiplication problem. Instead of creating content once for social media and watching it disappear into the algorithm void, you can:

  1. Create once, distribute everywhere: Write your newsletter, then break it into social content

  2. Build lasting relationships: Convert social followers into email subscribers you actually own

  3. Generate revenue: Monetize your expertise beyond just client work

  4. Establish authority: A well-crafted newsletter positions you as a thought leader in your space

Real Results from Real Creators

The platform is powering some impressive success stories. Local newsletters like LA Raver and Catskill Crew are generating six-figure revenues with relatively small subscriber bases. Tech Safari grew to 15,000 subscribers and six figures in revenue in just one year by focusing on African tech news.

These aren't outliers—they're examples of what's possible when you combine quality content with the right platform.

The Numbers Don't Lie

beehiiv's growth trajectory is staggering. They sent 15.6 billion emails in 2024, up from 4.5 billion in 2023. The platform grew from 26,911 newsletters in 2023 to 52,809 in 2024—a 96.2% increase.

More importantly, engagement rates remain strong with average open rates of 37.67% across all industries, significantly higher than most social media platforms' organic reach.

Pricing That Makes Sense

beehiiv's pricing structure is refreshingly straightforward:

  • Launch: Free (perfect for getting started)

  • Scale:$43/month (includes monetization features)

  • Max:$96/month (removes branding, unlimited team members)

Unlike many platforms that nickel-and-dime you for basic features, beehiiv includes robust functionality even at the free tier.

The Future is Email (Again)

While everyone's chasing the latest social media trend, email remains the most reliable way to reach your audience. With 4.89 billion email users expected by 2027, email isn't going anywhere.

For social media managers, this represents a massive opportunity. Instead of being completely dependent on social platforms, you can build a direct line to your audience that no algorithm can disrupt.

Here's an updated section to add to the beehiiv review that covers the platform's limitations:

The Reality Check: Where beehiiv Falls Short

While I'm genuinely impressed with beehiiv's capabilities, no platform is perfect. Here are the limitations social media managers should consider:

Limited Social Media Integration

Unlike dedicated social media management tools, beehiiv doesn't offer native social posting or scheduling. You'll still need separate tools to manage your social presence, which means maintaining multiple platforms if you want to cross-promote your newsletter content effectively.

Learning Curve for Advanced Features

While the basic newsletter creation is intuitive, maximizing beehiiv's monetization features requires a learning curve. Setting up effective referral programs, optimizing for the Ad Network, and leveraging Boosts all require strategic thinking and experimentation.

Ad Network Approval Process

The Ad Network isn't available to everyone immediately. You need to meet certain subscriber thresholds and engagement metrics before being accepted, which means new creators can't access this revenue stream right away. This creates a chicken-and-egg problem for monetization.

Limited Template Variety

While the design tools are solid, the template library isn't as extensive as some competitors. If you're not comfortable with design basics, you might find yourself creating newsletters that look similar to many others on the platform.

Analytics Could Be Deeper

The analytics are comprehensive for email metrics, but they lack the depth that social media managers are used to. You won't get the granular audience insights or behavioral data that platforms like Google Analytics provide.

The Bottom Line

beehiiv isn't just another newsletter platform—it's a complete content business infrastructure. For social media managers looking to diversify their income, build lasting audience relationships, and create content that generates ongoing value, beehiiv provides the tools to make it happen.

The fact that one platform can handle your newsletter, website, and monetization while delivering professional results is genuinely impressive. Add in the automatic ad placement and revenue sharing, and you have a platform that doesn't just help you create content—it helps you build a sustainable business around that content.

If you're tired of being at the mercy of social media algorithms and ready to build something you actually own, beehiiv deserves serious consideration. The 30-day free trial makes it easy to test whether this approach works for your content and audience.

Ready to own your audience instead of renting it? Start your free beehiiv trial and see what direct audience relationships can do for your content strategy.

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