This Newsletter Tool Helped Me Start Earning Online

A candid look at Beehiiv and how it turned sending emails into a side hustle.

In partnership with

Hey there! It’s Aaron.

Most side hustles sound great — until you actually try them.

Beehiiv?

It's one of the few that doesn't waste your time.

And I hope to shed some light on this newsletter platform in this issue.

📌TL;DR

  • Beehiiv is built for creators — simple to use, surprisingly powerful, and designed to grow with you.

  • Monetization isn’t an afterthought — run ads, paid subs, and referrals without extra tools.

  • It keeps shipping updates — from Magic Links to direct sponsorships, it's evolving fast.

Estimated reading time: 5 - 6 minutes.

TOGETHER WITH MORNING BREW

The gold standard of business news

Morning Brew is transforming the way working professionals consume business news.

They skip the jargon and lengthy stories, and instead serve up the news impacting your life and career with a hint of wit and humor. This way, you’ll actually enjoy reading the news—and the information sticks.

Best part? Morning Brew’s newsletter is completely free. Sign up in just 10 seconds and if you realize that you prefer long, dense, and boring business news—you can always go back to it.

MAIN STORY QUEST

The Newsletter Platform That
Actually Gets Creators

Beehiiv isn’t just another newsletter platform.

It’s a creator-first publishing cockpit built to help you grow, monetize, and actually enjoy hitting send.

If you’re a content creator or side hustler trying to build something sustainable… this is one of the few tools that delivers without overwhelming.

How I Found Beehiiv (and Why It Stuck)

My Beehiiv journey didn’t start with fireworks.

It was more of a slow discovery that unfolded over time.

The first time I heard of Beehiiv was during a marketing seminar.

I thought it looked cool, but I didn’t think much beyond that.

The second time was in an AI course focused on building side income.

That idea of “earn as you learn” planted a seed, and Beehiiv came up again… this time, with more context.

But the real turning point came after taking Matt McGarry’s newsletter course.

That’s when I finally saw the full picture of what a newsletter business could be — and Beehiiv was right at the center of it.

I didn’t explore other platforms like Substack or Mailchimp.

I didn’t need to.

Sometimes you don’t need to try ten tools to know one fits.

What mattered most was finding something that matched what I wanted to build and Beehiiv made that transition smooth.

No clunky setup, no confusing UI.

Just something that worked from day one.

And more importantly, something that kept getting better.

✍️ A Writing Experience That’s Friction-Free

I have been writing for about a year now and the first thing that stood out?

Writing inside Beehiiv actually feels… good.

The editor is clean and focused.

It doesn’t try to be clever or overloaded.

You can just write, drop in buttons or images, schedule a post, and move on with your life.

Whether you’re drafting on your laptop or making last-minute edits on mobile, the experience stays consistent and simple.

If you're a Markdown fan, you’ll feel right at home — Beehiiv’s editor supports it.

And if you’re not?

It’s just click, write, publish.

💸 Monetization That’s Baked In

One of the biggest reasons I stuck with Beehiiv is how seamless the monetization tools are.

You can set up paid subscriptions, launch member-only issues, and tap into Beehiiv’s Ad Network… all without needing to duct-tape third-party tools together.

And the platform recently rolled out direct sponsorships (available to Max plan users), giving creators even more control over how they earn.

🚀 Growth Features That Actually Grow with You

Growth isn’t a side feature on Beehiiv — it’s built into the platform’s DNA.

You can run a referral program that rewards readers for sharing your newsletter. Think merch, bonus content, early access… whatever fits your brand.

They’ve also introduced something called Magic Links, special one-click URLs that make subscribing almost frictionless.

No forms. No typing your email. Just click, and you’re in.

These are especially useful in cross-promotions, referrals, and growth loops where reducing signup steps can significantly increase conversion rates.

Then there’s Boosts: Beehiiv’s way of helping you get discovered by other newsletter readers inside the ecosystem.

If you’re willing to invest a bit to accelerate growth, Boosts put your content in front of the right people.

And the best part? You get clear data on what’s working.

The built-in analytics don’t just show you opens and clicks.

You’ll see subscriber sources, churn, retention, and revenue over time. It’s everything you need to make better decisions… without needing to be a data nerd.

🤖 And Then There’s the AI

Now, Beehiiv isn’t trying to be an AI platform, but the AI features it does offer are surprisingly useful.

You’ll get a smart assistant that helps with headline suggestions, structure tweaks, or rewording clunky paragraphs.

It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t try to write your newsletter for you, but when you’re under the clock or feeling stuck, it’s exactly the kind of co-pilot you’d want.

Think of it as a creative nudge, not a takeover.

Where Beehiiv Fits in the Creator Tool Stack

I didn’t personally test-drive Substack or Mailchimp, but I did plenty of research, read dozens of creator reviews, and spoke to folks who’ve used them.

From what I’ve gathered:

Substack is a great pick if you want to start fast with zero setup.

But it’s more limited in terms of design control and built-in growth tools.

Mailchimp is a powerhouse for e-commerce and marketing automation.

But for solo creators and educators, it can feel a bit heavy and expensive for what you actually need.

Beehiiv, on the other hand, is what I’d call the “creator cockpit.”

It focuses on what matters: writing, growing, monetizing… without the bloat.

That balance is why it stuck for me.

Why I’m Still Using Beehiiv

One of the biggest reasons I’m staying on Beehiiv isn’t just because it works… it’s because it keeps improving.

Since I joined, I’ve seen the interface become even more intuitive.

The analytics dashboard got a refresh that made it easier to track what matters.

Direct sponsorships were rolled out.

The beta launch of Typedream’s website builder (first for Max users, soon for Scale users) shows they’re still thinking big.

And just yesterday, they launched Newsletter Builder 2.0 where you can seamlessly design and style your newsletter as you write, create multiple templates or even select pre-built templates to get you started.

You can tell they’re building with creators in mind.

Fast iterations, meaningful features, and zero bloat.

I feel that kind of momentum is hard to find — and even harder to leave.

The Final Byte

If you’re a creator, educator, or just someone looking to finally start something on the side, Beehiiv is one of the most straightforward, scalable, and creator-friendly ways to do it.

It’s clean, powerful, and built for real growth.

And hey, if you’re curious about trying it out, why not join me?

If you sign up using the link below, you’ll get a 30-day free trial plus 20% off for your first 3 months for the scale plan.

And yep — I’ll earn a small commission too.

Win-win.

Not ready to commit?

You’ll have the option to switch back to the free plan after your trial ends — no pressure.

So whether you’re looking to earn online or simply want to share your ideas more consistently, newsletters are one of the most proven ways to do both.

Beehiiv just makes the whole thing easier.

Give it a spin and send your first issue… there’s room for all of us at the table.

See you in the next one,

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