Why Beehiiv is the upgrade you’ve been looking for.
Substack user? Unhappy with the platform? It's time to make the break.
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE # 313
Following up on my last piece about leaving the Substack Wild West, I’ve received a few emails ask: Gary, is it really just about the spell checker?
Not really. I mean, for what it is, Substack does a great job. It’s helped me make writing and publishing a regualr habit, and it’s helped me build a small though loyal group of regular readers.
While having basic 21st-century editing tools is a baseline requirement, my move to Beehiiv has been driven by a need for a platform that treats me as a creator like a business owner rather than just as a casual diarist.
If you’re serious about your digital footprint at garybloomer.com, you need a toolkit that scales with your ambition.
Here are the specific tools within the Hive that made this a no-brainer.
1. The growth engine (referrals that actually work)
Substack’s “recommendations” are fine, but they rely on other writers liking you. Beehiiv’s Referral Program is a different beast entirely.
It’s built-in, automated, and allows me to reward you—the readers—for sharing the newsletter.
Whether it’s exclusive content or physical swag, the system tracks everything without me needing to hire a developer to bridge three different apps together.
2. Precision analytics (going beyond the open rate)
In the old world, an “open rate” was the holy grail. Today, it’s a vanity metric.
Beehiiv provides 3D Analytics that show me exactly who is clicking what, where they’re located, and how they’re engaging over time.
For someone like me who values intentional communication, knowing which topics actually resonate allows me to stop guessing and start delivering more of what you actually want to read.
3. Native ad network and boosts
Let’s talk about the “B” word: Business. Beehiiv has a native Ad Network that connects quality newsletters with relevant sponsors.
No more “crypto bro” banners or sketchy links; it’s about curated, professional partnerships.
Additionally, their “Boosts” feature allows creators to get paid for recommending other high-quality newsletters. It’s a clean, transparent ecosystem that actually rewards quality over noise.
4. Advanced segmentation
Not every reader wants to hear about every topic I cover. With Beehiiv’s Audience Segmentation, I can tailor emails based on your interests.
If I’m diving deep into a specific design project, I can send that to the folks who care about the “how-to,” while keeping the high-level strategy pieces for the broader group.
It’s about respect for your inbox—something that’s sorely lacking in the current newsletter landscape.
5. Customization that doesn’t look like a template
Finally, there’s the aesthetic.
Substack has a “look,” and after a while, every newsletter starts to feel like a carbon copy of the next.
Beehiiv gives me the keys to the design lab. From custom headers to unique typography and layout structures, it allows the brand identity of garybloomer.com to shine through, rather than being buried under platform-specific formatting.
The bottom line
Transitioning platforms is a chore—there’s no way around it.
But staying on a platform that has plateaued is a risk I’m not willing to take.
Beehiiv feels like it was built for the next decade of digital publishing.
It’s fast, it’s professional, and yes... it even tells me when I’ve made a typo.
Welcome to the upgrade.
As always, thanks for reading.
—Gary
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P.S. If you found this useful, share it with another creator who needs an ego check (in a nice way). Want more unfiltered takes on content creation? Join my newsletter. No fluff, just the stuff that works.
Next time on Shaking the Tree: Is it smart to change direction?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Originally from the U.K., Gary Bloomer is a writer, branding advocate, marketing specialist, and an award-winning graphic designer.
His design work has been included in Creative Review (one of the UK’s largest design magazines). Since 2009, he has answered over 5,000 marketing and business questions in the Know-How Exchange of MarketingProfs.com, placing him among the top 3% of contributors. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.