Why I’m moving to Beehiiv …
My time on Substack is coming to an end ... perhaps you can relate?
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE # 312
The digital neighborhood has changed in recent months.
When I first started sharing my thoughts on Substack back in the spring of 2023, it felt like a clean slate for independent creators—a place where the writing came first and the platform just… worked.
But lately, the vibe has shifted from a quiet workspace to a chaotic street corner I no longer want to stand on.
If you’ve been following garybloomer.com, you know I value a certain level of intentionality.
So, I’m making it official: I’m moving the newsletter to Beehiiv. Here’s why.
1. The company you keep
There is a difference between free speech and providing a megaphone and a monetization engine for the fringe.
Recently, and in my opinion, Substack has become a playground for a very specific, very loud demographic.
Between the radicalized and the relentless crypto-evangelists, and—most concerningly—factions that lean into the darkest parts of political extremism, the platform’s hands-off moderation policy has started to feel less like a principle and more like a liability.
I want my work to live in a place that prioritizes growth and professional communication, not a place where my articles sit adjacent to content that belongs in a digital fever dream.
2. Tools that actually help (like, say, a spell checker)
This is my biggest technical gripe. We are living in 2026, not the era of the Commodore 64.
I sat down to draft a post the other day and realized—not for the first time—that Substack’s editor lacks a basic, native spell checker in the post setup.
Why is this? I mean, come on! Seriously?
In an era of AI-driven productivity and sophisticated CMS tools, why am I still squinting at text, hoping a browser extension catches a typo? It’s a small detail and perhaps this is super petty … and yet, it’s an issue that speaks to a larger problem: a lack of focus on the actual craft of writing and publishing.
Beehiiv feels as if it’s been built by people who actually send newsletters for a living.
The interface is slick, the analytics are actually useful, and—shocker—the editing tools feel like they belong in this decade.
3. A better way to grow
Beyond the cultural shift, Beehiiv offers a suite of growth tools that Substack just hasn’t matched.
From custom referral programs to better audience segmentation, it allows me to treat my newsletter like the professional publication it is, rather than just a blog with an email attachment.
The transition is about more than just moving a mailing list. It’s about ensuring that the environment where you read my work reflects the quality and standards I aim for.
I’ll see you over at the new hive. Same insights, better neighborhood.
So, a move is coming. When, exactly? Soon.
The domain name remains the same and I’ve already migrated articles and subscribers to their new home. When will I make the switch? Soon.
Certainly by mid-June. Stay tuned.
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: Why Beehiiv is the upgrade you’ve been looking for.
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.