Funnel teardown: Beehiiv (Newsletter platform)
Founder(s): Tyler Denk

Beehiiv positions against Substack on creator monetization, not features. The funnel sells the upgrade path.

TL;DR: Beehiiv's funnel does not try to out-feature Substack. It positions on the creator monetization stack (ads network, paid subscriptions, referrals, boosts) and lets the reader self-select as 'a serious creator who wants to make this a business'. The lesson: when you cannot out-feature the incumbent, out-position them on the buyer's future identity.

What they sell: A newsletter platform with built-in ad network, paid subscriptions, referral mechanics, and Boost network for paid recommendations.
Who it's for: Newsletter creators who want to treat the newsletter as a business with multiple revenue streams, not as a personal-essay channel.
Pricing: Free tier with ad-network monetization unlocked at certain thresholds. Paid plans scale with subscriber count (verified 2026-05-17).

Hook pattern: Future-identity positioning
The hero appeals to who the reader wants to BE (a creator running a real newsletter business) rather than what the platform does. The reader who lands the identity does not comparison-shop on features.

Story pattern: Creator-success showcase
The story is told through specific creator case studies with named newsletters and stated revenue outcomes. Brunson Hard-Rule applies: only use named, opt-in case studies; do not fabricate. Beehiiv does this well and the funnel benefits.

Offer pattern: Monetization stack as the upsell ladder
Each monetization feature (ad network, paid subscriptions, boosts) is positioned as a future-state benefit that grows with the creator. The reader signs up for a free newsletter platform and is then walked up the monetization ladder as the audience grows. The product itself IS the value ladder.

What's working:
Future-identity hook lets the reader buy the version of themselves they want to become.|Named creator case studies with stated revenue are the strongest social proof available short of public revenue.|Monetization stack creates a natural upgrade path baked into product usage, not into pricing pages.|Boost network is a sideways acquisition channel: creators acquire each other's subscribers, paid by Beehiiv.|Aggressive content marketing (newsletter business case studies, creator playbooks) targets the same long-tail SEO their buyers search.

What to adapt:
Position your product as the platform for who your buyer wants to become, not the tool for what they currently do.|If you can credibly stack monetization or outcomes inside the product, that stack is your value ladder.|Publish case studies with named users and specific outcomes. Anonymous testimonials are weaker than no testimonials.

What to avoid:
Do not promise monetization features before they exist. Beehiiv built the ad network before they marketed it; reverse order destroys trust.|Do not lead with future-identity if your product cannot help most users reach that identity. The promise must be realistic for the median buyer, not the top 1%.

Brunson lens:
Hook: Identity hook (Brunson Expert Secrets) — the reader is sold on being a creator-business, not on a newsletter tool.
Story: Hero's Journey applied to creators: a person started small, used the platform, built a business; the reader is invited to follow the same arc.
Offer: Value Ladder built into the product itself: free newsletter (front-end) -> paid subscribers (upsell) -> ad network (upsell) -> boosts (upsell).
Value ladder tier: Full Value Ladder embedded inside one product — Brunson 'continuity programs' applied to a SaaS subscription.