How beehiiv's Top 4 Recommendations Fuel Publisher Expansion

When beehiiv introduced Top 4 Recommendations, the objective was straightforward: enable exceptional publications to seamlessly exchange high-intent subscribers without introducing yet another paid acquisition channel to oversee.

Now, Top 4 extends beyond mere volume generation. It's empowering beehiiv publishers to:

• Connect with readers genuinely interested in their content

• Enhance the overall quality of their subscriber lists

• Activate a self-sustaining growth cycle that operates seamlessly in the background

This case study explores how four diverse customers leverage Top 4 for expansion:

• Almost Friday

• Daily Motivation

• 10almonds

• Just Women’s Sports

• Workspaces

In each instance, the pattern holds: setup in minutes, tangible subscriber increases, and a prominent position within their acquisition strategies.

Results at a Glance

Here's a snapshot of the outcomes these publishers are achieving via Top 4 Recommendations.

Almost Friday

• 319 new subscribers from Top 4 in October

• Two recommending publications now rank among their top four overall acquisition sources

Daily Motivation

• Nearly 3,600 subscribers acquired through Top 4

• Just under 1,000 subscribers from this channel in the past month

10almonds

• Over 1,400 subscribers gained via Top 4

• Featured in six other publications' Top 4 lists

Just Women’s Sports

• Top 4 Recommendations serve as their fourth-largest acquisition channel this year

Remarkably, these results stem from a feature that requires only minutes to activate.

Workspaces

• Top 4 Recommendations are currently the #1 growth driver, accounting for 67% of new subscribers last month.

• Over 3,500+ subscribers received from Recommendations since the feature launched in its current form

• Featured in 19 other publications Top 4 lists

Almost Friday: Converting a Basic Placement Into a Premier Acquisition Channel

Profile: Entertainment and culture newsletter

Goal: Expand high-quality subscribers without launching a new paid channel

Almost Friday activated Top 4 Recommendations and swiftly observed it evolve into a significant growth driver. In October alone, it delivered 319 new subscribers.

The true indicator of success lies not in sheer volume but in traffic quality. Two publications recommending Almost Friday via Top 4 now stand among their top four acquisition sources overall.

This aligns perfectly with Top 4's design principles:

• Relevant publications engage in mutual promotion

• Readers encounter new content in trusted environments

• Growth occurs when hurdles of intricate cross-promo negotiations or manual exchanges are absent

Daily Motivation: Amplifying Growth With a Single Switch

Profile: Creator-led brand

Goal: Achieve steady, scalable subscriber growth

For Daily Motivation, Top 4 Recommendations act as a silent, ever-running growth mechanism.

Since activation, they've:

• Added nearly 3,600 subscribers from this feature alone

• Acquired nearly 1,000 subscribers in the last month

They’ve avoided:

• Initiating fresh paid campaigns

• Integrating disparate tools

• Developing bespoke referral systems

Instead, they tapped into the beehiiv network, allowing aligned publications to introduce their audience.

10almonds: Harnessing the Network Effect

Profile: Health and wellness newsletter

Goal: Foster growth through discovery and relevance

10almonds exemplifies how the Top 4 flywheel builds momentum over time.

Through active involvement in recommendations, they've:

• Gained more than 1,400 subscribers from Top 4

• Secured spots in six other publications' Top 4 lists

Features in other publishers' Top 4 expose 10almonds to fresh, pertinent audiences. This drives more subscribers, boosts performance, and increases visibility across the network.

Just Women’s Sports: A Cost-Free Channel Rivaling Core Acquisition Sources

Profile: Sports media brand

Goal: Secure high-quality, enduring subscribers

Just Women’s Sports employs a rigorous acquisition approach, where new channels must demonstrate value rapidly.

Top 4 Recommendations rose to the occasion, becoming their fourth-largest acquisition channel this year. This positions a free, native product feature alongside major paid and organic avenues.

Its appeal transcends cost savings— it functions as a strategic tool, reliably delivering readers pre-disposed to engage with their content.

Workspaces: Growing a High-Intent Subscriber Base

Profile: Workspace inspiration newsletter
Goal:  Grow a highly-engaged subscriber base without relying on paid growth

For Workspaces, Top 4 Recommendations function as a built-in growth engine that runs quietly in the background.

Rather than spin up new campaigns or complex referral mechanics, they enabled Top 4 and focused on what they do best: publishing great content. The impact has been decisive—Top 4 is now their #1 growth driver, accounting for 67% of all new subscribers last month.

Since the feature launched in its current form, Workspaces has:

• Received 3,500+ subscribers from Recommendations

• Been featured in 19 other publications’ Top 4 lists

Why beehiiv’s Top 4 Recommendations Succeed

5 common threads emerge across these four examples.

Rapid Implementation

Top 4 Recommendations deploy in minutes:

• No engineering required

• No intricate logic or manual processes

• Select your Top 4, activate, and join the network

This minimal effort facilitates easy testing, adoption, and ongoing use.

Centered on Context and Intent

Recommendations embedded within subscribed newsletters, leveraging context:

• They serve as editorial endorsements, not arbitrary ads

• Clicks are deliberate

• Resulting subscriptions tend toward higher quality

This contrasts sharply with acquiring generic traffic or pursuing low-context impressions.

Paid-Channel Performance Minus the Expense

For numerous users, Top 4 parallels the top acquisition channels:

• Matches paid options in volume and quality

• Incurs zero acquisition costs

• Fully integrated within the beehiiv ecosystem

Top 4complements paid and organic efforts as a core component, not a peripheral test.

Amplifies via Network Effects

As adoption grows and recommendations are curated:

• The network strengthens overall

• New connections expose publications to relevant audiences

• Top performers gain more visibility, accelerating growth

Participation yields proportional rewards.

Focused on Engagement Over Vanity Metrics

Top 4 prioritizes substance:

• Genuine subscriber growth

• High-intent audiences

• Analytics-reflected meaningful sources

Success is measured by how many ideal readers subscribe, retain, and interact—not by mere views.

Implementing Top 4 in Your beehiiv Publication

If you're on beehiiv but haven't activated Top 4 Recommendations, you're forgoing a free, premium growth avenue.

Follow this straightforward playbook:

1. Enable Top 4 Recommendations in your beehiiv dashboard

2. Choose publications you'd authentically recommend to your readers

3. Track subscriber growth and acquisition metrics in analytics

4. Refine your Top 4 based on performance insights

Top 4 fosters shared growth. Here’s what happens when quality publications reciprocate recommendations:

• Discovery enhances

• Aligned readers connect with fitting content

• The entire network thrives

This transforms a modest feature into a free, perpetual growth engine throughout the beehiiv ecosystem!