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:
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:
Enable Top 4 Recommendations in your beehiiv dashboard
Choose publications you'd authentically recommend to your readers
Track subscriber growth and acquisition metrics in analytics
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!
