I have used a great deal of different email list systems over the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a significant proponent of digital sovereignty and having your very own platform. Therefore (and the remarkable features), I have actually been utilizing Beehiiv A/B Testing.
So, it is indeed an odd move for me to make a decision to use BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is a hosted application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to review why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I intend to resolve the problem of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly likewise such as to address why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Shift In Strategy, I spoke about exactly how and why I decided to turn my RV blog site into mainly a newsletter. I chose that was business version I wished to seek with that said home.
But, to deliberately seek it as a newsletter, I wanted a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the email list for Happily recreational vehicle, but FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, frankly, using it for newsletters is a bit of a waste. Much more on that particular in a bit.
As I said in that problem of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices built right into it details to my purpose. Points such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail simultaneously without having it be 2 different actions.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are essentially one-click membership web links. Great for promo in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are methods to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I pick to monetize with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and primarily run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features targeted at growth. The platform was actually constructed by the people that built up the modern technology for Early morning Mixture. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the function of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I may indeed be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv also. At the very least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I just went all out. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s own residential or commercial property to ensure that I can expand it more intentionally too.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s own media entity and expanded independently. Happily motor home was young, so simple to change. However, The Early morning WP (previously The Side) was hidden in a sea of things here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will clearly constantly be carefully tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, however does not need to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was constructed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a difference in between an e-newsletter system and simply an email checklist.
You can hold your e-mail checklist anyplace you want and there are a variety of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The main distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting indicates that it is mosting likely to your site and to your e-mail subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are publishing to that internet site. But, you are likewise dispatching to all subscribers at the same time. The website and it’s subscribers are all in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much easier.
With many email systems, any e-newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is built totally independently from your web site. So, as an example, you may release a short article to WordPress but after that you would certainly need to individually build and send out an e-mail to your listing to send it to customers. These are then two different sets of archives and 2 different actions since blog posts and your emails are not naturally connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name due to the fact that it practically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and allows them to be the same point. Certainly, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid alternative if I wanted to continue to self-host every little thing. However, you ‘d shed the development devices that come with a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently includes a various set of demands than a common e-mail checklist.
You don’t typically require much marketing automation. You don’t usually need autoresponder series, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, however, is one smooth posting experience and development devices to assist you develop your client base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my customers that I was mosting likely to switch over the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I selected to choose BeeHiiv, that doesn’t mean I believe Substack sucks. As a matter of fact, since Substack has been around longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple things that originally got my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is literally built by the same people who constructed the modern technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I’m interested in below.
- That branding and differentiation likewise means that BeeHiiv has some rather huge brand names and large publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo developers. Once again, it simply informs me the client character difference between the two firms.
Sending our my newsletter using FluentCRM didn’t exactly suck. The only reason I would consider shaking things up is if I believed I might GROW the list faster. And BeeHiiv spoke precisely to that goal.
As a result of the targeting, I really don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more direct competitors.
But, allow’s dive deeper than simply the positioning here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by individuals that comprehending e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more geared toward developers.
For example, BeeHiiv uses customized fields on clients. Currently, it isn’t as created as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv uses Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a whole lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still quite limited in triggers and the only action is the capacity to send an email. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will have brand-new triggers along with new activities, such as modifying customized areas, sending out webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations simply since I started utilizing the system. As an example:
- Capacity to set off automations based upon which particular embed form they was available in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of people based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this because the target market of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an email marketer.
When it concerns writing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply a lot more geared towards e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I discover it to be much more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s writing user interface behaves and clean, but it would be a lot more equal to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is greater than just form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Section” and afterwards put anything you want in it. After that, you can put Presence choices on that particular section to show it just to paid clients, conceal it from e-mail, hide from customers, show just to customers, and so on. Substack supplies nothing such as this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium registration design, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of earnings. Actually, you literally attach up to your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your profits. Depending upon the amount of customers you get, that 10% can be quite a bit more money than the monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This might appear nerdy, but what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv work with the outside making use of tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … absolutely nothing. No integrations in all.
In general, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was more constructed towards actual e-mail marketing. It was constructed by people that “get it”. Also the opt-in kinds and the landing page designs seem far better developed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack placements itself toward “developers” more than e-mail marketing experts and newsletter proprietors. For that reason, you see some things geared a lot more toward people that just think in regards to content production.
For example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain several publications, they are dealt with fairly independently. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to several publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, however … cool for individuals who may need it.
Substack likewise has even more social performance built-in. As an example, it has a conversation feature to host talks with clients. It also has a “Notes” feature which functions type of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Fascinating. In general, Substack is established to be much more like a social network which sustains long-form content.
Overall, Substack is likewise extra … minimal. You either care for that or don’t. Directly, I do not. Nevertheless, if the goal is simpleness of interface and, honestly, features … Substack functions quite well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it concerns actual marketing, I don’t assume there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is better suited. I tried to find more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, yet frankly … I have a difficult time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are often through to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the same target market and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is likewise placed at makers (like Substack), however it is far more strongly accommodating people who do it for company. ConvertKit has wonderful aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own business platform, and extra. ConvertKit is an actually nice platform.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature malfunction here. ConvertKit is popular currently. But, below’s just how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will additionally say that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains marking. This is just a standard function of e-mail lists that makes it possible for division in a much more flexible method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain tagging at some time quickly, frankly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv A/B Testing.
ConvertKit does currently provide the capacity to market points through their very own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would certainly always choose an extra straight alternative anyway. For me, I prefer to use my very own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and because of that has way more integration alternatives. Lots of online devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is rather effective. For example, their plugin currently also supports member-gated web content along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Essentially, this a lot more very closely places ConvertKit right into direct competitors by having you have the ability to publish to your website and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely doing not have in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic tackling the growth devices of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with benefits, however you can additionally pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are truly amazing features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you know ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of the most well known viral promotion systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall surface wherefore this implies for the system going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv A/B Testing
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. Nevertheless, it additionally means that they are swiftly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed nearly weekly release of new features into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … however large features that are fairly essential. Their rate of growth at this moment has actually gone over.
I also very much value how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, among their product statements regarding some layout enhancements to the web design features in fact included a small issue with the web content width. I simply replied to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the concern was repaired.
Few days later, I gave them another pointer …
Certainly, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to activate automations based on the embed form utilized was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and direct participation of the group is something I actually appreciate.
An additional major factor of differentiation here is the price. Both systems supply free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies much more capacity and even more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally much more positive. ConvertKit appears less costly initially glance because their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, nevertheless the customer limits are FAR lower and your price promptly increases as your checklist expands.
With BeeHiiv, your very first level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid each year), however you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I personally use), you can grow your checklist approximately 100,000. A list of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally different league when it comes to pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise rates? They may as time takes place. Yet, I’m presuming people like myself that are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how points continue.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of things you most definitely require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to develop rather promptly and make brand-new item statements somewhat usually, but there are some fundamental features I truly wish they had that I require to simply await.
One is that they need to have a setup on membership types where I might select an automation to run right at the form level. That would be AWESOME for a lot of factors. Currently, membership forms look OK, but there’s extremely little setups for them to assist in division.
It would be nice to have identifying at the subscriber level. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks need to become part of automations to make built-in automations simpler and decrease reliance on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some small management interface changes that would come in handy. For example:
- Capability to bulk edit/remove clients.
- Capacity to mass edit blog posts (for example, to tag a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental fields as standard on customers (like the name).
- Some even more modification choices for the web site (such as even more adaptable shade selections, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I hope they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, however it isn’t perfect and absolutely not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It probably never ever will certainly be, either. As I claimed, the purpose is different so it would not much a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a complete marketing automation platform. I presume you never recognize, though.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv rather a great deal. Sufficient where I decided to change my very own e-newsletters over to the system in spite of my individual preference for digital sovereignty and having my own platform.
Simply put, for the e-newsletter publishing design specifically, I saw sufficient worth in their platform to warrant the adjustment.
Bear in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my special email list. I use BeeHiiv of what it is efficient, yet I deliberately have things establish so that I also maintain my listing “in residence” inside of FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the same. It is simply a great insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the concern is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d absolutely consider switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting different abilities and various needs. And also, BeeHiiv also has import tools for Substack, so the switch ought to be pretty straightforward.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably sit tight unless you have a huge email checklist and are therefore being wooled with their high month-to-month expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating rapidly. There’s additionally a pretty good chance you’re not also using several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv could conveniently be a far better and much more inexpensive fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely willful regarding expanding an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is developed to be, it is among the most effective video games around now. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth checking out for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll locate the free account to be fairly feature abundant.