I have used a lot of various e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last number of years, I have actually been a big proponent of digital sovereignty and having your very own system. Therefore (and the awesome features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Customer Success Manager.
So, it is certainly an odd move for me to make a decision to make use of BeeHiiv. Besides, it is a held application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv evaluation, I want to go over why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I intend to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I ‘d additionally like to resolve why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For Newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Big Shift In Method, I spoke about how and why I made a decision to transform my motor home blog right into primarily a newsletter. I determined that was business design I intended to go after keeping that residential or commercial property.
Yet, to intentionally pursue it as an e-newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the e-mail list for Happily RV, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, utilizing it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. Extra on that in a little bit.
As I stated because issue of the newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a system with tools constructed right into it particular to my objective. Things such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog) and send out the e-mail simultaneously without having it be two separate actions.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are basically one-click membership links. Great for promo in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are means to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Built-in advertisement network, if I choose to monetize with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and generally run a costs e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features aimed at growth. The platform was essentially constructed by the individuals who built up the innovation for Early morning Mixture. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point below. BeeHiiv is built from the ground up for the function of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various function.
And I finished off with this:.
I may without a doubt be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv as well. At least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went all out. And as a matter of 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 grow it a lot more purposefully also.
The goal is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown individually. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so simple to shift. Yet, The Early morning WP (formerly The Edge) was buried in a sea of things right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will undoubtedly always be closely linked with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet does not have 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.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email Listing
There’s a difference between an e-newsletter platform and simply an email list.
You can organize your email listing everywhere you desire and there are a number of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The primary distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting implies that it is mosting likely to your website and to your email clients simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are releasing to that internet site. However, you are likewise sending off to all subscribers at the same time. The site and it’s clients are done in one. This makes administration of the system much simpler.
With most email systems, any kind of e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed totally individually from your website. So, as an example, you may release a short article to WordPress however after that you would certainly need to individually construct and send out an e-mail to your checklist to send it to clients. These are after that two different collections of archives and two separate activities since post and your e-mails are not inherently connected.
The closest thing that turns WordPress into a true e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it pretty much “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and allows them to be the same thing. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong alternative if I intended to remain to self-host every little thing. Nonetheless, you would certainly lose the growth tools that include a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently features a various set of needs than a common e-mail checklist.
You don’t typically need much marketing automation. You don’t usually require autoresponder series, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO demand, though, is one seamless posting experience and growth tools to help you develop your customer base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my subscribers that I was going 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 fact that I picked to choose BeeHiiv, that does not imply I assume Substack draws. As a matter of fact, since Substack has actually been around much longer, it is elder and has more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair things that at first obtained my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to newsletter publishers. Actually, it is essentially constructed by the very same people that constructed the innovation behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “maker”. Growth is what I’m interested in here.
- That branding and distinction additionally means that BeeHiiv has some relatively large brand names and large publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo developers. Again, it just informs me the customer avatar difference in between the two business.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not specifically draw. The only reason I would consider drinking points up is if I thought I might expand the list quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke exactly to that objective.
Because of the targeting, I actually do not watch BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more straight competitors.
Yet, allow’s dive deeper than simply the placing below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv seems like it was built by individuals who understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems much more tailored towards designers.
For instance, BeeHiiv offers custom-made fields on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv supplies Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a whole lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still fairly minimal in triggers and the only action is the capability to send an email. Nevertheless, improvements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers in addition to brand-new actions, such as changing custom-made areas, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually already seen enhancements to their automations simply since I began making use of the platform. For instance:
- Ability to trigger automations based on which particular embed kind they was available in on.
- Ability to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based upon opens and non-opens).
- Ability to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can not do this because the target audience of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an email marketing professional.
When it pertains to composing your newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply more tailored towards newsletters. As a matter of fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it functions. I locate it to be a lot more intuitive, directly.
Substack’s composing interface is nice and tidy, however it would be extra equivalent to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is greater than just kind. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and then placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Exposure options on that particular section to reveal it just to paid subscribers, hide it from email, conceal from clients, reveal just to customers, etc. Substack offers nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a costs registration version, BeeHiiv does not take any kind of earnings. As a matter of fact, you literally connect approximately your very own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Depending on the number of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the month-to-month cost of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem unpopular, yet what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv work with the outdoors making use of tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack essentially has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
In general, I just seemed like BeeHiiv was more constructed toward actual email marketing. It was constructed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page creates seem much better developed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually stated, Substack positions itself toward “developers” greater than e-mail marketing experts and e-newsletter proprietors. For that reason, you see some things tailored a lot more toward people that simply think in terms of content development.
For example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does support several magazines, they are dealt with rather independently. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to numerous magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, yet … awesome for individuals that could require it.
Substack likewise has more social functionality built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host talks with clients. It also has a “Notes” feature which works type of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Intriguing. Overall, Substack is established to be more like a social network which supports long-form material.
Overall, Substack is likewise a lot more … minimal. You either look after that or don’t. Personally, I do not. Nevertheless, if the goal is simplicity of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack works pretty well.
Yet, I’ll be clear below …
When it comes to real marketing, I do not think there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for even more factors that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically via to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are pursuing the exact same target audience and have comparable abilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at designers (like Substack), yet it is a lot more highly catering to people that do it for organization. ConvertKit has great visual automation structure, it’s own commerce system, and a lot more. ConvertKit is an actually wonderful system.
I’m not going to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature breakdown below. ConvertKit is popular already. However, right here’s how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Points ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has much more adaptability when it pertains to it’s automations. I will additionally claim that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit extra intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is just a standard function of e-mail listings that makes it possible for division in an even more adaptable way than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain tagging at some time quickly, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Customer Success Manager.
ConvertKit does now offer the ability to offer points using their 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 constantly pick a more straight choice anyhow. For me, I prefer to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been around much longer and because of that has way much more integration choices. Tons of online devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. As an example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated content along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Fundamentally, this extra closely puts ConvertKit into direct competitors by having you be able to publish to your website and your email checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations currently. It’ll arrive. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also active taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your e-newsletter with benefits, yet you can also pay per lead within the interior ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your checklist. These are really incredible features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most well known viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall of what this implies for the platform moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Customer Success Manager
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies much less features and less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it additionally suggests that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually experienced almost once a week launch of brand-new features into the platform. And these aren’t undersized little features … yet big features that are fairly essential. Their speed of advancement at this moment has gone over.
I likewise quite value just how receptive they are. Actually, one of their product news about some style improvements to the web design features actually consisted of a small issue with the material width. I simply replied to that e-mail to tell them. I swiftly got a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the concern was fixed.
Couple of days later on, I provided another tip …
Indeed, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to set off automations based upon the embed form made use of was included in the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight participation of the team is something I really value.
One more major factor of differentiation here is the price. Both systems offer totally free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan offers extra capability and even more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise FAR more positive. ConvertKit appears more affordable in the beginning look since their pricing web page reveals reduced numbers, however the client restrictions are much lower and your cost quickly enhances as your list grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid every year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I directly utilize), you can expand your listing approximately 100,000. A list of that dimension would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, also, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay every year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally various league when it comes to pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point enhance rates? They could as time takes place. But, I’m presuming people like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of things you definitely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do seem to advance rather promptly and make new product announcements somewhat commonly, yet there are some fundamental features I truly desire they had that I need to simply wait on.
One is that they need to have a setting on registration types where I can select an automation to run right at the kind level. That would certainly be remarkable for so many factors. Already, subscription kinds look OK, but there’s extremely little setups for them to help in segmentation.
It would certainly be nice to have identifying at the subscriber degree. This would be effective.
I assume webhooks need to be part of automations to make integrated automations less complicated and lower dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are also some minor management interface adjustments that would come in handy. As an example:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove clients.
- Capacity to mass edit articles (for instance, to tag a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few basic fields as standard on customers (like the name).
- Some more modification options for the website (such as more versatile shade choices, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I hope they make with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t perfect and certainly not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It probably never ever will certainly be, either. As I claimed, the function is different so it would not a lot a lot of feeling for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation system. I presume you never know, however.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Enough where I decided to switch my very own newsletters over to the system regardless of my personal choice for digital sovereignty and having my own platform.
Simply put, for the newsletter publishing design particularly, I saw sufficient worth in their platform to require the modification.
Remember, I do not use BeeHiiv as my exclusive e-mail checklist. I utilize BeeHiiv of what it is efficient, but I deliberately have points establish to make sure that I likewise keep my list “in home” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the exact same. It is simply a great insurance policy, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your list will be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the question is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d absolutely think about switching over to BeeHiiv. It will just be extra business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and various demands. And also, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the button ought to be rather simple.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely stay put unless you have a large e-mail list and are for that reason being fleeced with their high monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are repeating swiftly. There’s additionally a pretty good chance you’re not even utilizing a few of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t also require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a better and a lot more budget friendly fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very intentional about expanding a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to think about and keep and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is designed to be, it is among the very best games in the area now. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves looking into on your own. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the free account to be quite feature abundant.