I have actually used a great deal of different email list systems over the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a huge proponent of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own system. Therefore (and the amazing features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Jobs.
So, it is undoubtedly an unusual move for me to decide to make use of BeeHiiv. After all, it is a hosted application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I intend to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to deal with the concern of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I ‘d also like to address why I picked to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Large Shift In Technique, I talked about just how and why I made a decision to transform my RV blog site right into largely an e-newsletter. I chose that was business version I wished to pursue with that said residential property.
Yet, to deliberately pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Happily RV, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, utilizing it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. More on that particular in a little bit.
As I said in that issue of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a system with tools built into it certain to my function. Things such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog) and send out the email at the same time without having it be two different actions.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capability to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are essentially one-click membership web links. Great for promotion in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-newsletter.
- Built-in ad network, if I choose to monetize with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features targeted at development. The system was essentially developed by the people that developed the technology for Early morning Mixture. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different objective.
And I finished off with this:.
I might without a doubt be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. Actually, I simply went all out. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s own residential property to ensure that I can expand it a lot more purposefully too.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown separately. Gladly RV was young, so simple to shift. However, The Early morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff right here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will undoubtedly always be carefully linked with the Blog Marketing Academy, but does not have to be a part of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv since it was built for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email List
There’s a distinction between an e-newsletter platform and just an e-mail checklist.
You can hold your email listing anywhere you want and there are a number of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The key difference is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of publishing means that it is mosting likely to your internet site and to your e-mail clients concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. However, you are additionally dispatching to all customers at the same time. The web site and it’s subscribers are all in one. This makes monitoring 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 built totally individually from your web site. So, as an example, you may publish a post to WordPress however after that you would need to separately build and send an e-mail to your checklist to send it to subscribers. These are after that two separate sets of archives and 2 separate activities since post and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a real e-newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it virtually “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress articles and allows them to be the exact same thing. Absolutely, something like Newsletter Glue would be a solid choice if I wished to remain to self-host every little thing. However, you ‘d shed the growth tools that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently comes with a different collection of demands than a normal e-mail checklist.
You don’t typically need much marketing automation. You don’t generally need autoresponder sequences, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless publishing experience and development devices to aid you construct your customer base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers 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, also besides the fact that I picked to go with BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I believe Substack draws. Actually, since Substack has been about much longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair points that at first obtained my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to newsletter publishers. Actually, it is actually constructed by the very same people that developed the modern technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. Yet, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I have an interest in here.
- That branding and differentiation likewise suggests that BeeHiiv has some relatively large brand names and huge publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo makers. Once again, it just tells me the consumer character difference in between the two companies.
Sending our my newsletter using FluentCRM really did not exactly draw. The only factor I would certainly consider trembling points up is if I believed I could expand the list faster. And BeeHiiv talked specifically to that objective.
Because of the targeting, I in fact do not watch BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra straight rivals.
Yet, allow’s dive deeper than simply the placing here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv appears like it was developed by individuals who understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems extra geared toward designers.
For instance, BeeHiiv uses custom-made areas on clients. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still fairly restricted in triggers and the only activity is the capacity to send out an e-mail. Nonetheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have new triggers along with new activities, such as customizing custom fields, sending out webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations simply given that I began utilizing the platform. As an example:
- Capacity to set off automations based on which specific embed type they was available in on.
- Ability to automatically do re-engagement (and handle individuals based upon opens and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can not do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an e-mail online marketer.
When it concerns composing your newsletters, the creating user interface of BeeHiiv is just extra tailored towards e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it actually has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I locate it to be more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s writing user interface behaves and clean, yet it would certainly be much more equal to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than just kind. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and after that placed anything you want in it. After that, you can put Exposure alternatives on that section to show it only to paid subscribers, hide it from email, conceal from clients, show just to customers, and so on. Substack provides nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a premium membership version, BeeHiiv does not take any earnings. In fact, you actually connect up to your very own Stripe account and it bills straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your income. Depending upon the amount of customers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit more money than the regular monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem unpopular, but what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv work with the outdoors making use of devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack essentially has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
Overall, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was more developed toward real email marketing. It was built by individuals that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page makes seem much better built for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack placements itself towards “developers” more than email marketers and e-newsletter owners. Because of that, you see some things geared more toward people that simply think in regards to web content creation.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support numerous publications, they are dealt with rather separately. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I call for, but … cool for individuals that could require it.
Substack additionally has more social performance built-in. As an example, it has a conversation feature to host chats with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which functions sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. Overall, Substack is set up to be extra like a social network which supports long-form material.
Generally, Substack is also much more … minimalist. You either take care of that or don’t. Personally, I do not. However, if the objective is simplicity of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack functions quite well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it concerns actual marketing, I do not assume there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is much better fit. I searched for even more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however honestly … I have a hard time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are often through to be the closest competitors, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the exact same target audience and have similar abilities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at developers (like Substack), however it is a lot more highly satisfying individuals who do it for business. ConvertKit has great aesthetic automation structure, it’s own commerce platform, and more. ConvertKit is an actually wonderful system.
I’m not going to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature breakdown below. ConvertKit is well known currently. However, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly additionally state that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports marking. This is simply a basic function of e-mail checklists that makes it possible for division in a far more adaptable method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain labeling at some time soon, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Jobs.
ConvertKit does currently provide the capability to sell points by means of their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would constantly pick a much more straight alternative anyhow. For me, I like to utilize my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about a lot longer and for that reason has way more integration choices. Lots of online devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. For example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated content in addition to auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this extra closely places ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you have the ability to publish to your site and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically lacking in these type of third-party integrations right now. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic dealing with the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with advantages, however you can additionally pay per lead within the inner advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are really incredible features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you understand ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most popular viral promo systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall for what this indicates for the system moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Jobs
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. Nevertheless, it additionally suggests that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed virtually once a week launch of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t undersized little features … yet huge features that are quite vital. Their rate of growth at this point has been impressive.
I likewise significantly value how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, one of their product statements regarding some style enhancements to the website design features actually had a little trouble with the content width. I merely replied to that email to tell them. I promptly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the concern was repaired.
Couple of days later on, I gave them another pointer …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to cause automations based upon the embed type used was included in the system.
That type of responsiveness and straight involvement of the team is something I truly value.
An additional major point of distinction right here is the cost. Both systems use free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan provides a lot more capability and more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also even more desirable. ConvertKit seems less expensive initially look due to the fact that their pricing page shows reduced numbers, nevertheless the customer restrictions are much lower and your cost swiftly boosts as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 clients. That exact same dimension list is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I personally make use of), you can expand your list approximately 100,000. A listing 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 each year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv is in an entirely different organization when it involves pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise rates? They may as time takes place. Yet, I’m thinking individuals like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of the important things you absolutely require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to develop rather quickly and make brand-new product news somewhat often, yet there are some fundamental features I actually desire they had that I need to just await.
One is that they need to have a setup on subscription types where I could pick an automation to run right at the form level. That would be outstanding for numerous reasons. Already, membership kinds look OK, however there’s really little settings for them to aid in division.
It would certainly be nice to have tagging at the customer degree. This would be powerful.
I believe webhooks must be part of automations to make integrated automations less complicated and minimize reliance on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are also some minor administrative user interface adjustments that would be handy. For instance:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove customers.
- Capacity to mass edit messages (as an example, to label a number of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard fields as basic on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more customization choices for the site (such as even more versatile shade choices, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I hope they finish with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, however it isn’t ideal and definitely not virtually as established as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM product.
It probably never will be, either. As I stated, the purpose is various so it wouldn’t much a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a full marketing automation platform. I presume you never recognize, though.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I such as BeeHiiv rather a lot. Enough where I determined to change my very own newsletters over to the system despite my individual preference for digital sovereignty and having my very own system.
Simply put, for the e-newsletter publishing design specifically, I saw enough value in their platform to warrant the adjustment.
Bear in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my special email list. I utilize BeeHiiv for what it is efficient, however I purposefully have things set up to make sure that I likewise keep my checklist “in residence” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the exact same. It is simply an excellent insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your list will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the concern is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d definitely take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting different abilities and various demands. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be quite uncomplicated.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a large email list and are consequently being fleeced with their high monthly expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are iterating promptly. There’s also a pretty good opportunity you’re not even utilizing some of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv could conveniently be a far better and much more budget-friendly fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very willful concerning expanding a newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is created to be, it is just one of the very best video games around right now. This is the system to see.
BeeHiiv provides 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 cost-free account to be quite feature rich.