I have used a great deal of different email list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a huge proponent of digital sovereignty and having your own system. For that reason (and the awesome features), I have been making use of Beehiiv Outage.
So, it is certainly an odd move for me to determine to use BeeHiiv. After all, it is a held application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to look at why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I wish to resolve the issue of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I would certainly likewise such as to address why I picked to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Huge Change In Approach, I talked about how and why I made a decision to turn my motor home blog into largely a newsletter. I determined that was business design I wanted to go after with that residential or commercial property.
However, to intentionally pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the email checklist for Happily recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a little bit of a waste. Extra on that particular in a little bit.
As I stated in that problem of the e-newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a system with devices constructed right into it certain to my function. Things such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail all at once without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Constructed in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with various other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are primarily one-click subscription web links. Great for promo in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are ways to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I choose to monetize with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated capacity to run a paid newsletter upgrade and generally run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features focused on development. The platform was essentially constructed by the people who built up the innovation for Morning Mixture. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is constructed from the ground up for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I may undoubtedly be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv also. At least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. In fact, I simply went all out. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s own building so that I can expand it much more deliberately as well.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown individually. Gladly RV was young, so very easy to transition. But, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will clearly constantly be very closely connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not have to be a part of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv since it was built for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email List
There’s a distinction in between an e-newsletter platform and just an e-mail listing.
You can organize your e-mail listing anyplace you desire and there are a number of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The key distinction is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of publishing implies that it is mosting likely to your site and to your email clients all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are releasing to that web site. But, you are likewise sending to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s clients are all in one. This makes management of the platform much easier.
With a lot of e-mail platforms, any type of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is developed totally separately from your website. So, for example, you may publish an article to WordPress yet after that you would certainly require to independently construct and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to clients. These are after that two different sets of archives and 2 separate actions since blog posts and your e-mails are not naturally linked.
The closest point that turns WordPress right into a true e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it pretty much “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress articles and allows them to be the same thing. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong option if I intended to remain to self-host everything. Nonetheless, you ‘d lose the development devices that feature a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing an e-newsletter inherently includes a various collection of demands than a regular email checklist.
You don’t normally require much marketing automation. You do not generally require autoresponder series, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one smooth publishing experience and growth tools to help you build your client base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my subscribers that I was going to switch the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was choosing it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the fact that I chose to choose BeeHiiv, that doesn’t suggest I believe Substack draws. Actually, since Substack has actually been around longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Although BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple points that originally obtained my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to e-newsletter authors. As a matter of fact, it is literally developed by the same individuals that developed the modern technology behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I want below.
- That branding and differentiation likewise means that BeeHiiv has some fairly huge brand names and large publications using it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo creators. Once again, it just tells me the customer character distinction in between the two firms.
Sending our my newsletter using FluentCRM didn’t specifically draw. The only factor I would ponder drinking points up is if I believed I can expand the listing much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke exactly to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I in fact do not see BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different sort of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct competitors.
However, let’s dive deeper than just the placing here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv feels like it was built by people who understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems a lot more tailored toward designers.
For instance, BeeHiiv offers customized areas on customers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. In fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still quite restricted in triggers and the only action is the capacity to send an email. However, enhancements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have new triggers as well as new activities, such as customizing personalized fields, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen improvements to their automations simply given that I began using the platform. As an example:
- Ability to cause automations based on which details embed type they was available in on.
- Ability to instantly do re-engagement (and handle individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can’t do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an e-mail marketing professional.
When it concerns creating your newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is just a lot more geared toward e-newsletters. In fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I locate it to be much more user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and tidy, yet it would certainly be a lot more equivalent to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is greater than just kind. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Section” and after that placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Presence options on that particular area to reveal it only to paid clients, conceal it from e-mail, hide from subscribers, reveal only to clients, etc. Substack offers absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium registration version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any type of revenue. Actually, you literally link up to your own Stripe account and it bills straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your revenue. Depending upon the number of customers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the regular monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem unpopular, however what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside utilizing devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
In general, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was extra developed towards real e-mail marketing. It was constructed by individuals that “get it”. Also the opt-in forms and the landing page makes seem better built for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv include, I like the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have said, Substack settings itself towards “makers” more than email marketing experts and newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some things geared more toward people who simply believe in terms of material production.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does support multiple publications, they are dealt with fairly independently. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to numerous magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, yet … awesome for people that may require it.
Substack additionally has more social performance built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host chats with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which works type of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Fascinating. Generally, Substack is established to be more like a social media which supports long-form material.
On the whole, Substack is also much more … minimal. You either care for that or do not. Directly, I do not. Nevertheless, if the objective is simplicity of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack works rather well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it involves actual marketing, I don’t think there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better suited. I looked for even more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, but truthfully … I have a difficult time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently through to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the exact same target audience and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is likewise placed at developers (like Substack), but it is far more highly satisfying individuals who do it for business. ConvertKit has great visual automation structure, it’s own commerce platform, and much more. ConvertKit is a truly great platform.
I’m not going to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature break down here. ConvertKit is well known already. Yet, right here’s how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has extra flexibility when it comes to it’s automations. I will also claim that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains tagging. This is simply a standard function of email checklists that makes it possible for division in a much more versatile means than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support tagging at some time soon, honestly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Outage.
ConvertKit does now supply the capability to market points by means of their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would always choose an extra straight alternative anyhow. For me, I prefer to use my very own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around much longer and therefore has way much more integration alternatives. Lots of online devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. As an example, their plugin currently even sustains member-gated content in addition to auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. Essentially, this more closely puts ConvertKit into straight competitors by having you have the ability to release to your website and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically doing not have in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with benefits, yet you can also pay per lead within the interior ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your list. These are really awesome features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you recognize ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of one of the most popular viral promotion platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall wherefore this suggests for the platform moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Outage
BeeHiiv is much previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. Nonetheless, it also implies that they are rapidly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have observed practically weekly launch of brand-new features into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … but huge features that are fairly essential. Their rate of advancement at this point has actually been impressive.
I likewise very much appreciate just how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, one of their product announcements concerning some design enhancements to the web design features actually had a tiny problem with the content width. I just responded to that email to tell them. I swiftly obtained a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That same day, the concern was repaired.
Few days later on, I provided an additional tip …
Certainly, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to cause automations based on the embed kind made use of was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct participation of the group is something I truly appreciate.
One more significant point of distinction here is the price. Both platforms offer cost-free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan offers much more capacity and 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 favorable. ConvertKit seems less expensive in the beginning glimpse since their pricing web page shows reduced numbers, however the client limitations are much reduced and your rate promptly increases as your checklist expands.
With BeeHiiv, your initial degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That same dimension checklist is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I personally utilize), you can expand your listing approximately 100,000. A listing of that size would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, also, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay every year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for just $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally different organization when it involves pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately raise costs? They could as time goes on. However, I’m presuming individuals like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see how points continue.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the important things you definitely require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do seem to advance rather rapidly and make new product news somewhat typically, however there are some standard features I truly want they had that I require to just wait for.
One is that they require to have a setting on membership types where I could select an automation to run right at the form degree. That would certainly be amazing for so many reasons. Currently, subscription forms look OK, however there’s extremely little settings for them to help in division.
It would certainly be nice to have marking at the customer degree. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks need to belong to automations to make built-in automations much easier and decrease dependence on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are also some small management interface modifications that would come in handy. For example:
- Capability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to bulk edit posts (as an example, to identify a number of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard areas as standard on clients (like the name).
- Some even more modification alternatives for the website (such as more flexible color choices, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I wish they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t best and certainly not nearly as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM item.
It probably never ever will be, either. As I said, the objective is different so it would not a lot a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation platform. I presume you never know, however.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv fairly a lot. Sufficient where I decided to switch my very own e-newsletters over to the system regardless of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my very own platform.
Simply put, for the e-newsletter publishing version especially, I saw sufficient worth in their system to warrant the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail listing. I make use of BeeHiiv for what it is proficient at, however I deliberately have points set up to ensure that I likewise keep my list “in residence” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is simply an excellent insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d definitely think about switching over to BeeHiiv. It will simply be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and various needs. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch should be quite simple.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d possibly stay put unless you have a huge e-mail checklist and are consequently being fleeced with their high regular monthly bill. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are iterating swiftly. There’s likewise a respectable opportunity you’re not even using some of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not also need them. For that reason, BeeHiiv could quickly be a far better and more economical fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be extremely deliberate concerning expanding a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and maintain and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is developed to be, it is one of the most effective video games in town now. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth checking out for yourself. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll locate the cost-free account to be rather feature rich.