I have used a great deal of different e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and having your own platform. Therefore (and the incredible features), I have been utilizing Beehiiv Vs Marketo.
So, it is without a doubt an odd move for me to determine to utilize BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is an organized application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I intend to attend to the concern of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly additionally such as to address why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For E-newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Large Change In Technique, I talked about how and why I chose to transform my recreational vehicle blog site into mostly a newsletter. I chose that was business version I intended to go after keeping that residential or commercial property.
However, to intentionally seek it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the email listing for Happily RV, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a little bit.
As I said in that problem of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices developed into it details to my purpose. Points such as:
- Capability to publish (to the blog site) and send the e-mail simultaneously without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capability to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are essentially one-click membership web links. Great for promotion in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are ways to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I choose to monetize with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features aimed at development. The platform was essentially constructed by the people who developed the modern technology for Morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the purpose of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I may indeed be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv also. At the very least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I just 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 property so that I can grow it extra deliberately as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown independently. Gladly motor home was young, so very easy to shift. Yet, The Morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will certainly constantly be very closely linked with the Blog site Marketing Academy, but does not need to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was constructed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Normal Email Listing
There’s a difference between a newsletter system and just an email list.
You can hold your e-mail list anywhere you want and there are a number of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The main distinction is that, with a newsletter system, the act of posting means that it is going to your web site and to your email clients all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are releasing to that internet site. But, you are additionally sending to all customers at the same time. The site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes management of the platform much less complex.
With a lot of email systems, any type of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is built totally independently from your website. So, as an example, you may publish a short article to WordPress however after that you would need to individually build and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to subscribers. These are after that two different sets of archives and 2 separate activities since blog posts and your e-mails are not inherently connected.
The closest thing that turns WordPress into a true newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it virtually “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress articles and permits them to be the very same point. Definitely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong option if I wanted to continue to self-host whatever. Nevertheless, you would certainly shed the growth devices that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter naturally features a different set of needs than a regular email checklist.
You do not usually require much marketing automation. You don’t generally require autoresponder sequences, event tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO demand, however, is one smooth posting experience and development tools to assist you construct your customer base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was going to change the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I picked to go with BeeHiiv, that doesn’t mean I assume Substack sucks. As a matter of fact, because Substack has actually been about longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that initially got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically tailored to e-newsletter publishers. Actually, it is literally built by the very same individuals that built the modern technology behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, doesn’t matter. Yet, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “developer”. Development is what I’m interested in right here.
- That branding and differentiation additionally indicates that BeeHiiv has some fairly huge brand names and large magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo designers. Once again, it just tells me the customer character difference between both companies.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t specifically draw. The only reason I would consider drinking things up is if I thought I might expand the list much faster. And BeeHiiv talked specifically to that objective.
Due to the targeting, I in fact do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different kind of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra straight competitors.
However, allow’s dive deeper than simply the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv looks like it was built by individuals that recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored toward designers.
For example, BeeHiiv uses custom-made fields on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a great deal like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still rather limited in triggers and the only action is the ability to send an email. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Soon sufficient, automations will have brand-new triggers in addition to brand-new actions, such as customizing custom-made areas, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen improvements to their automations simply considering that I started utilizing the system. For instance:
- Capacity to set off automations based on which particular embed type they can be found in on.
- Ability to instantly do re-engagement (and take care of people based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this since the target market of Substack just would not believe to approach this like an e-mail marketer.
When it pertains to creating your newsletters, the writing interface of BeeHiiv is just extra geared toward e-newsletters. Actually, it actually has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I locate it to be much more user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s creating interface is nice and tidy, but it would be much more equivalent to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than just form. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Section” and afterwards put anything you desire in it. After that, you can place Visibility options on that area to reveal it just to paid clients, conceal it from email, conceal from customers, reveal just to customers, etc. Substack supplies absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a costs membership version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any type of revenue. As a matter of fact, you essentially link approximately your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Depending upon the amount of customers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit even more money than the monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This could appear unpopular, yet what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outdoors utilizing tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
Generally, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was more built towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was constructed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page develops appear far better constructed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually stated, Substack positions itself toward “creators” greater than e-mail online marketers and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some points geared extra towards individuals that simply believe in regards to web content development.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support several magazines, they are treated rather individually. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to multiple publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, yet … amazing for people that may require it.
Substack additionally has even more social capability built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host chats with customers. It also has a “Notes” function which functions kind of like a social media newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Intriguing. Overall, Substack is established to be a lot more like a social media network which sustains long-form web content.
Overall, Substack is also a lot more … minimalist. You either take care of that or do not. Directly, I do not. Nonetheless, if the objective is simpleness of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack functions pretty well.
However, I’ll be clear right here …
When it comes to real marketing, I don’t assume there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I looked for even more factors that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a hard time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are usually with to be the closest rivals, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are pursuing the exact same target market and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is also placed at makers (like Substack), yet it is far more highly satisfying people that do it for business. ConvertKit has nice aesthetic automation building, it’s very own commerce platform, and much more. ConvertKit is a truly good platform.
I’m not going to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature failure right here. ConvertKit is well known already. But, below’s how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more versatility when it involves it’s automations. I will likewise claim that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports tagging. This is simply a standard feature of e-mail lists that makes it possible for segmentation in a much more flexible method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support identifying at some time quickly, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Vs Marketo.
ConvertKit does currently give the ability to sell things through 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 choose a much more straight alternative anyhow. For me, I choose to utilize my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and therefore has way much more integration alternatives. Tons of online tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. As an example, their plugin now also supports member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. Essentially, this a lot more closely places ConvertKit into direct competition by having you be able to publish to your site and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is seriously doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations currently. It’ll arrive. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy tackling the development tools of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with rewards, but you can additionally pay per lead within the inner advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your list. These are really awesome features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of one of the most popular viral promo platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall wherefore this indicates for the platform moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Vs Marketo
BeeHiiv is much previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means much less features and less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it also means that they are swiftly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed virtually regular release of new features into the platform. And these aren’t undersized little features … yet huge features that are fairly important. Their rate of advancement now has actually been impressive.
I likewise significantly appreciate exactly how responsive they are. Actually, among their product news about some style enhancements to the website design features really included a tiny trouble with the content width. I merely responded to that e-mail to tell them. I swiftly got a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the concern was dealt with.
Couple of days later on, I gave them an additional recommendation …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to trigger automations based on the embed type made use of was contributed to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct involvement of the team is something I actually appreciate.
Another major factor of distinction here is the rate. Both platforms use cost-free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan uses much more ability and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally FAR more desirable. ConvertKit seems more affordable initially glance due to the fact that their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, however the client limitations are FAR reduced and your rate swiftly raises as your listing grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid yearly), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 clients. That same dimension listing is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I directly use), you can grow your list approximately 100,000. A checklist of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, also, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in a completely different league when it pertains to pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase prices? They might as time goes on. However, I’m thinking people like myself who are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how points proceed.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you most definitely need to remember is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do seem to progress instead swiftly and make new item announcements somewhat often, but there are some standard features I actually wish they had that I require to just wait on.
One is that they require to have a setup on membership forms where I can select an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would certainly be AWESOME for many factors. As of now, subscription types look OK, however there’s very little setups for them to help in division.
It would be nice to have labeling at the client degree. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks ought to be part of automations to make integrated automations less complicated and reduce dependence on outside tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some small management interface modifications that would certainly be handy. For instance:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Capacity to mass edit blog posts (for example, to tag a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard fields as conventional on clients (like the name).
- Some more personalization alternatives for the web site (such as more versatile color options, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Points I hope they make with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, yet it isn’t excellent and certainly not virtually as created as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM item.
It probably never ever will be, either. As I stated, the function is different so it would not much a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation platform. I think you never ever understand, though.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Review
I like BeeHiiv rather a whole lot. Sufficient where I made a decision to change my own newsletters over to the platform in spite of my individual choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my very own platform.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing model especially, I saw sufficient worth in their platform to require the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my exclusive email listing. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is good at, but I purposefully have points establish to ensure that I additionally maintain my checklist “in house” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is just a great insurance plan, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your checklist will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will certainly be).
So, the question is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are making use of Substack right now, I ‘d certainly think about changing to BeeHiiv. It will simply be more business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and different demands. And also, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the button must be pretty simple.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a huge e-mail listing and are as a result being fleeced with their high monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are iterating quickly. There’s likewise a respectable opportunity you’re not even using several of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv can conveniently be a far better and more budget-friendly fit.
Finally, if you plan to be really intentional regarding growing a newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE system to consider and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is developed to be, it is one of the best games in the area now. This is the platform to view.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth having a look at on your own. And if you wind up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll find the free account to be fairly feature abundant.