I have actually utilized a great deal of different email list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and possessing your own system. Because of that (and the incredible features), I have been using Beehiiv Banner Size.
So, it is undoubtedly an odd move for me to choose to make use of BeeHiiv. Besides, it is a hosted application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I wish to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I wish to address the issue of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I would certainly additionally such as to address why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Huge Change In Approach, I discussed how and why I made a decision to turn my RV blog site right into mostly an e-newsletter. I chose that was business version I intended to go after keeping that property.
However, to deliberately pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the email list for Gladly motor home, however FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, using it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. Much more on that in a bit.
As I stated in that issue of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices constructed into it details to my function. Points such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog) and send the e-mail at the same time without having it be two different activities.
- Built in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are essentially one-click membership web links. Great for promotion in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, though, so there are means to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Built-in ad network, if I select to generate income from with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated capacity to run a paid newsletter upgrade and essentially run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features aimed at development. The platform was actually developed by the individuals that built up the innovation for Early morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point right here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the function of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I might indeed be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv as well. At the very least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. In fact, I just went for it. And in fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s very own home to ensure that I can expand it extra deliberately too.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Happily RV was young, so easy to change. Yet, The Early morning WP (previously The Edge) was buried in a sea of things 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 undoubtedly always be closely linked with the Blog site Marketing Academy, however doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv since it was constructed for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Listing
There’s a distinction between a newsletter system and just an e-mail list.
You can organize your email checklist anywhere you desire and there are a variety of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The main difference is that, with a newsletter system, the act of publishing means that it is going to your internet site and to your email customers at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are publishing to that site. But, you are likewise sending to all clients at the same time. The web site and it’s subscribers are all in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much less complex.
With many e-mail systems, any type of newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is built entirely separately from your web site. So, for instance, you may release a post to WordPress yet then you would need to independently develop and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to clients. These are after that 2 separate collections of archives and two different activities since blog posts and your emails are not inherently linked.
The closest point that transforms WordPress into a real e-newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name because it practically “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress messages and allows them to be the exact same thing. Absolutely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong alternative if I intended to remain to self-host everything. Nevertheless, you ‘d shed the growth devices that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter inherently features a different collection of needs than a normal e-mail listing.
You do not generally require much marketing automation. You do not normally need autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO requirement, though, is one seamless publishing experience and growth devices to help you develop your customer base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was going to change the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was choosing it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the reality that I picked to go with BeeHiiv, that does not imply I believe Substack sucks. In fact, since Substack has actually been about much longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair points that initially obtained my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is literally built by the very same people who developed the modern technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. Yet, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv towards newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “developer”. Growth is what I have an interest in here.
- That branding and differentiation also suggests that BeeHiiv has some rather large brand names and big magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo developers. Once again, it simply informs me the consumer avatar distinction between both firms.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t precisely draw. The only factor I would contemplate trembling things up is if I thought I might expand the listing quicker. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that goal.
As a result of the targeting, I actually do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more straight rivals.
But, let’s dive deeper than just the placing below.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv feels like it was developed by people that recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored toward designers.
As an example, BeeHiiv provides custom-made fields on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. Actually, it is a visual automation builder that functions a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still quite minimal in triggers and the only activity is the ability to send out an e-mail. Nonetheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have new triggers as well as brand-new actions, such as modifying custom-made areas, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations just given that I began making use of the system. For example:
- Ability to cause automations based upon which particular embed form they came in on.
- Ability to immediately do re-engagement (and manage individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this because the target audience of Substack just would not think to approach this like an e-mail marketing expert.
When it concerns writing your newsletters, the creating user interface of BeeHiiv is just much more tailored toward newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I find it to be a lot more instinctive, directly.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and tidy, yet it would certainly be much more equivalent to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is greater than simply type. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and then placed anything you want in it. Then, you can place Presence alternatives on that area to show it only to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, hide from clients, reveal only to clients, and so on. Substack provides absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a costs membership design, BeeHiiv does not take any kind of earnings. In fact, 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 on the amount of clients you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem unpopular, but what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv deal with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … absolutely nothing. No integrations at all.
Generally, I just felt like BeeHiiv was more built towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was built by people that “get it”. Also the opt-in forms and the landing page designs appear better developed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the direction it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have said, Substack positions itself toward “designers” more than email marketing experts and newsletter owners. Because of that, you see some things tailored extra towards people that simply assume in terms of content production.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain multiple magazines, they are dealt with rather separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … amazing for people that could need it.
Substack also has more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host talks with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which works sort of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Intriguing. Overall, Substack is established to be extra like a social network which supports long-form content.
Overall, Substack is additionally more … minimalist. You either take care of that or do not. Directly, I do not. However, if the objective is simplicity of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack works quite well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t believe there’s much question that BeeHiiv is better matched. I looked for even more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, but truthfully … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently via to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the exact same target market and have similar abilities.
ConvertKit is likewise placed at makers (like Substack), yet it is much more highly satisfying people that do it for service. ConvertKit has nice visual automation structure, it’s own business platform, and more. ConvertKit is a truly nice platform.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature failure here. ConvertKit is popular currently. However, below’s just how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has a lot more versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will certainly additionally claim that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit extra instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports tagging. This is simply a basic feature of e-mail lists that enables segmentation in a far more flexible means than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain labeling at some time soon, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Banner Size.
ConvertKit does now give the capability to sell points through their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would constantly choose a much more direct option anyhow. For me, I choose to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about much longer and therefore has way extra integration choices. Tons of online tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly powerful. For instance, their plugin now also sustains member-gated material along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Fundamentally, this extra very closely puts ConvertKit into direct competition by having you be able to release to your site and your email listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly lacking in these kinds of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll get there. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even hectic dealing with the development tools of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with benefits, yet you can also pay per lead within the internal advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your list. These are truly incredible features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you understand ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most popular viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface wherefore this means for the platform going forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Banner Size
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates less features and much less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. However, it likewise indicates that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed practically regular release of brand-new features into the system. And these aren’t weak little features … however huge features that are rather vital. Their rate of growth at this moment has actually been impressive.
I also quite appreciate how responsive they are. Actually, among their item announcements concerning some layout enhancements to the web design features in fact included a tiny issue with the content width. I merely responded to that email to tell them. I rapidly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the problem was dealt with.
Few days later, I gave them another pointer …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to cause automations based on the embed type utilized was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct participation of the team is something I actually value.
An additional major factor of distinction here is the price. Both platforms supply free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan provides much more capacity and more subscribers (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 more affordable at first look due to the fact that their pricing page shows reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber limitations are FAR reduced and your price quickly raises as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your initial level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid each year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same dimension listing is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I personally use), you can expand your listing approximately 100,000. A listing of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, too. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in a totally different league when it concerns pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually enhance rates? They could as time goes on. However, I’m guessing people like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see how things continue.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the things you definitely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to advance instead quickly and make new item announcements somewhat frequently, but there are some fundamental features I really want they had that I require to simply wait for.
One is that they need to have a setting on subscription types where I could select an automation to run right at the type degree. That would be outstanding for a lot of reasons. Currently, registration types look OK, however there’s really little settings for them to assist in segmentation.
It would be nice to have labeling at the customer degree. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks need to belong to automations to make built-in automations less complicated and reduce dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor management user interface adjustments that would come in handy. For instance:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove customers.
- Capacity to bulk edit articles (for instance, to identify a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental areas as common on customers (like the name).
- Some even more customization options for the website (such as more flexible shade selections, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Points I wish they finish with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, however it isn’t best and certainly not nearly as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It probably never ever will certainly be, either. As I stated, the function is various so it would not a lot a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation system. I guess you never ever know, however.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Sufficient where I determined to switch my own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my individual preference for digital sovereignty and having my very own platform.
Simply put, for the newsletter publishing version especially, I saw sufficient value in their system to necessitate the adjustment.
Remember, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail checklist. I use BeeHiiv of what it is good at, however I purposefully have things establish to ensure that I also keep my listing “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is just an excellent insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will be of high usage (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d absolutely take into consideration switching over to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and various needs. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button must be rather straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably sit tight unless you have a big e-mail listing and are therefore being wooled with their high month-to-month bill. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating swiftly. There’s additionally a respectable possibility you’re not even using some of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a better and a lot more inexpensive fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be really intentional about growing an e-newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE platform to think about and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is made to be, it is one of the best video games around now. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves looking into on your own. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the totally free account to be quite feature abundant.