I have used a lot of different email list systems over the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a huge advocate of digital sovereignty and having your very own system. Because of that (and the awesome features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Embed A Name.
So, it is certainly a weird move for me to determine to make use of BeeHiiv. After all, it is a held application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I intend to look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I want to deal with the issue of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly also like to address why I selected to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Shift In Approach, I talked about just how and why I determined to turn my motor home blog site right into largely a newsletter. I chose that was business model I wished to go after with that residential property.
Yet, to deliberately pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Happily recreational vehicle, but FluentCRM is not a newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, utilizing it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I claimed in that problem of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a system with devices built into it certain to my purpose. Things such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog site) and send out the email simultaneously without having it be 2 different actions.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capability to do cross-promotions with various other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are basically one-click registration links. Great for promotion in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are ways to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I pick 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 does not take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter authors with features focused on growth. The system was literally developed by the people that developed the innovation for Early morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the function of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different purpose.
And I ended off with this:.
I may indeed be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. A minimum of, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went for it. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s very own home to ensure that I can expand it a lot more deliberately also.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown separately. Gladly RV was young, so very easy to shift. However, The Early morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will undoubtedly constantly be carefully tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not need to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv because it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Regular Email Checklist
There’s a difference between a newsletter system and simply an e-mail listing.
You can organize your email list everywhere you want and there are a number of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The main distinction is that, with a newsletter platform, the act of posting suggests that it is going to your site and to your email customers concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are releasing to that web site. Yet, you are also sending off to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s clients are all in one. This makes administration of the platform much less complex.
With a lot of e-mail platforms, any kind of newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is built completely individually from your website. So, for example, you might publish an article to WordPress yet then you would certainly need to individually construct and send an email to your checklist to send it to customers. These are then two different collections of archives and 2 different actions due to the fact that blog posts and your e-mails are not naturally linked.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it pretty much “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress posts and permits them to be the very same thing. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong alternative if I intended to remain to self-host every little thing. Nevertheless, you ‘d lose the growth tools that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing an e-newsletter naturally features a different collection of needs than a regular email listing.
You do not usually need much marketing automation. You don’t generally need autoresponder series, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, however, is one seamless posting experience and growth tools to help you build your subscriber base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was mosting likely 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 truth that I chose to choose BeeHiiv, that does not imply I think Substack draws. Actually, because Substack has actually been about longer, it is elder and has more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair points that initially got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically customized to newsletter authors. In fact, it is actually constructed by the very same folks who developed the innovation behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. However, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the even more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I’m interested in right here.
- That branding and differentiation also implies that BeeHiiv has some rather large brands and huge magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo creators. Again, it just informs me the client character difference in between the two business.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not specifically suck. The only reason I would contemplate trembling things up is if I assumed I could expand the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I in fact don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of consumer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more straight rivals.
But, let’s dive much deeper than just the placing below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv appears like it was developed by individuals who understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored towards developers.
As an example, BeeHiiv offers custom-made areas on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a whole lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still fairly limited in triggers and the only action is the ability to send an email. Nevertheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers as well as brand-new actions, such as modifying customized areas, sending webhooks, etc. I’ve already seen improvements to their automations simply because I started making use of the system. For instance:
- Ability to cause automations based upon which certain embed kind they came in on.
- Capability to immediately do re-engagement (and handle individuals based upon opens and non-opens).
- Capability to do basic conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can not do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an e-mail marketing professional.
When it involves writing your e-newsletters, the writing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply more tailored towards newsletters. In fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I discover it to be extra user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and clean, but it would certainly be more equivalent to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is greater than just form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Section” and then placed anything you desire in it. After that, you can place Visibility choices on that particular area to reveal it only to paid customers, hide it from email, conceal from subscribers, show only to subscribers, and so on. Substack supplies absolutely nothing similar to this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a premium subscription design, BeeHiiv does not take any income. Actually, you essentially attach 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 clients you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the regular monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem unpopular, but what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … absolutely nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
On the whole, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was much more developed toward actual e-mail marketing. It was developed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in types and the landing page designs seem far better built for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv include, I like the direction it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack settings itself toward “designers” greater than e-mail marketing experts and e-newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some points geared a lot more toward individuals that simply assume in terms of content production.
For instance, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain several publications, they are dealt with fairly separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to numerous magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, but … cool for individuals that could require it.
Substack additionally has more social capability built-in. For instance, it has a conversation feature to host chats with subscribers. It likewise has a “Notes” function which works type of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. Generally, Substack is set up to be a lot more like a social network which sustains long-form material.
Overall, Substack is also more … minimal. You either look after that or do not. Personally, I don’t. Nonetheless, if the objective is simplicity of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it involves actual marketing, I do not assume there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better fit. I tried to find more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however honestly … I have a difficult time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly through to be the closest competitors, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the same target market and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is additionally positioned at designers (like Substack), but it is much more highly accommodating people who do it for organization. ConvertKit has good visual automation building, it’s own business system, and more. ConvertKit is an actually good system.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature breakdown here. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, here’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Points ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has a lot more adaptability when it pertains to it’s automations. I will additionally claim that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit much more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports labeling. This is just a fundamental function of email listings that allows segmentation in a much more flexible method than BeeHiiv presently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain identifying eventually soon, frankly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Embed A Name.
ConvertKit does now supply the ability to offer things by means of their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would certainly always select an extra straight option anyway. For me, I prefer to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about a lot longer and because of that has way extra integration options. Lots of online devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. As an example, their plugin now even sustains member-gated material as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Essentially, this more very closely places ConvertKit into direct competitors by having you be able to publish to your website and your email listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll arrive. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic dealing with the growth tools of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with rewards, yet you can likewise pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your listing. These are really outstanding features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most well known viral promotion platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall surface wherefore this suggests for the platform going forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Embed A Name
BeeHiiv is much previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests much less features and less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. Nevertheless, it also implies that they are swiftly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have experienced virtually once a week launch of brand-new features right into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … but big features that are rather vital. Their speed of development at this point has been impressive.
I likewise significantly appreciate exactly how responsive they are. In fact, one of their item statements regarding some design enhancements to the website design features in fact consisted of a little issue with the material width. I merely responded to that email to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That exact same day, the problem was fixed.
Few days later on, I gave them an additional idea …
Indeed, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to trigger automations based upon the embed kind used was contributed to the system.
That type of responsiveness and straight participation of the team is something I actually appreciate.
Another significant factor of differentiation below is the cost. Both systems offer free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan supplies much more ability and even more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally much more desirable. ConvertKit seems less costly at first glimpse because their pricing web page shows reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber limitations are much reduced and your price rapidly increases as your checklist expands.
With BeeHiiv, your initial degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid every year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That exact same dimension checklist is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I directly use), you can expand your listing up to 100,000. A list of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, also. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for just $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in an entirely various league when it concerns pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately boost costs? They might as time takes place. But, I’m thinking individuals like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see how points proceed.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the things you definitely require to remember is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do appear to evolve instead promptly and make brand-new item announcements rather commonly, however there are some fundamental features I truly desire they had that I require to simply await.
One is that they require to have a setup on membership forms where I might pick an automation to run right at the type level. That would be remarkable for a lot of reasons. As of now, membership kinds look OK, however there’s extremely little settings for them to help in division.
It would certainly behave to have tagging at the subscriber degree. This would certainly be effective.
I believe webhooks should become part of automations to make built-in automations simpler and lower reliance on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management user interface modifications that would certainly be handy. As an example:
- Capacity to bulk edit/remove clients.
- Capability to mass edit blog posts (as an example, to mark a number of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of fundamental fields as basic on customers (like the name).
- Some even more modification alternatives for the internet site (such as even more versatile shade choices, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I wish they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, but it isn’t ideal and certainly not nearly as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM product.
It most likely never ever will be, either. As I said, the purpose is various so it wouldn’t much a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a full marketing automation platform. I think you never ever understand, though.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv fairly a great deal. Enough where I determined to switch my very own newsletters over to the system in spite of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my own platform.
Simply put, for the e-newsletter publishing design especially, I saw enough worth in their system to necessitate the change.
Remember, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my special e-mail listing. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is good at, however I purposefully have things establish so that I likewise keep my checklist “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the exact same. It is just an excellent insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your listing will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the concern is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d definitely take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting different capacities and different needs. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch ought to be pretty straightforward.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a large e-mail checklist and are for that reason being fleeced with their high regular monthly bill. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are iterating promptly. There’s likewise a respectable opportunity you’re not also utilizing several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not also require them. Therefore, BeeHiiv could quickly be a far better and extra economical fit.
Finally, if you plan to be really intentional regarding growing a newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE system to think about and maintain and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is designed to be, it is one of the most effective games in town now. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves having a look at on your own. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll discover the cost-free account to be rather feature abundant.