I have actually made use of a lot of various e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a huge proponent of digital sovereignty and having your own system. For that reason (and the amazing features), I have been using Can You Blog on Beehiiv.
So, it is undoubtedly a strange move for me to choose to use BeeHiiv. After all, it is an organized application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I intend to discuss why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I wish to resolve the issue of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I ‘d additionally such as to resolve why I chose to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Change In Technique, I discussed just how and why I determined to turn my motor home blog into largely an e-newsletter. I made a decision that was the business design I wanted to seek with that residential or commercial property.
But, to purposefully pursue it as an e-newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Gladly RV, yet FluentCRM is not a newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, using it for e-newsletters is a little bit of a waste. A lot more on that in a bit.
As I stated in that problem of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools built into it specific to my purpose. Things such as:
- Ability to publish (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail concurrently without having it be two separate actions.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are essentially one-click subscription links. Great for promotion in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are means to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I select to generate income from with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a costs e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features aimed at growth. The system was essentially constructed by the people that developed the technology for Early morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the factor below. BeeHiiv is developed from scratch for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different function.
And I ended off with this:.
I may undoubtedly be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At least, 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 in fact, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s own property to ensure that I can grow it much more deliberately too.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown independently. Gladly motor home was young, so simple to change. But, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things 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 certainly constantly be closely tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not need to belong of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv since it was built for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email Listing
There’s a difference between an e-newsletter platform and simply an email checklist.
You can organize your email list everywhere you desire and there are a variety of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The primary difference is that, with a newsletter platform, the act of posting suggests that it is mosting likely to your internet site and to your email clients at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are releasing to that internet site. Yet, you are additionally sending to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s customers are done in one. This makes management of the platform much simpler.
With most email systems, any kind of newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed totally separately from your site. So, for example, you might release an article to WordPress but then you would certainly require to independently develop and send an email to your checklist to send it to subscribers. These are then 2 separate sets of archives and 2 different actions because post and your e-mails are not inherently linked.
The closest point that turns WordPress right into a real newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it pretty much “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress posts and enables them to be the same point. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong choice if I intended to remain to self-host every little thing. Nonetheless, you ‘d lose the development devices that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter naturally features a different collection of demands than a regular email checklist.
You do not usually need much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder sequences, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, however, is one smooth posting experience and development tools to aid you develop your customer base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my clients 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, also besides the fact that I chose to go with BeeHiiv, that does not suggest I think Substack draws. As a matter of fact, due to the fact that Substack has actually been about longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that initially got my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to newsletter authors. As a matter of fact, it is literally constructed by the same people who constructed the modern technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, doesn’t matter. But, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “creator”. Growth is what I’m interested in below.
- That branding and differentiation additionally means that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brand names and large publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo creators. Once again, it just informs me the client character difference in between both firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t specifically draw. The only reason I would certainly consider drinking points up is if I assumed I might GROW the list quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke precisely to that goal.
As a result of the targeting, I really don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct competitors.
However, allow’s dive deeper than just the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv looks like it was constructed by people who recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears a lot more tailored toward developers.
As an example, BeeHiiv supplies custom-made fields on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a great deal like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still quite minimal in triggers and the only action is the capability to send an e-mail. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Soon sufficient, automations will certainly have new triggers along with new actions, such as changing custom-made areas, sending out webhooks, and so on. I have actually already seen enhancements to their automations just considering that I began using the platform. As an example:
- Ability to activate automations based upon which particular embed type they can be found in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of people based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Ability to do fundamental conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can’t do this since the target market of Substack just would not think to approach this like an e-mail marketing professional.
When it comes to creating your newsletters, the writing user interface of BeeHiiv is just more tailored towards e-newsletters. In fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it functions. I locate it to be much more intuitive, directly.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and tidy, but it would certainly be a lot more equivalent to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than just type. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Section” and then put anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Exposure alternatives on that particular section to reveal it only to paid customers, hide it from email, hide from clients, show just to clients, etc. Substack supplies absolutely nothing similar to this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a costs membership model, BeeHiiv does not take any type of profits. Actually, you literally link up to your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Relying on the amount of customers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem nerdy, however what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside using devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
On the whole, I just felt like BeeHiiv was extra constructed toward actual email marketing. It was developed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page creates appear better developed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack settings itself towards “developers” more than e-mail marketing experts and e-newsletter proprietors. Because of that, you see some points tailored more towards people that just assume in terms of web content production.
For instance, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous publications, they are dealt with rather independently. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to several publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, yet … great for individuals who might need it.
Substack also has even more social performance built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host chats with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which functions sort of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. On the whole, Substack is set up to be extra like a social network which sustains long-form web content.
In general, Substack is also more … minimalist. You either take care of that or don’t. Personally, I don’t. Nevertheless, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack works quite well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it involves real marketing, I do not think there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is better matched. I looked for even more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however honestly … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly via to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the exact same target audience and have similar capacities.
ConvertKit is also positioned at designers (like Substack), however it is much more highly catering to people that do it for organization. ConvertKit has great aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own commerce system, and more. ConvertKit is a really nice system.
I’m not going to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature malfunction below. ConvertKit is popular currently. However, right here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has a lot more flexibility when it comes to it’s automations. I will also state that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit much more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports labeling. This is just a standard feature of e-mail listings that allows segmentation in an even more adaptable way than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain tagging at some point quickly, truthfully. It feels like an oversight that it is missing out on Can You Blog on Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does now offer the ability to offer points through their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is essential to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly always pick an extra straight option anyhow. For me, I like to use my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and because of that has way a lot more integration alternatives. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. As an example, their plugin now even supports member-gated content in addition to auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this much more very closely places ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you have the ability to release to your site and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also 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 e-newsletter with advantages, but you can also pay per lead within the inner advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are actually awesome features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you know ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most popular viral promo platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall wherefore this means for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Can You Blog on Beehiiv
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 stage of the cycle. However, it likewise means that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed almost weekly launch of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … yet huge features that are quite important. Their rate of growth now has been impressive.
I also very much value how responsive they are. In fact, among their product statements concerning some layout enhancements to the web design features really included a little issue with the web content width. I just replied to that email to tell them. I quickly got a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That exact same day, the concern was fixed.
Couple of days later on, I gave them an additional recommendation …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to cause automations based upon the embed form utilized was added to the system.
That kind of responsiveness and straight participation of the group is something I really appreciate.
One more major factor of differentiation below is the rate. Both systems use cost-free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan uses a lot more capacity and even more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally FAR more beneficial. ConvertKit seems less costly initially glimpse since their pricing web page reveals reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber limits are FAR reduced and your price swiftly raises as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That exact same dimension list is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I directly utilize), you can grow your listing as much as 100,000. A checklist of that size 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, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay every year.
BeeHiiv is in a totally different league when it involves pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase prices? They may as time goes on. However, I’m presuming people like myself who are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how points proceed.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the things you certainly require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do appear to progress instead promptly and make new item statements somewhat often, but there are some standard features I truly desire they had that I need to simply await.
One is that they require to have a setting on membership kinds where I can choose an automation to run right at the form level. That would certainly be AWESOME for a lot of reasons. Currently, subscription types look OK, yet there’s extremely little setups for them to assist in segmentation.
It would certainly be nice to have labeling at the customer degree. This would certainly be powerful.
I assume webhooks ought to be part of automations to make integrated automations simpler and decrease reliance on outside tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor administrative interface modifications that would certainly be handy. For example:
- Capability to mass edit/remove clients.
- Ability to bulk edit articles (as an example, to tag a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of basic areas as common on clients (like the name).
- Some more modification options for the internet site (such as even more adaptable shade selections, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Things I wish they make with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t ideal and definitely not almost as created as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM item.
It possibly never ever will be, either. As I claimed, the function is different so it would not much a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a full marketing automation platform. I think you never recognize, though.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Enough where I determined to change my very own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my own system.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing version especially, I saw adequate worth in their system to necessitate the change.
Keep in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive email list. I use BeeHiiv for what it is good at, however I intentionally have things establish to ensure that I likewise maintain my checklist “in house” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is just an excellent insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the question is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are utilizing Substack now, I ‘d definitely think about switching over to BeeHiiv. It will simply be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting different abilities and various needs. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch ought to be rather simple.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely stay put unless you have a huge email list and are therefore 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 chance you’re not even making use of several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. Therefore, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a better and extra affordable fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be very intentional regarding expanding a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to take into consideration and maintain and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is designed to be, it is just one of the best video games in the area right now. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves having a look at on your own. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll locate the free account to be fairly feature rich.