I have made use of a great deal of different email list systems for many years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a substantial supporter of digital sovereignty and owning your own system. Because of that (and the remarkable features), I have been using Future Social Beehiiv.
So, it is without a doubt an unusual move for me to determine to utilize BeeHiiv. After all, it is a hosted application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I wish to go over why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I want to resolve the concern of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly additionally like to attend to why I chose to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Large Shift In Technique, I talked about just how and why I determined to transform my RV blog site into mostly a newsletter. I determined that was business model I intended to seek keeping that residential property.
However, to purposefully pursue it as a newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Happily RV, yet FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, using it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. More on that particular in a little bit.
As I stated in that concern of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with tools built right into it specific to my function. Points such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog site) and send out the email concurrently without having it be two separate actions.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in ability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are essentially one-click subscription web links. Great for promotion in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are methods to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I choose to generate income from with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and basically run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features aimed at development. The system was literally developed by the people that accumulated the technology for Early morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I might undoubtedly be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv too. A minimum of, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went all out. And actually, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s own home to ensure that I can grow it extra intentionally also.
The objective is that each newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Happily motor home was young, so easy to change. However, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will clearly always be carefully tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not have to belong of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv since it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Normal Email List
There’s a distinction in between a newsletter platform and simply an e-mail checklist.
You can hold your email list just about anywhere you want and there are a variety of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The primary difference is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of publishing indicates that it is mosting likely to your internet site and to your e-mail customers all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are publishing to that website. Yet, you are also sending to all clients at the same time. The website and it’s customers are all in one. This makes monitoring of the system much less complex.
With the majority of e-mail systems, any kind of e-newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is constructed entirely individually from your web site. So, for example, you may publish a write-up to WordPress however then you would require to separately construct and send out an email to your list to send it to customers. These are after that two separate sets of archives and two different actions since article and your emails are not inherently linked.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a real e-newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it basically “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress articles and permits them to be the exact same point. Definitely, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a solid alternative if I intended to continue to self-host whatever. Nevertheless, you would certainly shed the development tools that come with a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter naturally features a various collection of requirements than a regular email list.
You do not usually require much marketing automation. You don’t usually need autoresponder sequences, event tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, though, is one smooth publishing experience and growth tools to aid you develop your subscriber base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my clients that I was going to switch the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I selected to choose BeeHiiv, that does not imply I assume Substack draws. In fact, because Substack has actually been about longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple things that originally obtained my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly tailored to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is essentially constructed by the same people who built the modern technology behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter growth called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I have an interest in below.
- That branding and differentiation also implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brands and big publications using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo creators. Once again, it simply tells me the consumer character difference between the two firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter through FluentCRM didn’t precisely suck. The only reason I would certainly ponder shaking points up is if I thought I can expand the listing much faster. And BeeHiiv talked precisely to that objective.
Due to the targeting, I actually do not watch BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various kind of customer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct competitors.
However, let’s dive deeper than just the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv feels like it was built by individuals that understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored toward creators.
For instance, BeeHiiv supplies custom-made areas on customers. Now, it isn’t as created as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. In fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a whole lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still rather restricted in triggers and the only action is the capability to send out an e-mail. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will certainly have new triggers as well as brand-new activities, such as modifying custom-made fields, sending webhooks, etc. I’ve currently seen improvements to their automations just since I began using the platform. For instance:
- Ability to activate automations based upon which specific embed type they can be found in on.
- Capacity to automatically do re-engagement (and handle individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Ability to do standard conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can’t do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack just would not think to approach this like an email marketing expert.
When it concerns creating your e-newsletters, the writing interface of BeeHiiv is simply much more tailored toward newsletters. Actually, it really has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I discover it to be more intuitive, personally.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and clean, but it would be more comparable to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than just type. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and after that placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Visibility alternatives on that particular section to reveal it only to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, conceal from customers, reveal just to customers, and so on. Substack uses nothing similar to this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a premium registration version, BeeHiiv does not take any kind of revenue. In fact, you literally link approximately your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your profits. Relying on the number of subscribers you get, that 10% can be quite a bit more money than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem unpopular, but what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv work with the outside using devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … absolutely nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
In general, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was extra developed towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was built by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in types and the landing page creates seem far better constructed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have said, Substack placements itself towards “creators” more than e-mail online marketers and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some things tailored extra towards individuals who simply think in terms of material development.
For example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous magazines, they are dealt with quite separately. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, yet … great for people that might require it.
Substack likewise has more social functionality built-in. For example, it has a chat function to host chats with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Fascinating. Overall, Substack is established to be extra like a social media network which supports long-form content.
Overall, Substack is also extra … minimalist. You either look after that or do not. Personally, I do not. Nonetheless, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions rather well.
However, I’ll be clear right here …
When it involves real marketing, I do not assume there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I looked for more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, but frankly … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly with to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are going after the very same target audience and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at designers (like Substack), however it is far more highly catering to individuals who do it for organization. ConvertKit has wonderful aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own business platform, and a lot more. ConvertKit is a truly wonderful system.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature breakdown below. ConvertKit is well known currently. Yet, here’s exactly how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it comes to it’s automations. I will certainly likewise say that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is simply a fundamental feature of e-mail checklists that allows segmentation in a much more adaptable means than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support marking at some point soon, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing out on Future Social Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does now give the capacity to sell things via their very own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would certainly constantly choose a more direct option anyhow. For me, I choose to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been around much longer and therefore has way much more integration choices. Lots of web-based tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. As an example, their plugin currently even sustains member-gated web content along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Basically, this extra closely places ConvertKit right into direct competitors by having you have the ability to publish to your site and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is significantly lacking in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll arrive. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even active taking on the development devices 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, however you can additionally pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are actually amazing features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most popular viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface of what this indicates for the platform moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Future Social Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it additionally implies that they are rapidly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have experienced virtually once a week launch of new features into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … but big features that are fairly important. Their rate of advancement at this point has gone over.
I likewise very much value how receptive they are. In fact, one of their product announcements regarding some design enhancements to the website design features actually contained a tiny trouble with the web content size. I simply replied to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply straight from the CEO:.
That same day, the problem was dealt with.
Few days later, I gave them another idea …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to set off automations based upon the embed type used was contributed to the system.
That type of responsiveness and straight involvement of the team is something I actually value.
Another major factor of distinction right here is the cost. Both systems offer cost-free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan offers more ability and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally much more positive. ConvertKit seems less costly initially glimpse because their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, nevertheless the client limitations are much lower and your rate swiftly enhances as your list grows.
With BeeHiiv, your initial level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid every year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same dimension listing is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I personally make use of), you can expand your listing up to 100,000. A checklist of that size 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 every year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay every year.
BeeHiiv is in a totally different league when it involves pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase rates? They may as time goes on. However, I’m presuming individuals like myself who are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how things proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the things you absolutely require to remember is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to evolve instead quickly and make brand-new item statements rather often, yet there are some basic features I truly wish they had that I need to just wait on.
One is that they need to have a setup on membership types where I could pick an automation to run right at the form level. That would certainly be amazing for many factors. As of now, subscription types look OK, but there’s very little setups for them to help in division.
It would be nice to have tagging at the customer level. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks must become part of automations to make integrated automations much easier and lower reliance on outside devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor administrative user interface changes that would come in handy. For instance:
- Capacity to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to bulk edit posts (for instance, to mark a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of fundamental areas as standard on clients (like the name).
- Some even more customization options for the web site (such as even more adaptable color selections, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I wish they finish with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, however it isn’t best and definitely not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM item.
It possibly never will be, either. As I said, the objective is different so it would not a lot a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a full marketing automation platform. I presume you never know, however.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv rather a lot. Sufficient where I made a decision to switch my own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my individual choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my very own system.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing model specifically, I saw enough value in their system to necessitate the adjustment.
Remember, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive e-mail list. I utilize BeeHiiv for what it is good at, yet I intentionally have points set up so that I additionally maintain my list “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the exact same. It is simply an excellent insurance plan, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your checklist will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are utilizing Substack now, I ‘d certainly consider switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and different requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the button must be pretty uncomplicated.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d most likely stay unless you have a huge email checklist and are for that reason being wooled with their high monthly expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating swiftly. There’s additionally a pretty good opportunity you’re not even using several of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t also need them. Therefore, BeeHiiv might easily be a much better and extra economical fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely willful regarding growing an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is designed to be, it is one of the best video games around today. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth looking into on your own. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll locate the complimentary account to be rather feature abundant.