I have actually made use of a lot of various email list systems throughout the years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a significant advocate of digital sovereignty and owning your very own platform. Because of that (and the awesome features), I have been making use of Gary Club Beehiiv.
So, it is indeed an odd move for me to choose to use BeeHiiv. After all, it is a hosted application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I wish to look at why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I want to deal with the concern of digital sovereignty while making use of the system and I ‘d also such as to deal with why I chose to utilize it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Large Shift In Method, I spoke about just how and why I determined to transform my RV blog right into mainly an e-newsletter. I decided that was the business version I wished to pursue keeping that residential or commercial property.
However, to intentionally seek it as a newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Gladly RV, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, using it for newsletters is a little a waste. Extra on that in a little bit.
As I said because issue of the newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a system with devices built right into it particular to my function. Things such as:
- Capability to publish (to the blog) and send out the e-mail at the same time without having it be 2 separate actions.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would certainly require a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are essentially one-click subscription web links. Great for promotion in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are means to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Built-in advertisement network, if I select to generate income from with advertisements in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and generally run a costs e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter authors with features aimed at development. The system was literally built by the people that accumulated the technology for Morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point right here. BeeHiiv is built from the ground up for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various purpose.
And I ended off with this:.
I may certainly be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv also. At least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went all out. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s own residential property to ensure that I can grow it much more deliberately as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded separately. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so simple to shift. However, The Early morning WP (previously The Edge) was buried in a sea of stuff below at the Blog Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will certainly constantly be closely connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, yet doesn’t have to belong of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv because it was constructed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email Listing
There’s a difference between an e-newsletter system and just an e-mail list.
You can host your email list just about anywhere you want and there are a number of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted options like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The key difference is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting means that it is going to your web site and to your email clients simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are releasing to that site. However, you are additionally sending off to all clients at the same time. The site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes administration of the platform much simpler.
With many e-mail platforms, any kind of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is constructed entirely individually from your internet site. So, for instance, you may publish a post to WordPress yet then you would certainly need to independently build and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to subscribers. These are after that 2 different collections of archives and 2 separate activities due to the fact that blog posts and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it basically “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and enables them to be the same thing. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would be a solid alternative if I intended to remain to self-host everything. Nevertheless, you ‘d shed the growth tools that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently comes with a different set of demands than a typical e-mail listing.
You don’t typically require much marketing automation. You don’t typically require autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one smooth posting experience and development tools to help you build your subscriber base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my customers that I was going to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was choosing it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I picked to opt for BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I think Substack draws. Actually, due to the fact that Substack has been about longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that at first got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically customized to newsletter authors. In fact, it is essentially built by the very same individuals who developed the technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. But, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter growth called me out over the even more common positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I’m interested in here.
- That branding and differentiation likewise implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively large brand names and huge publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo developers. Once again, it just informs me the customer avatar distinction in between both business.
Sending our my e-newsletter using FluentCRM didn’t precisely draw. The only reason I would certainly consider drinking points up is if I thought I can GROW the list faster. And BeeHiiv talked precisely to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I actually do not check out BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more straight rivals.
But, let’s dive much deeper than just the positioning below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv appears like it was constructed by individuals who comprehending email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems a lot more geared towards designers.
As an example, BeeHiiv offers custom areas on clients. Currently, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still fairly limited in triggers and the only action is the capability to send out an e-mail. Nevertheless, improvements are coming. Soon sufficient, automations will have brand-new triggers in addition to new activities, such as modifying custom-made areas, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually already seen improvements to their automations just because I started using the platform. As an example:
- Capacity to activate automations based on which certain embed kind they can be found in on.
- Capability to instantly do re-engagement (and manage individuals based upon opens and non-opens).
- Ability to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply 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 comes to creating your e-newsletters, the composing interface of BeeHiiv is just extra tailored towards e-newsletters. Actually, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I find it to be much more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s writing user interface behaves and clean, yet it would certainly be much more comparable to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is more than just form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and then placed anything you want in it. After that, you can put Visibility alternatives on that section to show it just to paid subscribers, conceal it from e-mail, conceal from customers, show just to subscribers, etc. Substack offers nothing like this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a costs membership design, BeeHiiv does not take any kind of income. In fact, you essentially attach as much as your own Stripe account and it bills straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your income. Relying on the number of customers you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the regular monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, but what it implies is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv work with the outside using devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … absolutely nothing. No integrations in any way.
Overall, I just seemed like BeeHiiv was extra built towards real email marketing. It was constructed by individuals that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page creates seem much better developed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv include, I like the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack positions itself towards “designers” greater than email marketing experts and e-newsletter proprietors. For that reason, you see some things geared much more toward people who just believe in regards to web content development.
For example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does support several publications, they are dealt with rather individually. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to multiple publications at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … great for individuals who might require it.
Substack likewise has more social performance built-in. As an example, it has a conversation feature to host chats with clients. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which functions kind of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Fascinating. On the whole, Substack is set up to be much more like a social network which sustains long-form content.
Generally, Substack is additionally much more … minimal. You either take care of that or do not. Directly, I don’t. However, if the objective is simplicity of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
Yet, I’ll be clear here …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t assume there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better fit. I searched for more points that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, however frankly … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically through to be the closest rivals, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the very same target audience and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at makers (like Substack), yet it is much more strongly catering to people who do it for company. ConvertKit has nice visual automation structure, it’s very own business system, and more. ConvertKit is an actually good system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is popular already. However, below’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has extra adaptability when it pertains to it’s automations. I will likewise say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains identifying. This is just a standard function of email listings that allows segmentation in an even more adaptable way than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain marking eventually quickly, truthfully. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Gary Club Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does now give the ability to market things using their very 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 always choose an extra direct option anyway. For me, I choose to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about much longer and because of that has way a lot more integration choices. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For instance, their plugin now also sustains member-gated content in addition to auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Fundamentally, this extra very closely places ConvertKit into straight competition by having you be able to publish to your website and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely lacking in these kinds of third-party integrations currently. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy dealing with the development tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not only incentivize people to share your e-newsletter with benefits, but you can additionally pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are truly remarkable 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 wherefore this means for the system moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Gary Club Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests much less features and much less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it likewise suggests that they are rapidly creating.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed nearly once a week release of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t undersized little features … however huge features that are quite essential. Their rate of growth at this moment has actually gone over.
I also significantly appreciate just how receptive they are. Actually, one of their product announcements concerning some style improvements to the website design features in fact consisted of a tiny problem with the content width. I merely responded to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the issue was dealt with.
Couple of days later on, I provided one more pointer …
Certainly, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to trigger automations based upon the embed type used was contributed to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct participation of the group is something I really value.
An additional major factor of distinction here is the rate. Both systems offer free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies much more capability and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also FAR more desirable. ConvertKit seems less costly in the beginning look since their pricing page reveals lower numbers, nevertheless the client limitations are much reduced and your cost swiftly boosts as your checklist expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), however you can have up to 10,000 clients. That very same size listing is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I directly utilize), you can expand your listing up to 100,000. A listing of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, also, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv is in a completely different league when it pertains to pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately raise rates? They may as time goes on. Yet, I’m thinking individuals like myself who are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how points continue.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of the important things you certainly need to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do seem to progress instead quickly and make brand-new product news rather usually, however there are some standard features I really want they had that I need to just wait for.
One is that they require to have a setup on registration types where I can select an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would be outstanding for many reasons. Currently, membership types look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to assist in segmentation.
It would be nice to have labeling at the subscriber degree. This would certainly be effective.
I think webhooks need to be part of automations to make built-in automations less complicated and reduce reliance on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor administrative user interface adjustments that would be handy. For example:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove customers.
- Ability to bulk edit messages (for example, to mark a number of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental fields as typical on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more personalization alternatives for the internet site (such as more adaptable color selections, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Things I wish they finish with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, however it isn’t perfect and definitely not almost as created as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It possibly never ever will be, either. As I said, the objective is different so it would not a lot a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation system. I presume you never know, however.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv quite a lot. Enough where I made a decision to switch my own newsletters over to the platform regardless of my personal choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my own platform.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter posting model especially, I saw enough worth in their system to require the adjustment.
Keep in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my special e-mail checklist. I use BeeHiiv wherefore it is proficient at, but I purposefully have things establish so that I also maintain my listing “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the very same. It is simply an excellent insurance plan, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your list will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full 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 today, I ‘d definitely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will just be more business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and various needs. And also, BeeHiiv also has import tools for Substack, so the switch needs to be rather simple.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably sit tight unless you have a big email listing and are for that reason being wooled with their high monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are iterating promptly. There’s likewise a pretty good opportunity you’re not even utilizing several of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you do not even require them. Therefore, BeeHiiv can quickly be a better and much more economical fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very deliberate concerning growing a newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE system to think about and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is developed to be, it is one of the very best video games around today. This is the system to view.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves checking out for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll discover the complimentary account to be fairly feature abundant.