I have utilized a lot of various email list systems over the years. In the last number of years, I have actually been a huge advocate of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own system. For that reason (and the awesome features), I have been making use of Segmentation Beehiiv.
So, it is certainly a strange move for me to decide to make use of BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is a held application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to discuss why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I intend to attend to the concern of digital sovereignty while utilizing the system and I ‘d also like to deal with why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Shift In Approach, I spoke about just how and why I made a decision to transform my motor home blog into mostly a newsletter. I decided that was business design I wished to seek with that building.
However, to purposefully pursue it as an e-newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Happily recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, frankly, using it for newsletters is a little a waste. Extra on that in a bit.
As I stated because concern of the newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools built into it specific to my function. Things such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog site) and send the email simultaneously without having it be 2 separate actions.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promo in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are ways to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I pick to generate income from with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features focused on development. The platform was actually constructed by the people that accumulated the innovation for Morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor below. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the purpose of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I finished off with this:.
I may without a doubt be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv also. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went for it. And actually, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s very own residential or commercial property to ensure that I can grow it a lot more purposefully as well.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown independently. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so very easy to transition. Yet, The Morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff 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 always be closely connected with the Blog site Marketing Academy, however does not have to belong of it.
I changed 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 simply an e-mail checklist.
You can hold your e-mail listing anywhere you desire 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 primary distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting suggests that it is mosting likely to your internet site and to your email clients concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are publishing to that web site. However, you are likewise sending to all clients at the same time. The web site and it’s clients are all in one. This makes monitoring of the system much less complex.
With a lot of email systems, any type of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is built entirely individually from your site. So, for example, you could release a post to WordPress but then you would require to individually construct and send an e-mail to your list to send it to subscribers. These are then two separate collections of archives and 2 separate actions since post and your emails are not naturally connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a true e-newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name because it practically “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress articles and allows them to be the very same thing. Definitely, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong choice if I wished to continue to self-host whatever. Nevertheless, you ‘d shed the development devices that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally includes a different set of demands than a typical email listing.
You do not generally require much marketing automation. You do not generally require autoresponder sequences, event tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO demand, however, is one seamless publishing experience and development tools to help you develop your subscriber base that are specific to e-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 people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I picked to select BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I think Substack draws. As a matter of fact, since Substack has actually been about much longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple points that initially got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to e-newsletter publishers. Actually, it is literally built by the same folks that developed the modern technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. Yet, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter growth called me out over the even more common positioning of being a “developer”. Growth is what I have an interest in here.
- That branding and distinction likewise means that BeeHiiv has some fairly large brands and huge magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended more at solo developers. Once again, it simply informs me the customer avatar difference in between the two companies.
Sending our my newsletter using FluentCRM didn’t exactly draw. The only reason I would consider drinking things up is if I assumed I can expand the checklist quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I really don’t view BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more straight competitors.
Yet, let’s dive deeper than simply the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv feels like it was developed by people that recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems a lot more tailored toward makers.
For example, BeeHiiv offers custom-made areas on clients. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a whole lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still quite limited in triggers and the only action is the capability to send out an e-mail. However, improvements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will have brand-new triggers as well as new actions, such as changing custom-made fields, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations just considering that I started utilizing the system. As an example:
- Capability to activate automations based upon which details embed type they can be found in on.
- Ability to instantly do re-engagement (and handle individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do fundamental conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can’t do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack just would not think to approach this like an email online marketer.
When it concerns writing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply extra geared toward e-newsletters. In fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it functions. I locate it to be much more instinctive, directly.
Substack’s creating user interface behaves and clean, however it would certainly be much more equivalent to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is greater than just form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and after that put anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Visibility options on that section to show it just to paid subscribers, hide it from e-mail, hide from subscribers, reveal just to customers, and so on. Substack uses absolutely nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a costs registration version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any revenue. As a matter of fact, you literally attach approximately your very own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your earnings. Relying on the amount of customers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit more cash than the monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This could appear unpopular, however what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv work with the outdoors utilizing tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack essentially has … absolutely nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
Generally, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more developed towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was constructed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in types and the landing page creates seem better developed for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv include, I like the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually claimed, Substack positions itself toward “developers” more than e-mail online marketers and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some things tailored extra toward people that simply believe in regards to web content development.
For instance, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous magazines, they are treated quite separately. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to multiple publications at the same time. This isn’t something I need, but … trendy for people who could need it.
Substack also has more social performance built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host chats with clients. It also has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. On the whole, Substack is set up to be a lot more like a social network which sustains long-form web content.
Overall, Substack is also more … minimalist. You either take care of that or do not. Personally, I do not. However, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions rather well.
However, I’ll be clear below …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t think there’s much question that BeeHiiv is better fit. I searched for more points that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, yet frankly … I have a tough time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are usually via to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are pursuing the very same target market and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is also positioned at designers (like Substack), but it is much more highly catering to people that do it for business. ConvertKit has good aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own business system, and a lot more. ConvertKit is a truly good system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is popular currently. But, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has much more adaptability when it comes to it’s automations. I will certainly additionally say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit much more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains marking. This is simply a fundamental function of e-mail checklists that allows segmentation in a much more adaptable way than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain identifying eventually soon, truthfully. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Segmentation Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does currently give the capacity to market points via their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would certainly always select an extra direct alternative anyway. For me, I favor to utilize my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about a lot longer and therefore has way extra integration alternatives. Lots of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For example, their plugin now even supports member-gated web content in addition to auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. In essence, this extra carefully puts ConvertKit right into direct competitors by having you have the ability to release to your site and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is seriously doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations right now. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also active dealing with the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with advantages, but you can also pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your checklist. These are actually incredible features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you know ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of the most well known viral promotion systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall for what this indicates for the system moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Segmentation Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is a lot previously 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. Nonetheless, it also implies that they are swiftly establishing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have seen virtually weekly launch of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … however huge features that are quite crucial. Their rate of growth at this moment has actually gone over.
I additionally quite value just how responsive they are. Actually, one of their item announcements concerning some style enhancements to the website design features in fact had a small issue with the material width. I just responded to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That same day, the problem was repaired.
Couple of days later on, I gave them an additional suggestion …
Certainly, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to trigger automations based on the embed form made use of was added to the system.
That type of responsiveness and direct involvement of the team is something I actually appreciate.
Another significant point of differentiation right here is the price. Both platforms use free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan supplies more capacity and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also even more desirable. ConvertKit appears less expensive in the beginning look because their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, however the customer restrictions are much reduced and your cost swiftly increases as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your initial level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That same dimension listing is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I personally utilize), you can expand your checklist approximately 100,000. A checklist of that dimension would certainly 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, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally various organization when it concerns pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately enhance rates? They may as time takes place. But, I’m guessing individuals like myself who 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 most definitely need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do seem to develop instead rapidly and make brand-new product statements rather typically, however there are some basic features I actually want they had that I require to simply await.
One is that they require to have a setup on registration forms where I could pick an automation to run right at the type level. That would certainly be outstanding for numerous reasons. Currently, registration types look OK, however there’s really little settings for them to aid in division.
It would certainly be nice to have tagging at the customer degree. This would certainly be powerful.
I think webhooks must belong to automations to make integrated automations easier and decrease dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some small administrative user interface changes that would certainly come in handy. For example:
- Ability to mass edit/remove customers.
- Capability to bulk edit blog posts (for instance, to tag a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of fundamental areas as conventional on customers (like the name).
- Some more modification alternatives for the web site (such as even more versatile shade choices, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Things I hope they do with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, but it isn’t ideal and certainly not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM product.
It probably never will certainly be, either. As I stated, the purpose is various so it would not much a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to become a full marketing automation system. I guess you never understand, though.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv fairly a great deal. Enough where I determined to switch my very own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and having my own platform.
Basically, for the e-newsletter publishing model especially, I saw enough value in their system to require the adjustment.
Keep in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my unique email listing. I use BeeHiiv for what it is proficient at, however I purposefully have things establish to ensure that I also keep my checklist “in house” inside of FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is just an excellent insurance plan, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your list will be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the question is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are making use of Substack right now, I ‘d most definitely think about changing to BeeHiiv. It will merely be much more business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and different requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import tools for Substack, so the button must be rather uncomplicated.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d most likely stay unless you have a large e-mail listing and are as a result being wooled with their high month-to-month costs. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating swiftly. There’s likewise a respectable opportunity you’re not even making use of several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. For that reason, BeeHiiv can quickly be a far better and much more inexpensive fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be really willful concerning expanding a newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE system to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is developed to be, it is just one of the very best video games around today. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves taking a look at for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll find the complimentary account to be rather feature rich.