beehiiv is at it again.
But first…
Does anyone here remember 1 Shopping Cart?
That was my first email service provider back in 2008.
The crazy thing?
Out of curiosity, I just went to their website, and it looks the same.
As it did in 2008!
And no, it’s not mobile-responsive (I figured I’d check since I was there).
What the bucket?!
I signed up for this because my coach at the time recommended it (and was also an affiliate).
There weren’t quite as many options as there are today. Since then I’ve used:
- Aweber
- Infusionsoft (Keap)
- ActiveCampaign
- SendFox
- Drip
- ConvertKit (duh, that’s where I am now)
- Klaviyo
- … and logged in and looked at lots more as they came out
The one thing that has always driven me a little nuts about ConvertKit is that it’s supposed to be a platform for creators, but it wasn’t until last year that we really saw additional features added to the email builder.
This last year and a half in the email and newsletter space has been fascinating.
- More newsletter growth
- More email platforms to choose from
- Newsletter & email communities for swapping, ads, etc.
- Massive growth in advertising opportunities
Just to name a few.
I’m still not sold on referral programs (like the Creator Network).
The two primary sources of unsubscribes on my list come from:
- An Active Campaign list import from 2017 (from my WPChick days)
- The Creator Network
While I’m super appreciative of anyone who recommends ✨the SPARK, it doesn’t really seem like it’s a solid long-term strategy for growing a list of engaged subscribers.
On one hand, it feels like low-hanging fruit, right?
Just focus on making sure there’s a solid follow-up sequence and improving conversions with that content.
On the other hand, why not focus on growth where subscribers individually choose to optin?
Where they have a better idea of who you are, what you do, and how you can help them.
Food for thought, isn’t it?
Especially when you consider that email marketing has the HIGHEST ROI of any marketing channel.
The referral method feels like one step forward, two steps back.
So, what is this “email wish” that’s coming true?
It looks like beehiiv is adding even more things that will make it more than just a newsletter platform.
It can be your email service provider as well.
From the time I found beehiiv (a year and a half ago?), I fell in love with it.
You know me; I’m all about the UI and how things look.
Plus, it’s SUPER creator-friendly.
Yes, they’re a newsletter platform with their own built-in referral program as well.
But they’re so much more.
In a recent conversation with the brilliant Jason Resnick, he shared a few things about beehiiv that made me jump for joy.
So I’m doing it.
I’m going to start the process of moving off of ConvertKit and onto beehiiv for all my email marketing.
I’ll be doing a few blog posts with videos to share this process.
Here’s what I’m looking at right now:
- Opt-in forms on my site. All of my optin forms on my site are built with ConvertBox. I should be able to simply change the integration from ConvertKit to HTML.
- Visual automations: which automations need to be moved from ConvertKit to beehiiv — and which ones need just to be deleted?
- Newsletter: Import all past issues of the SPARK (formerly #FtheHUSTLE) into beehiiv. *They’ve now got a WordPress plugin, so I may be able to do this from my website into beehiiv. But my guess is there’s another import option from CK into beehiiv).
- Other integrations: making sure beehiiv is integrated with HighLevel where I have my courses and community. This should just be a simple Zapier integration.
I’ll go into more depth in the posts and videos, so stay tuned for that.
The opt-in forms have been my biggest concern (there’s a good amount of content on my site), but being able to swap the integration in ConvertBox means I don’t need to touch the opt-ins on my site. 🥳
This is step one.
Making sure what I want to do is doable, and works.
And if you’re still on the fence about newsletters, here’s a great “2024 State of Email Newsletters by beehiiv.”
Newsletters remind me of podcasts.
It might seem like the market is saturated, or no one needs “another newsletter.”
Two things to keep in mind:
- YOU are what makes your content unique; don’t worry about the market being saturated.
- Most people don’t stick with it
I’m hoping this will only take 3 phases.
- Making sure everything works the way I need it to (setting up integrations)
- Moving everything
- Creating new automations & segments
Might be a little bit of a pain in the arse, but it’s work I’m willing to do.
