I’m on Medium, Substack, Ghost and Beehiiv. I like them all, but for me Beehiiv has the best potential. However, I believe in remaining on all because it’s hedging my bets. On Medium I have a solid following and steady income. So I treat Medium as the short game, the benefits are in the here and now. The others are the long game and will take time to show results. I have had a little bite on Substack and on Beehiiv, which gives me all I need to go forward. Good luck. For what its worth here are my non Medium/Substack sites;
This is helpful for newbies trying to decide. I had no idea how to start a newsletter, and wasted hours, no days, MONTHS comparing, and was left more confused. A friend said she used Substack, so I just went with that. Looks like Beehiv is a good choice, too. I actually like the relative limitations of site design on Substack, it emphasizes quality content over flashy interactive graphics.
Beehiiv is not a good choice. See my comment below. It's just the most well-branded because it has the most VC money. Lennysnewsletter.com -- the highest paid, biggest business newsletter operates on Substack.
I'm curious why you didn't use Ghost? I know there are a number of people that use that over WordPress. Also there are Substackers that switch to Ghost. Not saying one is better than the other. Just wondering since you didn't mention why you didn't go that route. 😃
I know. It sounds interesting though as you pointed out it's got it's downsides. It really is about what your goals for your site/blog/newsletter is that decides it.
Not that I'm doing a magazine like you, but I've been curious about these too. I've been thinking of making a website to consolidate my online work/presence. I've assumed I'll be using WP, but I've been curious about Ghost and Beehiiv as alternatives. Though I'm already thinking if I don't go with WP it's Ghost.
Ghost and Beehiiv are blogging platforms. WordPress.org and Elementor Pro page builder plugin allow you to have a truly customizable, well-designed website that's aesthetically pleasing. You are limited by a small amount of templates that are not as customizable with these other platforms.
WordPress powers 43.7% of all websites as their CMS. Around 488.6 million websites are built on WordPress. WordPress dominates the CMS market with a 62.2% share.
This ebook / course I made back in the day that I share for free (no email gate) now, but there's a huge section on WordPress.org. Search for "WordPress" and it should take you right to it. Most tutorials don't teach you how to use a specific theme, making learning really hard.
I'm a software engineer by trade, or I was, or whatever. I've used everything you listed here except Beehiiv, and now because you've asked this I'm looking for utilities like hootsuite, but... for more sophisticated content.
I haven't found any comprehensive integration tool yet but I'm pretty sure that this could be accomplished with a reasonable amount of swearing via Zapier
Also, to operate a WordPress site each month, it's extremely cost-effective. It costs $2.99/mo at Hostinger for unlimited WP sites, and then plugins are a ONE-TIME fee, not monthly recurring costs.
I read your entire article, and as someone who's built WordPress.org websites, using Elementor, it sounds like you're a novice to the CMS.
First and foremost, a CMS and website builder are not the same thing. WordPress.org is a CMS and something like Beehiiv is a website builder, if you could even call it that.
Second, widgets are not the same as plugins, yet you're using them interchangeably. You actually don't need a lot of plugins if you have the right theme or Elementor Pro.
Third, I have to disagree completely with you on Beehiiv being the best option. I tested it, building my own "website" on it for a weekend, and it looked like crap, and again, I've been building beautiful blogs and websites for the last 14+ years.
I do agree that you should own your own website for numerous reasons, and syndicate (it's called syndication) across platforms.
Beehiiv offers nothing important that Substack doesn't, and it is not simple to use. Quite the contrary. In fact, I would argue that if you're writing text-based emails, which is what everyone should be doing as opposed to HTML in 2024-5, then Substack is much simpler to setup, and smarter, as its completely free.
You can also use something like Passionfroot to get a built-in ad network for a hell of a lot cheaper than Beehiiv's basic plan at $89/month.
I don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you're new to the online publishing world, because a lot of what you say is actually inaccurate and uses the wrong terms, telling me you don't understand all of these platforms enough to really be writing a long-form piece telling people what to use.
I’ve been following your content for a while and somehow managed to see nothing about this. I will definitely be looking to learn more
It's currently a soft launch.
I’m on Medium, Substack, Ghost and Beehiiv. I like them all, but for me Beehiiv has the best potential. However, I believe in remaining on all because it’s hedging my bets. On Medium I have a solid following and steady income. So I treat Medium as the short game, the benefits are in the here and now. The others are the long game and will take time to show results. I have had a little bite on Substack and on Beehiiv, which gives me all I need to go forward. Good luck. For what its worth here are my non Medium/Substack sites;
driveonline.beehiiv.com
yachts-ahoy.beehiiv.com
thehumanconnection.beehiiv.com
The Opus Connection
This is helpful for newbies trying to decide. I had no idea how to start a newsletter, and wasted hours, no days, MONTHS comparing, and was left more confused. A friend said she used Substack, so I just went with that. Looks like Beehiv is a good choice, too. I actually like the relative limitations of site design on Substack, it emphasizes quality content over flashy interactive graphics.
I do strive to be helpful!
Beehiiv is not a good choice. See my comment below. It's just the most well-branded because it has the most VC money. Lennysnewsletter.com -- the highest paid, biggest business newsletter operates on Substack.
I'm curious why you didn't use Ghost? I know there are a number of people that use that over WordPress. Also there are Substackers that switch to Ghost. Not saying one is better than the other. Just wondering since you didn't mention why you didn't go that route. 😃
I never gave it a try tbh. I kept hearing about Beehiiv though
I know. It sounds interesting though as you pointed out it's got it's downsides. It really is about what your goals for your site/blog/newsletter is that decides it.
Agreed. I was expecting to expand a lot more on WP but I’m now not sure.
Not that I'm doing a magazine like you, but I've been curious about these too. I've been thinking of making a website to consolidate my online work/presence. I've assumed I'll be using WP, but I've been curious about Ghost and Beehiiv as alternatives. Though I'm already thinking if I don't go with WP it's Ghost.
Ghost and Beehiiv are blogging platforms. WordPress.org and Elementor Pro page builder plugin allow you to have a truly customizable, well-designed website that's aesthetically pleasing. You are limited by a small amount of templates that are not as customizable with these other platforms.
WordPress powers 43.7% of all websites as their CMS. Around 488.6 million websites are built on WordPress. WordPress dominates the CMS market with a 62.2% share.
Because they have the MOST funding from the biggest VC companies.
I hope it’s going to be Dave Ramsey for Non-Assholes.
I have lots to say about money. I say some of it on Untrickled. I’ve got lots more to cover!
Do you consult? I need some help and would love to work with you.
Read my comment below before you dive in. This is not totally accurate.
I could never, EVER figure out Wordpress. I'm glad it wasn't just me.
I'm a former software engineering major. It gives me a toothache. The UX is that bad.
I feel better now!
It depends on the theme.
Even the simplest Wordpress was like dropping me in the jungle at night without water or a compass and telling me to find my way out.
This ebook / course I made back in the day that I share for free (no email gate) now, but there's a huge section on WordPress.org. Search for "WordPress" and it should take you right to it. Most tutorials don't teach you how to use a specific theme, making learning really hard.
Maybe this will help. It's taught with the Jupiter theme, which didn't have Elementor at the time >> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jnPN6u90BWhzGLnBjQSw15UTqxyMhZFRvhEVMVabc_c/edit?usp=sharing
I'm a software engineer by trade, or I was, or whatever. I've used everything you listed here except Beehiiv, and now because you've asked this I'm looking for utilities like hootsuite, but... for more sophisticated content.
Beehiiv has a WP upload widget I have yet to try out
I haven't found any comprehensive integration tool yet but I'm pretty sure that this could be accomplished with a reasonable amount of swearing via Zapier
Also, to operate a WordPress site each month, it's extremely cost-effective. It costs $2.99/mo at Hostinger for unlimited WP sites, and then plugins are a ONE-TIME fee, not monthly recurring costs.
I read your entire article, and as someone who's built WordPress.org websites, using Elementor, it sounds like you're a novice to the CMS.
First and foremost, a CMS and website builder are not the same thing. WordPress.org is a CMS and something like Beehiiv is a website builder, if you could even call it that.
Second, widgets are not the same as plugins, yet you're using them interchangeably. You actually don't need a lot of plugins if you have the right theme or Elementor Pro.
Third, I have to disagree completely with you on Beehiiv being the best option. I tested it, building my own "website" on it for a weekend, and it looked like crap, and again, I've been building beautiful blogs and websites for the last 14+ years.
I do agree that you should own your own website for numerous reasons, and syndicate (it's called syndication) across platforms.
Beehiiv offers nothing important that Substack doesn't, and it is not simple to use. Quite the contrary. In fact, I would argue that if you're writing text-based emails, which is what everyone should be doing as opposed to HTML in 2024-5, then Substack is much simpler to setup, and smarter, as its completely free.
You can also use something like Passionfroot to get a built-in ad network for a hell of a lot cheaper than Beehiiv's basic plan at $89/month.
I don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you're new to the online publishing world, because a lot of what you say is actually inaccurate and uses the wrong terms, telling me you don't understand all of these platforms enough to really be writing a long-form piece telling people what to use.
Also, if anyone wants to learn WP, here's a beginner guide from my old course. COMPLETELY FREE AND UNGATED. >> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jnPN6u90BWhzGLnBjQSw15UTqxyMhZFRvhEVMVabc_c/edit?usp=sharing