How to Create Engaging Newsletters with Beehiiv
Updated: Nov 4, 2024
Email newsletters can be a powerful tool for engaging your audience and driving traffic and sales. However, creating visually appealing, effective newsletters takes time and skill. That's where Beehiiv comes in.
Beehiiv is a user-friendly newsletter creator that makes it easy for anyone to create professional, engaging email newsletters - no design or coding skills required.
The rise of digital communication has made staying in touch with customers and readers easier than ever.
Email newsletters, in particular, are a great way to distribute content, promote products and services and build relationships. However, creating engaging, professional-looking newsletters takes skill and the right tools. Whether you’re just getting started with email marketing or looking to improve your existing newsletters, you’ll find practical advice to create newsletters that convert.
In this guide, we'll explain step-by-step how to use Beehiiv to quickly build eye-catching newsletters that convert. We'll cover:
Benefits of Using Beehiiv for Newsletters
Beehiiv Features and Pricing Plans
Getting Started with Beehiiv
Selecting a Template and Layout
Adding Your Branding and Assets
Creating Effective Newsletter Content
Optimizing Newsletter Delivery and Automation
Analytics and Optimization With Beehiiv
By the end of this guide, you'll understand how to fully leverage Beehiiv's capabilities to craft compelling newsletters that grow your business and keep your audience engaged over the long term.
Why Email Newsletters Are Important
In an increasingly noisy digital landscape, email remains one of the most effective channels for reaching target audiences. Consider these email newsletter benefits:
Higher open and click-through rates compared to other channels
Email achieves conversion rates 3x higher than Facebook and Twitter. With standout creativity and messaging, newsletters can drive even better results.
Direct access to subscriber inboxes
Newsletters enable direct conversations with subscribers without algorithmic barriers or gatekeepers. This allows for more meaningful relationships.
Cost-effective promotion and lead generation
Sending emails only incurs a small cost for the newsletter software itself. Nurturing subscribers via email is much less expensive than paid ads yet still delivers results.
Brand building and loyalty development
Consistently valuable, relevant content builds trust and affinity over time. Newsletters give control over branding and messaging.
Flexibility across devices and contexts
Readers can engage with newsletters via web browsers, mobile devices, email clients, and more. Content is readily accessible whenever and wherever readers have downtime.
The value of owning the subscriber relationship via email cannot be overstated. Newsletters represent the most direct conduit to providing utility to audiences. But crafting messages and designs that truly resonate takes skill.
Related Topics:
SEE MORE AI TOOLS YOU SHOULD BE USING
How To Create Engaging, Effective Email Newsletters
Great email newsletters don’t happen by accident. Thought and care must go into every aspect - from structuring content to choosing visuals and calls to action. Apply these email newsletter best practices:
Conduct subscriber research
Before putting newsletter concepts together, gather feedback from prospective readers through surveys, interviews, and examining analytics from your website or existing marketing channels. Understand reader pains and needs.
Establish a clear purpose
Declare the core goal and value proposition upfront. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Niche down to serve a specific function for readers.
Implement sound email design principles
Layout, creative assets, and copy all contribute to engagement. Balance simplicity and attractive visuals in line with principles from direct response experts like Eugene Schwartz.
Curate meaningful content
Adapt evergreen blog posts or develop newsletter-specific articles that provide true utility to readers. Production value matters in content creation.
Automate when possible
Save time by using email service provider workflows and pre-built templates. Automated welcome emails, behavioural targeting, and event-triggered campaigns are also best practices.
Make calls-to-action prominent
Whether leading readers to educational content or product pages, clearly direct them to the next steps via buttons, banner links, and copy. Track CTA performance.
Continuously test and optimize
Subject lines, send times, content types, layouts, and more can be A/B tested to improve open, click-through, and conversion rates over time. Experimentation fuels growth.
Having addressed best practices, let’s examine one of the top newsletter creation platforms - Beehiiv.
Introducing Beehiiv - A Powerful Newsletter Builder
Beehiiv is an intuitive cloud-based newsletter editor that empowers bloggers, small businesses, agencies and publishers to create beautiful, engaging email newsletters at scale.
Key Features of Beehiiv
Key features include:
Hundreds of professionally designed templates
Choose from a diverse set of mobile-optimized templates across dozens of niches to save time on layouts. You can also build custom templates from scratch.
Drag-and-drop builder
Easily populate templates with text, images, buttons and dividers via an intuitive editor interface. Copy and paste from Word without hassle.
Audience management and segmentation
Send the right messages to the right groups by tagging subscribers and deploying targeted campaigns.
Real-time Preview
Instantly see how newsletter campaigns render across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices through the live preview.
Collaboration tools
Grant editor access to colleagues to enable working on campaigns together for faster content creation.
Automation
Schedule sends, trigger behavioural campaigns based on user engagement, and deploy lifecycle automation to continually nurture subscribers.
Delivery and Security
Leading deliverability features like inbox detection, SOC 2 compliance and sender reputation monitoring ensure that newsletters reliably reach subscriber inboxes.
Campaign Calendars and Scheduling
Schedule exactly when your newsletters should be sent and set up automated email sequences. This helps improve open and clickthrough rates.
Robust Delivery and Analytics
Maximize newsletter deliverability with advanced tools. Track open, clickthrough and conversion rates to continuously optimize performance. A/B testing is also available.
Teams and White Label Options
Invite your team to collaborate. Or opt for a custom-branded white-label solution.
And So Much More!
With support for pop-ups, coupon codes, social sharing and more - Beehiiv has everything you need for email marketing success.
Beehiiv simplifies building beautiful, high-converting email newsletters. And thanks to its generous free plan, it’s easy to get started regardless of budget size. Next, let’s walk through getting started with Beehiiv hands-on.
For the full range of features, see Beehiiv's pricing plans below.
Now let's look at how Beehiiv can help you quickly build beautiful, high-converting newsletters.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Creating a Newsletter with Beehiiv
Signing up for Beehiiv only takes a minute. And thanks to its user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, you can start creating professional newsletters faster than you might think. Here is an overview of the process:
1. Sign up for a free Beehiiv account
Head to www.beehiiv.com and enter your name and email address. Click the confirmation link in the email they send, then set a password. You now have access to the newsletter builder.
2. Select a Ready-Made Template
Beehiiv offers beautifully crafted templates for every niche - from personal blogs to retail promos. Browse categories like “Blog” and "Fashion” to find a template that matches your brand style. Click your selection to open the editor.
3. Customize the Template Design
Add colours, fonts and borders that reflect your brand identity via the style editing menu on the left. Change layout column widths too. Swap header images by clicking on the current graphic.
4. Insert Your Content Sections
Replace the default text by clicking on sections. Paste from Word docs and Google Docs with images embedded or drag new images onto the page from your computer. Insert buttons, shape dividers, and more via the left toolbar.
5. Connect Your Email Service & Import Contacts
Link email services like MailChimp easily under Connect > Email Service. Select Contacts to import your subscribers' list via CSV. Manage contacts with tags for segmentation too.
6. Set Up Automation
Decide how and when to deploy your newsletter from the top Automation tab. Schedule one-off sends or trigger-based recipient behaviour. Powerful!
7. Preview Across Devices
See how everything will look on mobile, tablet and desktop via the top device preview options. Make any last tweaks necessary to ensure great responsive design.
8. Send Your Broadcast
When the design is complete, enter your subject line and email body intro. Press Send Broadcast to queue messages for delivery based on your selected automation settings.
And that’s it! Beehiiv makes light work of creating stunning newsletters. And it connects seamlessly with all major email service providers to handle sending reliably at scale.
Now that you’re familiar with general email marketing best practices and Beehiiv’s user-friendly editor, you have everything you need to start building high-performing newsletters. So dive in and start creating! Experiment with layouts, test content types and analyze the results. Staying closely connected with your audience via rich, relevant newsletters over the long term is sure to prove rewarding.
Beehiiv's Pricing Plans for Every Stage of Newsletter Growth
Launching and growing a successful email newsletter takes strategy and the right tools. Beehiiv offers tiered pricing plans to match the needs of newsletters at every stage - from just getting started to reaching hundreds of thousands of subscribers.
1. LAUNCH - $0/Month
The Launch plan is perfect for testing the newsletter waters with no commitment. You get:
Up to 2,500 subscribers
Unlimited sends
Web hosting
Custom newsletters
Campaign analytics
Recommendation network
Optimized deliverability
Launch is completely free for 30 days with no credit card required. If you decide to continue, this plan remains at $0/month.
2. GROW - $42/Month When Billed Annually
Once your newsletter gains traction, upgrade to the Grow plan for more features and up to 10,000 subscribers. Grow includes everything in Launch Plus:
Custom domains
Premium subscriptions
Audience segments
Polls and survey forms
Multiple team members
API Access
Exclusive community
You still get a 30-day free trial period for Grow.
3. SCALE - $84/Month When Billed Annually
Ready to take your newsletter to the next level? The Scale plan supports up to 100,000 subscribers with advanced features like:
Automation
Ad network
Segment publishing
Referral programs
Priority support
The 30-day free trial applies to Scale as well.
4. ENTERPRISE - Contact Sales
Large newsletters can benefit from Beehiiv's customized Enterprise plans, which offer:
Unlimited subscribers
Dedicated account manager
Early feature access
Advanced deliverability
Newsletter strategy coaching
Get in touch with the sales team to create a custom Enterprise solution.
No matter the size and growth goals for your newsletter, Beehiiv has a pricing plan that will empower your publication to find more readers and thrive. Start a free trial today to launch your newsletter!
Getting Started with Beehiiv
Signing up for Beehiiv is fast and straightforward. Just head to Beehiiv.com and click Get Started.
Choose whether you want to start your 30-day free trial or go straight to selecting a paid plan.
💡 Tip: Take advantage of the free trial first to experience Beehiiv before paying. You still get access to all Pro plan features.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Enter your name and email and set a password. You can optionally enable single sign-on with Google/Office 365 if configured for your domain.
Accept the terms and click Create Account.
Step 2: Set Up Branding
Next, Beehiiv lets you configure top-level branding settings that will apply across your newsletters. Here you can:
Select your logo - The recommended size is 300x100 px or a 1:3 aspect ratio.
Pick primary brand colours - Choose distinct colours that match the logo.
Add header/footer snippets - Enter any HTML/text you want added sitewide.
Add default sender details - Sender name and email.
The Beehiiv team has guides for properly formatting images and coding snippets.
Once your branding basics are set up, click Continue.
And that's it - your new Beehiiv account is ready to start cranking out newsletters!
Later you can access Settings in the main menu to tweak branding, add staff accounts, configure domains etc. But for now, let's build our first newsletter.
Selecting a Template and Layout
One of Beehiiv's biggest strengths is its gallery of aesthetically pleasing newsletter templates. With just a few clicks you can apply a professionally designed look to your email.
Browse Template Categories
From Beehiiv's blank Email Editor screen, click Templates in the left menu. Or click the templates icon from the top toolbar.
You'll first see Featured templates, then categories like:
Welcome Series
Promotional
Lead Nurturing
Holiday
And lots more!
The templates are beautifully categorized and tagged, making it easy to spot options fitting your brand.
Preview and Apply Template
When you see a template you like, hover over it and click the View Demo icon for a live preview.
You'll see exactly how that template layout looks configured for a sample brand, including different content blocks and sections.
Once you find the perfect design, click Use Template to add it to your workspace. All the text, images and structural elements carry over.
💡 Pro Tip: Still not finding that perfect template? With Beehiiv Plus/Enterprise you get 1-on-1 design services to create fully custom templates.
Tweaking the Layout
If needed, it's easy to tweak your selected template's layout right inside the editor.
With Beehiiv's drag-and-drop functionality, you can easily:
Reorder sections
Add/delete columns
Resize content blocks and columns
Move elements around
Plus quickly edit text, change fonts, apply colors etc.
Now let's focus on...
Adding Your Branding and Assets
A template may have temporary placeholder assets. To make the newsletter distinctly yours, swap these out with your own branded elements.
Insert Logo
Every great email newsletter displays your recognizable logo prominently.
Click the Assets icon (cloud symbol) in the sidebar. Select your uploaded logo file and it will automatically embed at the perfect size wherever the template has a logo placeholder.
💡 Tip: For complete custom control, click and drag your logo file directly onto the canvas.Position/resize on any template area.
Integrate Brand Colors
Does your template use some mismatched colours?
In the design panel click on any element to open formatting options. Under the paint bucket, choose colours from your defined brand palette.
Beehiiv will strategically match shades from your logo across all sections.
Add Brand Imagery
Overlay or switch any template photos to ones depicting your products, services and visual identity.
From Assets quickly upload fresh photos right into image placeholders. Customize dimensions as needed.
Showcase Social Channels
Directing readers to your social profiles builds familiarity.
Click Add Element then drag over the Social Share block, placing links for visitors to follow.
That covers the key aspects of infusing your brand into the newsletter template.
Now let's focus on creating compelling content...
Creating Effective Newsletter Content
You selected a visually captivating newsletter template. But without intriguing content, readers will quickly tune out.
Here are tips on crafting emails that captivate and convert.
Informative, Engaging Subject Lines
A subject line preview in the subscriber's inbox determines if your entire message gets read.
Some best practices for irresistible subject lines:
Speak to reader benefits - Frame the value they'll receive, like "10 Easy Apple Pie Recipes for Fall".
Spark curiosity - Ask interesting questions or start headlines with "whenever", "why" etc.
Urgency and scarcity - Discount expiration dates, limited inventory etc can compel opens. But don't overdo urgency.
Reader-focused personalization - "Sarah, tips for your ski trip" outperforms generic lines.
Always A/B test a few subject line variants to determine which resonates most.
Layout Content in Clear Block Sections
Strategically break up blocks of heavy text using Beehiiv's containers, dividers and columns for enhanced readability.
Style and colour code each section - e.g. blue for headers, green for quotes. This creates visual delineation as readers scroll through your email.
Balance Text, Visuals and White Space
Embed relevant photos, graphics, icons and videos throughout to complement blocks of text.
But don't cram too many images together or clutter space. Use Beehiiv's grid, margins and image sizing settings to distribute visual elements evenly.
The most compelling newsletters strike an ideal balance of text, graphics and breathing room.
Write Conversational, Scannable Copy
In our busy world, most subscribers won't thoroughly read every word you write. Instead, they opportunistically scan for information relevant to their needs.
That's why your copy should use:
Conversational tone - Use natural language, not overly salesy. Imagine speaking one-on-one to convey helpful advice.
Short paragraphs - 2-4 sentences max.
Bold key phrases - Call attention to critical points.
Numbered lists - Help readers rapidly scan key takeaways.
Descriptive headers - Use clear headings summing up the following paragraphs.
These tactics allow your content to shine through even during quick scans.
Lead With Value, Close With a Clear CTA
What's your one desired reader takeaway or action?
Open sections by highlighting useful tips or exclusive deals that make readers feel rewarded for their attention.
Then conclude with a concrete call to action:
Click to access the cheat sheet
15% off special promotion
Register for upcoming webinar
Visually emphasize these CTAs with contrasting buttons/colours provided in Beehiiv templates.
Now let's look at effectively getting all that amazing content out to subscribers...
Optimizing Newsletter Delivery and Automation
You crafted a visually engaging newsletter packed with valuable insights. But none of that matters if it never makes it to subscribers' inboxes.
Beehiiv provides extensive tools to facilitate smooth newsletter delivery, scheduling and automation.
Step 1: Import Subscriber Lists
First, grow your recipient pool by importing email lists.
In the Beehiiv sidebar, click Contacts then Import Contacts:
Manually - Copy/paste contacts from Excel or other sources.
Using Forms - Automate list growth via pop-up/embedded forms.
Integrations - Connect platforms like MailChimp to import existing subscribers.
Email deliverability strengthens as your lists expand, so consolidate all contacts.
Step 2: Segment and Tag Subscribers
One mass newsletter blast won't resonate equally with every diverse subscriber.
Under Contacts, group together recipients sharing common traits like:
Customer lifecycle stage
Purchase history
Interest areas
Tag individuals matching each segment criteria.
You can then target emails to each group's unique needs and preferences for better relevancy and response.
Step 3: Set Up Campaigns and Automated Workflows
Devise customized sequences to automatically deploy the right newsletter to the right segments at the optimal times.
For example, configure workflows to:
Welcome new subscribers
Send post-purchase followups
Promote seasonal deals
Re-engage cold leads
Workflows are easily adjustable to coordinate sending with events like sign-ups, clicks, purchases and more.
Step 4: Schedule Campaigns
With your segments, tags and sequences established, deploy newsletter campaigns on a timeline engineered to maximize open and click-through rates.
It's been statistically shown that emails sent on certain days/times fare better, depending on subscriber habits.
For each campaign, designate the ideal delivery date/time per audience segment's persona. Continually refine based on performance.
That covers the key steps to get your message out. Next, let's review analytics so you can double down on what works.
Analytics and Optimization With Beehiiv
It's crucial to continually track newsletter analytics so you can tweak and improve based on real data.
Monitor Key Metrics
Start by tracking top-level engagement and conversion metrics under Beehiiv's Reports:
Open rates - Percentage of recipients opening. Shoot for 20-50%.
Clickthrough rates- Percentage clicking links. Benchmark around 2-5%.
Bounces - Emails failed to be delivered due to invalid addresses. Keep under 2%.
Unsubscribes - Recipients choosing to opt-out. Try minimizing.
Compare performance across campaigns and segments to identify your optimal configurations.
Dig Into Audience Insights
Under Contacts, click individual subscribers to access a 360-degree activity timeline showing their engagement with every email.
This reveals insights like:
Do more opens correlate with higher sales conversions?
What message types and topics drive the most clicks?
Are subscribers more responsive after X number of sends?
Inform segmentation and workflows to align with these findings.
Run A/B Tests
To determine the impact of isolating certain variables, set up A/B tests.
Send one version of a newsletter to a randomized test group, and a slightly modified variant to others.
For example test:
Subject line phrasing
Different calls to action
Earlier vs later delivery times
Any measurable difference in open or clickthrough rates will empirically highlight which version resonates best with each audience.
Beehiiv: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are 15 FAQs with answers on how to create engaging newsletters with Beehiiv:
What types of content work well in a newsletter?
Useful tips, compelling stories, behind-the-scenes info, stats/data, interviews, personalized recommendations, and visuals like photos, videos, or graphics.
How often should I send my newsletter?
It depends on your niche but weekly or monthly tends to work well for most newsletters. Send consistently on the same day(s).
How do I get more subscribers?
Promote your signup form via social media, website banners/popups, word-of-mouth, and integrations with other services. Offer incentives for subscribing.
What's the best way to format my newsletter?
Use a simple, consistent layout focused on scannability - headlines, subheads, bullets, highlights, short paragraphs, images and varied fonts/sizes.
How do I improve click rates?
Use specific, benefit-driven subject lines. Include "You" and "Free". Make the first sentences catchy to pull readers in.
How long should my newsletters be?
300-500 words is a good target. Break up lengthy content with visuals.
How do I pick the right email platform?
Choose one with the features you need at your budget level like templates, analytics, automation, integrations, etc. Beehiiv is very beginner-friendly.
How do I avoid landing in spam folders?
Follow deliverability best practices, get subscribers to add/confirm signups, avoid flagged words and keep emails personalized.
How can I segment my list?
Group similar subscribers using tags, behaviours like links clicked, or personal details provided to better target content.
What metrics should I track?
Open rates, CTRs, subscriber growth, email client data, links clicked, and unsubscribe rates are critical. Set goals.
How do I encourage sharing?
Include prominent social share buttons and verbiage, shareable/snackable info, personalized subject lines and email teasers.
How do I get to know my audience?
Use surveys or polls, monitor conversations and comments and review analytics to gauge interests and engagement. Modify accordingly.
What makes subject lines effective?
Specificity, curiosity gap style questions, urgency, social proof, personalization, numbers, seasons or holidays.
How can I automate parts of my workflow?
Set up triggers for welcome emails, anniversary messages, re-engagement campaigns, series emails, and notifications.
What integrations will help grow my list?
Strong choices are social media, website, e-commerce platforms, affiliate tools, ad platforms and other newsletters for cross-promotion.
People also ask
What is Beehiiv used for?
How do you make money on Beehiiv?
How many users does Beehiiv have?
How does Beehiiv boost work?
Can I use beehiiv as a blog?
Who is the founder of beehiiv?
Does beehiiv give you a website?
Can you sell products on beehiiv?
What app makes you earn money?
Is beehiiv better than ConvertKit?
What is the difference between beehiiv and Substack?
How do I create a newsletter on beehiiv?
How does boosting the site work?
What does match boost do?
How can I make $100 on my blog?
How can I monetize my blog in Nigeria?
How to earn $1,000 from a blog?
Does beehiiv have automation?
Does beehiiv have landing pages?
Does beehiiv have templates?
How do I add ads to my newsletter?
How do I get ads in my newsletter?
Does Beehiiv have newsletter templates?
FinalThought: Go Forth and Optimize with Beehiiv!
And that wraps up our step-by-step guide on creating captivating, high-converting newsletters with Beehiiv!
Email newsletters remain one of the most powerful channels for engaging audiences and driving conversions. By applying the tips in this guide, implementing a tool like Beehiiv, and continually optimizing your efforts, you can develop subscriber relationships that anchor the long-term success of your brand or business. Meet subscriber needs with consistent value and watch your open, click and conversion metrics climb.
To experience the platform's capabilities for yourself, get started on a free trial here. Require any assistance while evaluating Beehiiv? Contact their exceptional support team directly.
Best of luck as you reach your next marketing and revenue milestones with Beehiiv's email solutions! Let us know if you have any other questions.
Yorumlar