Why do you need a website builder for authors? 

Because the difference between a writer and an author is a platform. Writers write, but authors also share and claim their work. 

I’ve been a writer since I learned the magic of turning crayon scratches and paper into stories. Writing is a joy as well as a job — at least when it’s going well. 

Authorship is work. It comes with rewards. I experience a deep sense of satisfaction when readers engage with my words, but it requires conscious positioning of my work and chore-like upkeep.

For me, the best website builder for authors is beehiiv. I’d say so even if I weren’t being paid to write this article (though making money from your writing is a definite plus, more on that later).

beehiiv lets me build a community more reliably than social media and makes both launching and maintaining my work and website easy.

Here’s why I joined the hiiv and why I encourage other authors to do the same.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, the publishing world looks different than it did 10 years ago. The pandemic sped up certain trends, and people suddenly had a lot of free time. Books and blogs flooded the market, making it more competitive.

I needed to grow an audience and claim my corner of the internet — and I didn’t know about beehiiv yet. 

I required a website and turned to WordPress as the best-known option.

After my third WordPress-induced migraine, I should have changed course. Instead, I succumbed to the sunk-cost fallacy. I can’t stop now. I’ve already put so much time into this. Mistake.

It took me three days of full-time work to launch a bare-bones site. Then, I had to continually relearn how and where to adjust details and add content. 

During this journey, I also started posting bookish material on social media. While I wouldn’t call this “wasted” time, it was definitely time that could have been better spent.

Continual algorithm changes make it hard to develop an audience without putting in hours engaging with strangers’ accounts. 

Some novelists develop successful social media platforms with #Bookstagram or #Booktok. Those people like spending time on social media. I hate it.

Good news. You don’t need to be on social media to be a successful author, and you don’t need to master a content management system (CMS) like WordPress when there are great website builders available. 

With beehiiv, I can grow my reader base, monetize my hard work, and consistently publish new material to a central location. 

I chose beehiiv as the perfect platform to launch my new novel: Murder on the Aerial Express. (Agatha Christie gets a young adult, steampunk makeover.)

When I picked a new platform, two things topped my list. I needed something quick and easy to launch, and I also wanted everything in one place — from building a readership to posting updates.

beehiiv delivered on both.

Some website builders make you feel like you need to be a tech expert just to get started. I’ve been there, and it’s frustrating.

beehiiv made things simple. You just select a template, color palette, and typography. If you don’t have a set visual style, there are recommended combinations. 

After these three things, you can tweak layouts and individual design details if you desire. 

My site was live in about an hour.

The builder did more than save me time. It helped me keep my momentum. I didn’t get stuck setting things up, so I could focus on reaching readers right away.

All authors should have a newsletter for their fans, and I had a specific vision for mine.

I wanted to use a novel to grow a community of readers, publishing one chapter a week. There would be a free version and an enhanced digital edition that would require a premium subscription.

As a business model, this is nothing new. Charles Dickens was doing it long before anyone had heard of the “creator economy.”

Serial fiction has made a huge comeback with platforms like Wattpad and Royal Road making web novel publishing huge. Writers drop new chapters all the time, and readers jump in by the thousands.

These sites come with a lot of people who might stumble onto your work while browsing, but you also compete with lots of other writers, shifting site rules, and crowded feeds. 

With email, your content goes straight to your readers’ inboxes. There are also more options for making money from your articles or books. Moreover, your audience is invested. These are people who want to read what you write — not just passersby.

Not every website builder is a good fit for authors. 

If you’re juggling writing, editing, marketing, and more, you need a platform that brings things together. A shallow learning curve and growth tools are also necessities.

beehiiv is more than a place to post your work. It’s home to publications across all genres and interests. No matter your niche, you’ll find a network of like-minded writers.

The platform helps you connect with other creators, find new readers, and make the most of your writing.

beehiiv accounts come with multiple growth tools. You’ll have access to a huge recommendation network that enables you to find similar newsletters, add sign-up links to your site, and have them send their fans your way.

You can also use Boosts, which let you pay to advertise your newsletter in other publications. 

You can manage everything from your dashboard with a simple search tool. For example, in the screenshot below, I’ve searched for crypto creators. 

Capitalize on your readers’ word of mouth, too. A built-in referral program lets you reward people who send new subscribers your way.

Finally, you can use content gating to reserve some of your posts for subscribers, encouraging people to join your list.

beehiiv lets you set up paid subscriptions. You can share sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes exclusives, or bonus chapters.

There are also ways to earn through sponsorships, ads, and boosting other newsletters. Make extra income your way.

Focus on your words — not on foreign code.

The drag-and-drop interface is a game changer. I didn't need a developer or even much technical know-how. Moving sections around, picking layouts, and updating the look took just a few clicks.

Email marketing for authors is essential. You need to let your readers know when you have a new release, special sale, or fresh online content.

Unlike most email services, beehiiv designed its editor for those who care more about their writing than flashy graphics. While you can add all kinds of content, your words stay front and center in a clutter-free window.

Just starting out as an author? Keep it simple. Writing is hard. With a website builder for authors, you own your audience. When readers connect with you through a site you control and emails you send, you build lasting relationships. You won’t need to worry about chasing social trends or getting lost in a big platform’s shuffle.

That’s why I recommend beehiiv. It’s easy to use and allows you to focus on what matters — your writing and your readers.

Your words deserve a home that’s flexible, supportive, and truly yours.

Ready to start? Sign up for a free trial of beehiiv and see how easy it can be to build your online author platform.

Why Trust Me

I’m a professional digital marketer, a proud member of the beehiiv content team, and a novelist. I put on all of these hats to write this article.