Options on the Compose page: Drafting your post content

After selecting a newsletter template, the Post Builder will open on the Compose page where you can start drafting your email content. The Post Builder is organized into 5 tabs (Compose, Audience, Email, Web, Review) found at the top of the page.

These tabs represent the 5 stages of the post creation flow, guiding you step-by-step through crafting and publishing a newsletter post. Use the Next button to move between pages in order, or click any of the 5 tabs to jump directly to a specific stage.

This article covers the Compose tab and page of the post creation flow, where you draft your newsletter content using the Write panel and the post editor. To further customize your post, switch to the Style panel to access lots more design options.

When the Post Builder opens on the Compose page, the Write panel will be selected by default (located on the right side of the canvas). Whether you’re using a Quick Start Template or creating your own content, the Compose page will display the following action icons at the top (from left to right):

• Profile Initials: Shows you and any other collaborators currently editing the post.
• Word Count: Displays the active word count of the post.
• Undo/Redo: Reverse or redo the last action.
• Search and replace: Find specific text in your post and replace it as needed.
• Backlink Setup: Create backlinks for the post.
• Commenting: Add comments for your team members on the post draft.
• Version History: Access and revert to previous versions of the post.
• Save as template: Save your current post as a template for future use.
• Help: Open the beehiiv Knowledge Base (where you are now).

We’ll go over the options and editors available to you on the Compose page below, click on each section to reveal its content. 

Creating your newsletter



Drafting post content

All of our Quick Start Templates are fully customizable, just like building a post using a blank draft (pictured above). While on the Compose page, you can:

• Add or edit the post title.
• Include a subtitle.
• Add a post thumbnail.
• Assign content tags.
• Add teammates as authors or include guest authors.
• Design your newsletter content using the post editor.

For more detailed instructions on everything you can do with these options (and more), refer to our article on creating a post or use the links above.

Using the post editor to build your content
Easily add or adjust your post content on the canvas, by typing the / forward slash to access the post editor options. Or, to add text content, simply start writing on the canvas.



Design options in the post editor
The post editor provides countless of ways to design your newsletter, organized into 5 sections:
Basics
• Bulleted List 
• Numbered List
• Button
• Image
• Code Block
• Table
• Blockquote
• Content Break
• Section
• Columns
• Subscriber Break
• Table of Contents (TOC)
• File Attachment
• Merge Tags
Headings
• H1 - H6
Embeds
Embeds are web and social media links included in your posts. You can customize their appearance in the Style panel.
• Embed Link
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Twitter 
• Stocktwits
• Bluesky
• Twitter
• Audio
Dynamic Tags
• Footnotes
Premium
Paid accounts also have access to these options in the post editor:
• Advertisements / Ads from the Ad Network (when enabled)
• AI Image and AI Writer
• Referral Program
• Paywall Breaks
• HTML Snippet (code)
• Recommendations
• Boosts
• RSS
Additional articles on creating post content
• How to remove text formatting from copied content
• Ways to leave comments on posts for your teammates
• Preview and testing the post before sending
Post editor cheat sheet
Shortcuts in the post editor
When using the beehiiv post editor, we offer a bunch of easy shortcuts to speed up your workflow.

Text editor style options

When drafting a post, highlighting text on your canvas will bring up the text editor. While the overall appearance of your copy and post is governed by the settings in the Style panel, the text editor allows you to apply inline formatting and make more granular adjustments as you write.





Using the text editor

From left to right, here are the available options in the text editor:

• Bold: Emphasizes text with a heavier weight.
• Italics: Styles text with a slanted appearance for emphasis or tone.
• Underline: Adds a line beneath the selected text.
• Strikethrough: Places a horizontal line through text to indicate edits or removal.
• Highlight: Applies a background color to selected text for emphasis.
• Link: Turns the selected text into a clickable hyperlink.
• Code: Formats inline text as code.
• Superscript: Raises the selected text above the baseline (e.g. 1st²).
• Subscript: Lowers the selected text below the baseline (e.g. H₂O).
• Headings: Allows you to assign header levels (H1-H6) to structure your post.
• Lists: Formats selected text as either a bulleted or numbered list.
• Blockquotes: Styles the selected text as a standout quote often used for testimonials, with 3 variants to choose from.
• Code Block: Formats a section of text as a block of code, useful for technical content.
• Text Alignment: Aligns text left, center, or right.
• Text Styles: Adjust the font family, weight, and size. Change the text color, or remove text formatting when needed. 
• Comments: Add inline comments to your draft — visible only to your team members, not readers.
• AI Writing Tools: Access AI-powered suggestions for writing assistance, rewrites, or expansion.

Shortcuts in the text editor

Hover over any icon in the text editor to see its name and corresponding keyboard shortcut. These shortcuts help speed up formatting while you write.





If you paste content into the canvas that retains formatting from another source, the Text styles icon will turn pink when that text is highlighted. Click on the icon, then select Reset all to remove the inherited formatting and match your current style settings.