Monetizing your newsletter with ad placements is one of the most lucrative ways to increase the value that you provide to your subscribers. The best part is that beehiiv handles everything — from sourcing advertisers, offering ad opportunities, delivering ad creatives (images, copy, links), and presenting performance reports, to managing payments.
This allows content creators like yourself to concentrate on crafting exceptional newsletters while we secure premium sponsors and a fresh revenue stream for you. It’s akin to having your dedicated ad sales team at your service!
If you prefer to reach out to sponsors yourself, beehiiv also offers direct sponsorships as an extension of the Ad Network, giving you a powerful tool to manage your sponsorships directly with advertisers. Direct sponsorships are available to anyone on a Max or Enterprise plan.
Pro Tip: In order to receive Ad Network opportunities, you must select up to 3 tags for your publication and include a detailed description. To ensure you’re matched with the best opportunities, don’t forget to set your Ad Network preferences in the beehiiv app.
The Ad Network is available to anyone on the Scale plan or above, who is actively sending on beehiiv. Simply set your ad preferences up and you'll be able to browse available offers in the live marketplace anytime from your Ad Network dashboard. Ad offers are updated hourly based on your preferences.
What is the difference between the beehiiv Ad Network and direct sponsorships?
The beehiiv Ad Network connects you with pre-negotiated, performance-based campaigns (CPM or CPC) from our advertiser partners — no outreach required. Direct sponsorships give you full control to create and price your own ad products, set up a storefront, and sell directly to brands. For the best results, we recommend using both to diversify your monetization strategy.
When should I expect to receive ad opportunities after joining?
Once you've set up your ad preferences, offers are available immediately in the live marketplace at Monetize > Ads > Offers. The marketplace shows up to 15 offers at a time, refreshed hourly in real time. You don't need to wait for a weekly email — you can browse and claim whenever it works for you.
Will I be able to pick and choose the ads that I want to include?
Yes, the marketplace puts you in control. Browse available offers, claim the ones that are a good fit for your audience, and downvote anything that isn't.
The more ads you run, the more data we gather to fine-tune your recommendations over time. To get the best matches from the start, make sure your Ad Network preferences are set up in your account.
Can I run multiple ads in the same post?
Yes! You can include up to 3 ads per post. The rules are: max 1 ad with a logo and max 2 ads without a logo. There's no requirement to include a logo ad — 1 or 2 logo-free ads is totally fine. You also cannot run the same ad more than once in a post.
How much money can I earn from the Ad Network?
beehiiv ad campaign payouts are based on CPM or CPC.
CPM (cost per mille) is a payment method where you earn based on the number of unique opens per send for an advertiser. For example, with a $5 CPM, you’ll earn $5 for every 1,000 unique opens you deliver in a single send. You will only receive earnings from unique opens in email sends.
CPC, short for cost per click, is based on the number of unique clicks that the sponsored links in your newsletter send receive. For example, if the CPC for a campaign is $2 and you include an ad in your newsletter that receives 100 verified unique clicks, your payout would be 100 x $2, or $200. You will only receive earnings from clicks in email sends.
What constitutes a verified unique click?
When a publisher runs an ad from the beehiiv Ad Network, we run those email newsletter clicks through an extra set of verifications to ensure that the brand is only paying for the highest quality clicks. When doing so, we often are able to identify additional potential bot, fraud, non-unique clicks, or clicks that result in a user bouncing immediately from the landing page.
These verifications may result in a lower number of unique clicks than the original post-metrics shared. The purpose of this extra verification process is to enable us to build long term partnerships between your newsletter and our advertising partners, resulting in more revenue driven to you over the lifetime of the relationship.
How will I know if an ad is performing well?
Some ads will perform better than others in your newsletters. Running ads can help you figure out what types of ads and brands resonate with your audience. And as you run more ads through the Ad Network, you’ll see your earnings begin to compound over time.
Hint: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll receive a detailed performance report 96 hours after the ad has been sent that you can review in your account.
Is the expected payout a guaranteed amount?
It is not a guaranteed amount, but rather an estimate based on historical email performance for your newsletter and from prior campaigns we’ve run through the beehiiv Ad Network. Just remember that some ads will perform better than others, and your payment will depend on the performance.
Am I qualified to receive ad opportunities on beehiiv?
The beehiiv Ad Network is accessible to users on the Scale plan or above. If you're an active Scale plan user, you're eligible to receive ad opportunities.
How many ad opportunities will I have access to?
The marketplace shows up to 15 offers at a time, refreshed hourly. There's no cap on how many you can run over time — the more your newsletter performs for advertisers, the more relevant opportunities you'll see. The top 3 are always labeled Recommended for You based on your audience and past performance.
Why don’t I have any available ad opportunities showing in my dashboard?
Be sure that you have set up your ad preferences. Once your preferences are saved, head to Monetize > Ads > Offers to browse the live marketplace. Ad offers refresh hourly.
How do I run the ads in my newsletter?
Browse available offers at Monetize > Ads > Offers, claim the ones you want to run, then add them to a post using the /ads command in the post editor or directly from the Offers page. For full step-by-step instructions, see Using the beehiiv Ad Network.
What if I don’t like the ad opportunities I’ve received?
We use an advanced ML system to match ad opportunities to newsletters who fit the target audience and interests that the advertisers are trying to reach. We cannot guarantee that you’ll absolutely love each and every company who’s ad opportunity we send you. However, when browsing the marketplace, you can downvote any offer that isn't a good fit and select a reason. Downvoted offers are removed from your view and your feedback helps improve future recommendations — it does not negatively affect your publisher rating, and doing so helps our system better learn your preferences.
To ensure you get opportunities that best fit your publication, set your Ad Network preferences in the beehiiv app. This gives us essential information to serve you ads that align with your monetization goals.
What happens if an ad is run a day or two late, early, or delayed due to timezone
issues?
Even if an ad is run late, early, or delayed due to timezone issues, the user's ad is still tracked and paid accordingly as long as it is sent within the timeframe of the campaign.
Yes. From your Offers page, go to the Claimed tab, then open the ad detail and select the Move option to reassign it to a different post. Do not delete the ad — deleted ads cannot be re-claimed.
What happens if my claimed ad expires?
It moves to your Canceled tab and the inventory is released back to the marketplace. You can browse the Available offers tab to see if a similar offer from that advertiser is available.
Why am I seeing fewer than 15 offers?
The marketplace shows offers matched to your publication based on your audience, content category, and past performance. If you're new to the Ad Network or have a smaller audience, you may see fewer offers initially. This improves over time as the system learns more about your publication.
What does downvoting an offer do?
Downvoting removes the offer from your view and sends feedback to improve your future recommendations. It does not negatively affect your publisher rating or reduce the number of offers you receive.
Why can't I run an offer I removed from a post?
If you delete an offer from a post, it is permanently canceled. The same or similar offer may be available from that advertiser in the Available offers tab. To avoid this, use the Move option if you want to place the ad in a different post.
Each ad opportunity may have multiple creative options to choose from. Choose the one that you think your audience will react best to. Remember, the better aligned the ad is to your audience, the more clicks it will drive and thus more money earned.
Can I change the placement of the advertisement logo in my post?
Once you claim an ad, you have 5 days (120 hours) to publish it before it expires. You can claim up to 5 ads at a time, so you can plan ahead within that window.
Can I run other ads in the same newsletter outside of the one beehiiv presented?
Yes, you can. Any ads you want to place from outside the beehiiv Ad Network are totally okay, however, the beehiiv ad should be the featured ad in your newsletter — don't let outside ads overshadow it.
If you want to promote the advertiser you are selecting through the beehiiv Ad Network with your own copy and your own click-outs, you are able to do so as long as the beehiiv specific URL parameters are not used. Just know, you will not be paid out for any clicks those links drive as beehiiv can only payout clicks that were part of the approved ad creative, as that is messaging that has been approved by the advertiser.
Also, keep in mind that including too many ads in your newsletter can negatively impact deliverability and email engagement.
What if I don’t like the advertiser, do I need to run it?
No, you don’t. With beehiiv, you always have full discretion on whether or not you want to move forward with an ad placement. Some ad opportunities might not be the right fit for your newsletter and your audience, and that’s fine. There is no requirement to run the ad.
What are the different versions of the ad presented?
Each offer includes multiple creative versions — with a logo or without a logo — as well as different headline angles. Choose the version that best fits your audience and newsletter.
Can I run the ad more than once?
You can schedule each ad opportunity for one date. If the ad performs well, we’ll send you a new opportunity to run the ad. You will only get paid for each ad placement once, unless you are invited to run that ad again.
Can I run the same ad several times in the same newsletter?
No, you can only run an ad once in a post. If you try to run the same ad twice, you’ll receive an error in the post editor that will have to be fixed before publishing. Simply remove any duplicate ads in the post to fix the error.
What should I do if I forgot to run an ad or need to change the date of an upcoming
ad?
If a claimed ad expires before you publish it, it will move to your Canceled tab and the inventory is released back to the marketplace. To avoid this, keep an eye on expiration timers in your Claimed tab and publish or move ads before they expire. If you need to move an ad to a different post, use the Move option — do not delete it, as deleted ads cannot be re-claimed.
Is it possible to adjust the creative in an Ad Network campaign?
Yes, you can adjust some aspects of ads, it just depends on the ad. For example, some allow you to choose to feature the sponsor logo or not, and select the ad copy. If you choose to have the ads ‘In partnership with’ logo and info at the top of your post, you can adjust its width or alignment, and change the sponsor text.
Where can I see the performance or my ad?
Your Ad Network dashboard provides a snapshot of your new ad opportunities, current earnings, and upcoming accepted ads, all in one place. To access it, go to Monetize > Ads > Overview.
Can I contact advertisers I worked with in the Ad Network to offer direct sponsorships?
No, beehiiv does not share advertiser contact information from the Ad Network, but you can create a direct sponsorship storefront in your account to manage your own advertisers
How do I cancel or change an ad opportunity?
To cancel a claimed ad, go to Monetize > Ads > Offers > Claimed tab and select the cancel option on the ad. If you want to move it to a different post instead, use the Move option rather than cancelling. Deleted ads cannot be re-added.
When your Ad Network campaign runs, we monitor all eligible unique newsletter clicks generated by the campaign within the first 72 hours of the ad being delivered to your audience. Subsequently, 96 hours after you send the newsletter, you'll receive a comprehensive report detailing the click breakdown, earnings, and payment status. To view your Ad Network reports, go to Monetize > Ads > Reports.
For certain accounts, we utilize Mercury to process payments. In such cases, you'll receive an invitation from Brian Schneider to set up your account.
Payouts are sent on the 20th of each month for the prior months ad units. For example, on February 20th you would be paid out for all January ad revenue earned.
Why do I need to connect my Stripe Express account?
We use Stripe Express to seamlessly transfer your earnings directly into your wallet on the 20th each month for the prior month's earnings. You can choose to withdraw funds from your wallet at any time, without paying any sort of fee or transfer cost.
Where can I find a breakdown of all payments for ads?
All of your ad earnings and payment dates are visible in your Ad Network Reports. To view past and current reports, go to Monetize > Ads > Reports.
From any report listed, click the 3 dots icon and select View Report to read the details, share it, or download it.
What’s the difference between getting paid via CPM vs CPC?
The beehiiv Ad Network offers both CPM ads and CPC ads.
CPM (cost per mille) is a payment method where you earn based on the number of unique opens per send for an advertiser. For example, with a $5 CPM, you’ll earn $5 for every 1,000 unique opens you deliver in a single send.
CPC (cost per click) is based on the number of unique clicks that the sponsored links in your newsletter send receive. For example, if the CPC for a campaign is $2 and you include an ad in your newsletter that receives 100 verified unique clicks, your payout would be 100 x $2, or $200. You will only receive earnings from clicks in email sends.
How can I optimize my newsletter for CPM ads?
CPM opportunities are based on the number of unique, human opens. To maximize your potential earnings, focus on consistently creating high-quality content and growing your audience sustainably. While you're paid on a CPM basis, advertisers evaluate the impact of their ads on their business, which influences whether a publisher will receive future opportunities.
Can I choose between CPM and CPC for individual ads?
No. The payout model is set by the advertiser for each ad opportunity. If an advertiser offers both CPM and CPC for the same placement, you’ll be able to choose; otherwise, the payout type can’t be changed.
Will I be able to see performance metrics for CPM ads?
You will receive a report regarding the performance of your CPM ads in the same way you receive reports for CPC. Reports will be available in your dashboard 96 hours after an ad is sent out.
Why is my CPM offer lower than the CPC rate?
CPM is based on unique readers or unique opens per send, and not on clicks, so it gives you more control and assurance that you’ll be paid. For example, a $5 CPM will ensure that as long as 1000 unique readers or unique opens per send open your newsletter, you’ll earn that amount. With CPC, there’s no guarantee that you will receive payment.
Nope! We’ll use the powerful beehiiv reporting tools to see how many newsletter clicks the sponsored links received, and then use that to calculate payout. There’s nothing you need to do. However, if you are interested in seeing how any of your ad placements performed, you can review the report for the ad in your account, and see how many clicks the sponsored links received.
Can I work with my own advertisers if I am in the Ad Network?
Yes you can! We don’t require exclusivity to be in the Ad Network. You can run ads through the beehiiv Ad Network and also continue to work with other ad partners or source ad deals yourself by setting up a direct sponsorship storefront.
Can I run ads provided by beehiiv and also monetize my newsletter in other ways?
Can I use the Ad Network without sending my newsletter on beehiiv?
No, the Ad Network is only available for use within beehiiv. To utilize the Ad Network, your newsletter must be sent through beehiiv's platform. It cannot be used with third-party email providers.
Why is the reporting for my ad placements different from what I see in the post
reporting?
For all of our ad placements, we run the metrics through additional layers of verification to remove any bot clicks and fraudulent clicks. This is why the metrics for the ads can be different when looking at ad reporting vs. the post reporting.
Can you provide translated copy for a non-English newsletter?
No, we currently don't offer translated text, but it's on our roadmap for future updates.
What types of publishers does the beehiiv Ad Network work best for?
Publishers that are interested in monetizing through ads but don’t have an ad sales team or know who to reach out to for advertising opportunities are perfect for the Ad Network. We will do all the heavy lifting for you — from finding you ad opportunities to providing you the necessary assets and even handling reporting back to the advertiser. beehiiv will be like your external ad sales team.
Publishers who work with advertisers directly but have some open ad slots or remnant inventory can also utilize the Ad Network. If you have specific dates for which you can’t find ad sponsors, you can plug beehiiv ads in on those dates. This prevents you from having to send out an email without an ad, so you’ll never miss an opportunity to monetize.
If you’ve had an advertiser fall through or have a gap to fill, instead of scrambling for a last minute advertiser or having to run an email without an ad, you can easily plug in an appropriate ad for your newsletter through the Ad Network.
If you're interested in advertising in beehiiv newsletters through the Ad Network, simply click Talk to the team from this page.