--- title: "How to create a Discord community and assign roles for your publication" updated: 2025-09-18 --- # How to create a Discord community and assign roles for your publication > **Disclaimer** > > This guide is for publications using the [new beehiiv Website Builder](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/category/21554103469847-account-settings#29729771566743-new-website-builder). If your site was built with the [legacy builder](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/category/21554103469847-account-settings#12234427849367-website-builder-legacy), these steps won’t apply. Please migrate to the new builder to enable the Discord integration. [Discord](https://discord.com/) is a free online communication platform that offers voice, video, and text chat, primarily organized into virtual communities called _servers_. Within a server, members can collaborate in real time, with access and permissions managed through Discord _roles_. With beehiiv’s native integration (available in [the App Marketplace](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/30302043994903-where-to-find-integrations)), you can automatically add subscribers to a Discord server connected to your newsletter, and create private, role-based channels that only paid subscribers can access. Before using the integration, you’ll need to: - [Create a Discord account and community.](#h_01K5CX0Q47S97GE59TWDZT97FC) - [Set up a Discord server for your publication.](#h_01K5CX0Q4CGQYNHZDXJ3R32M3K) - [Create roles to manage subscriber access.](#h_01K5CX0Q4GJ2D1XFJYDPWK34HV) - [Create a channel with role restrictions.](#h_01K5CX0Q4RSGWFHXGD2WXF7HJ1) This article will guide you through those setup steps. Once complete, refer to our [article on integrating beehiiv with Discord](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/35018856644631) to start seeing these features in action. --- ## Create a Discord account 1. Go to the [Discord login page](https://discord.com/login) and click on **Register**, found below the Log In button. ![Discord 01.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487036567) 2. Fill out the required fields (email, display name, username, password, and date of birth), then click on the **Create Account** button. ![Discord 02.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518877591) For additional guidance, you can view this quick [tutorial from Discord on setting up an account](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGtRmYIg9RI).  --- ## Create a Discord server A Discord server is the digital home for your community. It can contain multiple channels (like #general, #news, or #pets) to organize discussions. Servers are free, support groups of any size, and include built-in moderation and customization tools. 1. After creating your Discord account, a pop-up will appear to create your server. You can start from scratch or choose a template such as Artists and Creators. ![Discord 03.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487038999) 2. Select **For a club or community** from the options.  ![Discord 04.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518879767) 3. Name your server to match your publication or brand, upload an icon, then click the **Create** button. ![Discord 05.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518881047) For additional guidance in [setting up a Discord server view this quick tutorial from Discord](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aUDPcxxKQ).  --- ## Create roles in Discord Roles are used in Discord to organize member permissions and access to channels in your server. They can also be used to assign access to exclusive channels in your server that require an upgrade to a paid newsletter subscription — which is a great way to use roles with your beehiiv publication.  Having at least one role configured is also a requirement to integrate Discord with beehiiv. This ensures new subscribers are properly assigned when they are added to your Discord server and gives them an exclusive identifier, available only to your newsletter subscribers 1. From your Discord account, right click on your **server icon**, then select **Server Settings > Roles**. ![Discord 06.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487047319) 2. On the Roles page, click the **Create Role** button. ![Discord 07.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487048727) 3. Name the role. If you plan to tie it to a paid subscription tier in your beehiiv account, choose a name that matches or resembles the tier.   4. Select a role style and color, then click the **Save Changes** button at the bottom of the screen. ![Discord 08.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518886679) --- ## Create a new Discord channel with role restrictions  1. From your Discord account, click the **\+ icon** for the **Text Channels** section to create a channel for paid subscribers. ![Discord 09.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487051671) 2. Select a channel type: - **Text**: Best for chat-style conversations (and most common). - **Forum**: Useful for larger communities or threaded discussions. ![Discord 10.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518893079) 3. Provide a channel name that reflects paid subscribers, toggle **Private Channel** on, and click **Next**.   4. Select which roles can access the channel, then click **Create Channel**. ![Discord 11.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487053975) 5. Once the channel is created, you’ll see a lock icon indicating that access to the channel is limited to certain roles. ![Discord 12.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518895127) --- ## Add role restrictions to an existing channel 1. From your Discord account, click the **settings icon** for the channel you want to set role restrictions for. ![Discord 13.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518896151) 2. Go to the **Permissions** tab, then toggle on **Private Channel**.   3. Click the **Add members or roles** button. ![Discord 14.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518896919) 4. Select the roles that you want to have access to the channel, then click **Done**. ![Discord 15.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019487060247) 5. Lastly, click the **Save Changes** button at the bottom of the screen. For additional information on [managing roles and permissions, please refer to this guide from Discord](https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/214836687-Discord-Roles-and-Permissions).  ![Discord 16.png](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/35019518899863) Now that you have a Discord account and have assigned roles for your publication, please [refer to this article for details on using the beehiiv Discord integration.](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/35018856644631)  ---