Facebook introduces Bulletin for independent writers

Facebook is launching Bulletin, a platform for independent writers who want to monetize their work through a set of publishing and subscription tools.

Currently only available in the US, Bulletin by Facebook attempts to unify existing tools with features that may directly support writing and audio content, from podcasts to Live Audio Rooms, along with having editorial independence.

Facebook has partnered with a small group of voices to learn how to support their work. Bulletin will include support focused on content creation, monetization, and audience growth. Key features and integrations include:

Publishing Tools

The tools would enable creators to start their own publications and write long-form articles.

• Each Bulletin creator will have a standalone website under their own brand and will be able to customize their publication’s name, logo, and color palette
• Creators can customize their articles with multi-media embeds & other styling options
• The platform is also offering third-party perks, including legal resources, design support and assistance with financial services

Business Models

• Bulletin writers will keep all of their subscription revenue for the length of these partnerships and will have the ability to take their subscriber lists and content with them. Subscription payments will be handled by Facebook Pay allowing subscribers to pay with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account
• Writers can offer a range of subscription-based features, including content, commenting abilities, and Facebook groups accessible only by subscriber

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• Facebook will also have analytics tools to help writers understand their audience and grow their subscribers over time
• And to start, Facebook is offering a multi-year licensing deal to give these writers time to build a relationship with their readers

Discovery and Distribution

• Bulletin content will be eligible for distribution in Facebook News and other discovery surfaces to enable audiences to find it and subscribe
• Facebook will include tools to distribute podcasts in addition to long-form writing, including externally-hosted podcasts and additional audio features coming soon
• Bulletin will integrate with Facebook Pages to enable publishing across various multimedia formats

Building Community 

• Bulletin writers can create Facebook groups, free or subscriber-only, to nurture a community of readers. Within their groups, they’ll also have the ability to create subscriber-only content or host subscriber-only conversations
• Writers will have the ability to leverage Facebook’s existing tools like Facebook Live or Live Audio Rooms to continue the discussion with their communities
• Comment moderation tools would be available, as the ability for writers to control who can comment (such as paid subscribers only), and turn off comments