online newspaper template faqs
Let's Clear the Air
Everything you need to know about our newspaper CMS
Do you charge extra for upgrades or new features?
Nope. Every upgrade, every new feature, included in your subscription. No hidden fees. No "oh, that one's premium" surprises later. What you sign up for is what you keep.
Do you charge for banner ads like other newspaper software?
No. You own every pixel on your site, including the ad space. Bulletlink's built-in ad management lets you sell and place ads however you want. We don't run third-party ads on your pages, and we don't take a cut of your ad revenue. Every dollar you earn from advertising is yours.
Do you offer discounts for multiple websites?
Yes. If you run multiple publications, you get volume pricing. Email sales@bulletlink.com with how many sites you have, and we'll work out a number that makes sense.
How much does it cost to register a domain name when I sign up?
Free with your subscription. The only catch: if you cancel within the 10-day money-back window, we deduct $25 (the actual cost we paid the registrar) from your refund. After that, no domain fees. Ever.
What if I decide to discontinue your service?
You can cancel anytime. No contracts, no cancellation fees, no exit interview. We run month-to-month because we'd rather earn your business every month than trap you in a year-long deal.
Can I insert YouTube videos or scripts like weather or news feeds?
Yes. YouTube videos, weather widgets, news feeds, calendars, stock tickers, comment systems, social media feeds, and most other embeddable content. If it has an embed code, you can drop it into your pages.
Is your website search engine friendly?
Yes. Bulletlink is newspaper website software built for SEO out of the box. Every page has clean URLs (yoursite.com/gas-prices-going-high instead of yoursite.com/?id=12834), proper title tags, meta descriptions, and structured data, all automatically generated. Google reads your stories the way they're supposed to be read.
Can I assign responsibilities to my staff or have multiple user logins?
Yes. Create as many user accounts as you need. Set who can write, who can edit, who can publish, who can manage ads. Each role gets its own permissions, so a reporter can't accidentally delete the homepage.
Who can use Bulletlink content management software?
If you publish content for an audience, you can use Bulletlink as your online newspaper platform. Daily newspapers and weeklies are our main customer, but we also serve magazines, sports publications, nonprofits, homeowners associations, religious organizations, schools, and trade associations. Basically, any group that needs a publishing platform.
Can I use your software if I don't have a print newspaper?
Yes. You don't need a print edition to use Bulletlink. Our digital newspaper software powers online-only news sites, digital magazines, newsletters, journals, and any digital publication. Print is optional.
Does Bulletlink use AI? What for?
Yes. AI is built into Bulletlink's online newspaper software to help your team work faster, not to replace them. It can suggest headlines, summarize long articles, generate image captions, flag SEO improvements, and rewrite paragraphs you're stuck on. Think of it as a smart assistant your reporter can ignore or use, not something that writes the paper for you.
How does Bulletlink compare to WordPress?
WordPress is for everyone. Bulletlink is built for one thing: digital publishers. With WordPress you'll end up duct-taping plugins together for paywalls, classifieds, ad management, and e-editions, and every plugin is one more thing that can break. As complete online newspaper publishing software, Bulletlink includes all of that out of the box, with hosting and security handled for you. Less to manage, less to break.
I'm not tech-savvy. Can I still use your software?
Yes. If you can fill out a form, you can run a Bulletlink site. No code, no programming, no IT background needed. Editors, reporters, and solo publishers all get up and running fast.
How long does it take to learn your newspaper software?
Most users start adding pages, text, photos, and ads within minutes. Copy-and-paste from Word or Google Docs works fine. No HTML required. We also have QuickStart tutorials, online docs, FAQs, and 24/7 support if you get stuck.
How long will it take to get my newspaper website online?
About 30 minutes from sign-up to live, assuming you respond quickly to our initial setup questions. We've launched newspapers faster, but 30 minutes is a safe estimate.
I've signed up. What are the next steps?
After you sign up, our team emails you your login and access info. You can start building right away. Got a question or hit a snag? Our support team usually responds within minutes.
How do I move my existing newspaper website to Bulletlink?
Email sales@bulletlink.com and we'll handle the move. We bring over your articles, photos, archives, subscribers, and historical data. You don't lift a finger. Most migrations take a few days to a week depending on archive size.
Will I lose my Google rankings if I migrate to Bulletlink?
No. We set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to your new ones, which tells Google to transfer all your existing rank to the new pages. Your articles stay searchable, your archive stays intact, and most publishers actually see their rankings go up after migrating because Bulletlink loads faster and is mobile-first. Both things Google rewards.
Can I migrate from WordPress easily?
Yes. We've migrated hundreds of WordPress sites and have it down to a process. Email sales@bulletlink.com and we'll handle everything. Articles, photos, archives, subscribers, redirects, custom URLs, all of it. You don't need to touch a thing. Most WordPress migrations take a few days to a week depending on archive size.
I only see a few templates on your homepage. Is that all you have?
No. The homepage shows a sample. We have a much bigger library of templates with different column layouts, color schemes, and image styles. Pick any demo and our team will tweak it, or combine pieces from multiple templates. All included, no extra fee.
Can I have a custom homepage design instead of using a template?
Yes. We can build a fully custom homepage from scratch. Send us your design concepts, mockups, or notes about what you want, and we'll send back a quote.
Can I customize my newspaper template to match my requirements?
Yes. Templates are a starting point, not a cage. You can modify colors, fonts, layouts, sections, and almost anything else to make your site look like yours.
Can I mix and match portions from multiple templates?
Yes. Pull a header from one template, a sports section from another, an ad layout from a third. Our design team puts it all together. Most custom designs are delivered within 24 hours.
How does your support compare to other newspaper software?
Free support, 24/7, including weekends and holidays. Open a ticket and our team usually responds within minutes, not days. We also have QuickStart guides, FAQs, and full documentation if you'd rather figure it out yourself.
Do you provide software to install on my computer?
No installation needed. Bulletlink runs entirely in your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Open a browser, log in, and you're publishing. Nothing to download, nothing to update, nothing to maintain on your computer.
Can I purchase your software and host it on my own servers?
No. Bulletlink only runs on our hosted infrastructure. We chose this so we can guarantee performance, security, and keep updates rolling out to everyone at the same time. You don't have to worry about server maintenance, security patches, or scaling. We handle all of it.
There's a feature I really want. What can I do?
Email sales@bulletlink.com with what you want and why. We review every request. If it's something other publishers will use too, it goes on the roadmap. If it's specific to you, we'll tell you what it would cost to build.
Is my data secure and GDPR compliant?
Yes. As a cms for newspapers built on enterprise infrastructure, your site sits on Cloudflare's network, so you get DDoS protection, automatic SSL, and a web firewall built in. We're GDPR compliant, which means readers in Europe get cookie consent banners, data export rights, and the right to be forgotten. Your subscriber data is encrypted, backed up daily, and never shared with third parties.
What happens if my site goes viral?
Nothing. Your site stays up. Bulletlink runs on Cloudflare's global network, which means your traffic can spike from a thousand readers to a million overnight without us doing anything. No "site overloaded" pages, no slow loads, no crashes. We've had publishers go viral and not even know it until they checked their stats.
How fast does my newspaper site load?
Sub-second on most pages. We use Cloudflare's CDN to deliver your content from servers near each reader, image optimization to reduce file sizes automatically, and modern code to keep pages light. Faster sites rank higher on Google and keep readers engaged longer, so this isn't just a nice-to-have. It directly affects your traffic and ad revenue.
Is my newspaper website mobile-first?
Yes. Every Bulletlink site is built mobile-first, which means we design for phones first, then scale up to tablets and desktops. That matters because around 65% of your readers will visit on a phone. Google also ranks mobile-first sites higher in search results.
Will my website look good on phones, tablets, and desktops?
Yes. Every page is fully responsive, which means the layout automatically adjusts to whatever screen your reader is on. Headlines stay readable, photos resize properly, navigation stays tap-friendly. No pinching, no zooming, no weird sideways scrolling.
Do I need a separate mobile app for my publication?
No, and that's a good thing. Bulletlink is built mobile-first, so your website IS your mobile experience. Readers don't need to download anything. They just visit your site on their phone and it works perfectly. This saves you the cost of building, maintaining, and updating an app, and you reach every reader instead of just the ones willing to install something.
How fast does my site load on mobile?
Sub-second on most pages, even on slow cellular connections. We compress images automatically based on the reader's device, deliver content from servers near them, and keep the code light. Faster mobile loads mean readers stay longer and Google ranks you higher.
Can visitors submit articles, classifieds, events, and other content directly?
Yes. Readers can submit articles, classifieds, events, photos, and other content directly through your website. You review and approve before anything goes live.
Can I upload audio and video files using your publishing software?
Yes. Upload audio and video files directly, no storage limits. Or host them on YouTube or Vimeo and embed them on your pages. Whatever workflow you prefer.
I have archives on my current website. Can they be transferred?
Yes. We migrate your archives for free. All your historical articles, photos, and content move over to Bulletlink at no extra cost.
I have hundreds of classifieds to enter each week. Can this be automated?
Yes. Our automated classified processing handles bulk entry, so your staff isn't typing the same fields hundreds of times. Most classified workflows can be set up to run with minimal manual work.
What will my web address or domain name be?
Whatever domain you want, as long as it's available. www.yourpublication.com or anything else. We handle the registration and setup as part of your subscription.
I have multiple websites pointing to my main site. Can I set that up?
Yes. Point as many domain names as you want at your main site. We set it up for you, no extra charge.
How much storage space is included?
Unlimited. Upload as much content as you need. No storage caps, no overage fees.
Is there a deadline for uploading pages and pictures to my website?
No. Publish whenever you want, 24/7. There's no deadline, no upload window, no editorial calendar we impose. Run your publication on your schedule.