A newsletter can be a useful tool in informing people
about a variety of issues and projects within an organisation
or partnership.
Newsletters generally have several articles and cover more than one
issue. They can give you the opportunity to talk about your
projects and issues more in depth
Before starting a newsletter you have to think about:
- Whether you need a newsletter
- Is this a suitable medium for your message?
- Who do you want to read it?
- How do you need to write it for this audience?
- Do you want to put a cover price on it?
When you have decided to go ahead with your newsletter the most
important thing is the content. You could start by getting an
editorial team together, people who have good communication and
writing skills.
The most important message should be on the front page.
Articles should be concise and clear.
You should avoid the use of terminology that only your organisation
can understand. Other people, such as journalists, may wish
to refer to your newsletter.
Make sure you spell all names correctly.
Avoid jargon and unexplained abbreviations. Make your language as
plain as possible.
It is also important to get feedback from readers on the content
and format of your newsletter. You need to think about how you
could monitor the success of your newsletter. This could be through
informal chats with readers or a more formal questionnaire in
one of the newsletters.
A popular and simple newsletter can be a double-sided A4 sheet.
If you have a lot of information to communicate you could
experiment with different styles, such as an A5 booklet.
The print should be clean and pages should be put into columns to
make it easier to read.
You should use images and photographs to break up the text.
Remember you cannot use images or copy in your newsletter if you do
not have written permission from the author to do so – unless the
image is specifically copyright free.
The title has to grab the people you are trying to get to read your
newsletter.
Newsletters often work best if you have a regular publication date.
This needs only be once or twice a year, if that succeeds in
communicating all your information.
You need to think about how you are going to distribute your
newsletter.
If you want it to be sent to people's homes how will you pay for
the postage? Do you have volunteers who can help you
distribute?
If you struggling for ideas it can help to talk to a printer, a
designer or North Somerset Council's graphics unit for ideas and
advice (including concept and costings).
