I want
to wrap up
our series
on
newsletters
with a
good
overview
of
newsletter
basics.
This
article is
one that
we have
shared
before,
but has
some great
tips to
make your
newsletter
a
heart-filled
outreach
of your
women's
ministry.
Newsletters
are a
great way
to
encourage
and inform
women in
your
church.
They can
also be a
great
outreach
tool. Here
are some
of our
tips for
newsletter
publications.
Pray.
As in
everything
else, ask
for God's
guidance
and
leading as
you put
together
your
newsletter.
Use a
byline
that
states
your
purpose.
Make it
clear who
is writing
it and
what the
purpose
is.
Know
your
audience.
Know who
they are
and what
their
needs are.
Use
information
from a
variety of
sources.
Get
permission
to use
articles,
poetry,
recipes,
tips and
stories
you have
found on
websites
or in
other
places. Be
sure to
contact
the author
and get
permission
to use
what you
have
found.
Most will
ask you to
include
the
author's
name,
original
publication
info, and
if it is
from the
web, the
web
address.
Involve
others.
Get women
to submit
articles,
book
reviews,
recipes,
etc...
People
love
seeing
their name
in print
and the
more
people you
involve,
the more
enthusiasm
there will
be for the
project.
Be as
accurate
as
possible.
When
publishing
dates and
descriptions
be sure
that you
have
correct
times,
dates, and
information.
It is
frustrating
for
everyone
to have
inaccurate
information.
If this
happens
several
times the
readers
will not
value the
information
they are
receiving
- making
the
newsletter
ineffective.
Group
like items
together,
but don't
fill the
first half
of the
newsletter
with fun
stuff and
stick all
the
serious
items at
the end.
Balance
the items.
Use
graphics.
Art,
charts,
cartoons,
and
pictures
add a lot
to the
impact of
your
newsletter,
but, don't
use too
many.
Balance is
key.
Don't be
afraid of
the white
space.
Leave some
here and
there
around
articles
and art to
give the
readers'
eyes a
rest
Include a
simple
plan of
salvation
in every
newsletter.
You never
know who
will end
up with
it.
Put
your
contact
information,
church
name,
address,
phone
numbers,
website
address on
every
page.
Sometimes
people
just want
to save or
pass on an
article or
recipe and
will
discard
the rest
of the
newsletter.
If your
information
is
discreetly
placed on
every
page, they
will
always be
able to
reference
where it
came from.
Proof,
proof,
proof.
Once the
newsletter
is
complete,
take a
break from
it and
come back
with fresh
eyes to
proof it
again. If
possible,
ask
someone
else to
proof it
also.
Mistakes
sometimes
happen, we
are human,
but you
want to
check for
grammar,
punctuation
and
spelling
errors
that will
frustrate
your
readers.
Here are
some
interesting
facts and
guidelines
for
publications:
- Use
only 2-4
fonts.
One for
headlines,
one for
the body
and the
other
two for
impact
statements
or
captions.
-
White
copy on
a dark
background
is 50%
less
effective
than
non-reversed.
Use it
only for
impact
statements
or
captions,
not a
complete
article.
- More
people
read
captions
under
photos
or
illustrations
than
read
body
copy.
-
People
will
browse
headlines
and
captions
to
choose
what
they
will
read.
- Body
copy
that
tells a
story is
preferred
by 80%
of
readers.
-
Serif
typefaces
allow
the eye
to
follow
faster
and are
a good
choice
for body
text.
-
Studies
have
proven
it is
difficult
for the
reader's
eye to
follow
and
return
to the
next
line
when the
line
length
is
excessive.
Break
wide
text
areas
into
easier
to read
columns.
In
Him...
Robyne
Beaubien,
Newsletter
Editor
