5 Things You Could Take Out To Make a Better Newsletter

Sometimes it's not what you put in your newsletter that makes it good, but what you leave out. We tend to add so many things into our publications that they get crowded and complicated, when simple is much better. There are many things that could be listed, but here are my top 5 things that you should consider eliminating to make a better newsletter.

1. Boxes
We box things because we think they are important. But if you put a box around everything, then nothing is important. Its like taking a beautiful piece of classical music, with it's dynamic contrasts, and playing everything double forte, or really loud. If you must, choose one or two items that need to be highlighted and bring attention to them.

Boxes are also used to help with the layout of text. If you do not get the boxes lined up correctly, the mismatched lines are more distracting then helpful.
If you still use the boxes, take off the outline so that it is not as noticeable. Better yet, use columns to help guide your layout.

2. Fonts
One font is boring, two fonts are good, three fonts is pushing it, but four or more is just plain wrong. Too may fonts makes it too hard to focus again on any one thing. If everything is different we get tired trying to see what's important. Choose 2 fonts. Use one for body text, and the other for headers, callouts etc. To add a little variety you can use things like Bold, Italic, and Underline.

3. Links
Does your newsletter go online? If so, you need to either make an separate print, and online version, or make sure your one version is compatible with both. If you want to link to a specific page, do not just go to the page, copy the link and insert it into your text.

If you are directing your reader to a site like www.forkintheroadmusic.org and your program recognizes links that might be ok. However, if you are linking to a page within a website sometimes the addresses are not that clear, like www.forkintheroadmusic.org/home/songs/10-03-10/mymusic/angelise.mp3, it's not so easy.

Make it easy. Tell them in print like you were speaking to them in person. For example "go to 'www.forkintheroadmusic.org', click on 'my songs', and then find 'angelise'." Better yet, create a link to the file on your website either on your home page or under links, and say "the link is located on our website under links. For your online version you can make a hyperlink directly to the text.

4. Word Art
Nothing screams "the 90's called and want their newsletter back" like a newsletter filled with Microsoft Word Art. I know it's so easy to do, and looks so cool. Granted, use it once and you might could get away with it. But it's like pistachios, you can't just have one pistachio,and the little button that makes cool Indiana Jones 3D letters is addictive. So just don't do it!
Instead, use a logo or the 1 font you have chosen to use for headlines.

5. Clip Art
The same problem that exists with word art, exists with clipart. Every article or announcement does not need a cute graphic to go with it.

If you are taking a logo from a website, make sure you get the entire logo. Often websites put their logos up in pieces to help them load faster. If you right click and save the first part, you won't get the whole picture. Check first, a lot of sites may have a logo page. If that doesn't work, send an email to the webmaster and see if they can send you a logo.

Use photos instead of clipart. If you have an article about an coming bible study grab a photo of a bible, instead of the clip art version. They will both print just as well, but the photo will say a lot more about the quality of your publication, and organization.

Why?
I believe that your newsletter is a great opportunity to reach out into the community and tell others about your church. It is often the first impression that person will have about your church. What impression about your church do people get from your church newsletter publication.

Want to see how your newsletter stacks up? Download this Newsletter Quiz. from the Alabama West Conference Communication Website.

What do you think? Are these important? What would you add to the list?