Welcome!

Welcome!

I came across a website that claimed it could guide me through the process of creating a newsletter in 10 easy steps.  I set my sights on building a newsletter by following those 10 easy steps and the finished product turned out to be a mess.  My nephew created a far superior newsletter without these “easy” directions when he was in second grade.  His newsletter hung in my university office for years so I am positive that it was far superior (no bias here!)  My name is Dr. Robinson and been an instructor of higher education, specifically Instructional Technology for the better part of twenty years.  I taught newsletter creation in MS Publisher and Word, along with projects from all the MS Office Suite, and I consider myself to be an expert.  So why was I, an expert, looking for directions/ideas on how to create a newsletter?  Because, suddenly, I needed to create a newsletter of my very own and it needed to be amazing!

After eight years of working as church webmaster and unofficial parish historian, I was surprised when a parishioner asked if all the old newsletters from the 70’s through the 90’s were available online.  They weren’t, but I was determined to correct that!  Searching for copies of all the old editions was a test of patience.  Scanning them into PDF documents was a test of emotional stability.  Creating a new web-page in our extensive and heavily used website and then uploading old newsletters was a test of skill. And finally, receiving requests (more like demands) for a new third edition of the newsletter was a test of courage.  

I am not certain why with all the stress of creating and maintaining a website, several social media channels, and managing several blogs, I would take on the madness of publishing a newsletter.   Past editors thought me mad and the pastor looked at me as if I had farted in church.  But I saw something in those old print editions as I digitized them for inclusion in our 21st century website.  I saw things that are difficult to find in a digital world, things such as: history, permanence, and a physical connection to our past.  I loved the smell and feel of the archived editions.  I loved seeing the images of people that I hadn’t even thought about, since I was very young.  Let’s face it, the Internet is a wonderful and convenient tool, but it lacks the emotion and weight that a document or picture in print can offer.  Being in a newspaper, magazine, or book is exciting and worthy of attention and no one ever says, “Wow!  I’m on the Internet!”

So I decided to create a new, updated version of the newsletter for church.  I began by sifting through Google to find out how to create a newsletter for a non-profit organization or for a religious institution.  I found next to nothing on HOW to create a newsletter.  I found plenty of blather on WHY I should create a newsletter and even more nonsense on how much money my organization can make by offering digital/email newsletters with special "hooks" and "incentives."  I truly found zilch.  So I took what I already knew from teaching newsletter creation to pre-service teachers and learned it on my own.  I was appalled that I could not find a simple set of instructions to explain how newsletters are developed and why they are needed.  I was disgusted that information on the Internet was only available for sale.  This blog is going to change that and put others out of business.  Not only am going to help you create newsletters but I am also going to give away all the materials and lessons that I created as a college professor.  And no, you do not have to give me your email address to "unlock" special features.  

I plan to address topics related to the creation of a quality newsletter.  “The best newsletters have short, lively articles that provide information without making the reader work to get it.  Poorly designed or badly written newsletters generally will be ignored.” (Marv Balousek, 2017)  If you are going to spend a great deal of time and effort to create a newsletter then you certainly want people to read it.  Any good, well written, and properly formatted newsletter will take time.  It will take time to plan, write, edit, proof, and print because neither an e-newsletter nor a print newsletters can be dreamt up and distributed quickly and easily.  Anyone telling you otherwise is trying to sell you something (and they will still be wrong.)  If you want customers/members to read and look forward to further editions then you must convey the importance of the document by making it as perfect as possible.

Over the coming weeks and months, I will offer posts on topics such as: newsletter layout, production methods, using color wisely, choosing articles, and keeping too much white on the page.  I will use examples from newsletters sent to me over the years.  In addition, I will be answering questions from readers sent to me via email:  dr.daniel.robinson@gmail.com or in the comments section at the end of this blog post.  I have been teaching newsletter creation for almost 20 years and I have a slew of information, tips, and examples for you to use.   Let’s create something amazing!

The Takeaway

This is a do-it blog with guides explaining the why or why not of creating usable and amazing product (especially newsletters.)  Basic information about creating useful projects (newsletters, spreadsheets, posters, brochures, etc.) will be offered here but it will also include tips and tricks, survival tips, and step-by-step guides to create many different types of projects.

Try This

1. Do an Internet search for print newsletters.  You will find plenty of ads/info about printing services and, probably, more templates than you could ever hope to slog through.  Click on the Images tab at the top of the search page.  You will see hundreds of examples of newsletters in print.  Do you see two or three that catch your eye?  Jot down why you like those particular ones and save it for when we start creating your newsletter together.  We can incorporate those elements to make your newsletter amazing!
2. Ask yourself why you are creating a newsletter?  List all the reasons you are going to spend hundreds of hours creating multi-page, informational literature to distribute.  Then list all the ideas you have for information, articles, pictures, contests, games, cartoons, etc. that you are planning on putting into your newsletter.  The more you think about this now the easier it will be to assemble your newsletter later.  Use as much detail as you can for both lists.
3. Take a deep breath.  All the choices and lists can be overwhelming.  Let’s examine all of this in chunks.  A well-written quality newsletter will take time to create.  Expect to take three to four weeks to do the first edition (subsequent editions can be published in a much shorter period of time).  So plan to clear some space to create your first newsletter.  It will be amazing!