Newsletters 101

What We’ll Cover Developing your newsletter Components of a newsletter Design tips Tips for success

To Create or Not? Determine if you should publish a

newsletter

o Interest? o Impact?

If so, it is worth your time to create one

Development Who is your audience?

o Will determine what type of articles you produce

o What articles will readers find useful?

How often to publish?o Monthly, every other month, quarterlyo Don’t fill with fluff

Things to Remember Audience

o Older groups may need a larger fonto Youth want something “fun”

Reading Levelo 8th grade reading level

Lengtho Keep articles and newsletter short and sweeto Most important information first

Things to Remember OSU/OCES Requirements

o Discrimination clause

o Print cost

Components: NameplateNameplate

Includes:o Newsletter

Nameo Graphic or Logoo Volume and

Issueo Motto

Components: MastheadMasthead

Also found in newspapers and magazines

Includes:o Editors’ nameso Contact

information

Components: Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Includes:o Usually on the first

pageo Lists articles and

their page numbers

ComponentsHeadlineTitle of each article

CopyMain body text of the newsletter

SubheadsDivide the article into smaller sections.

ComponentsByline

Name of the author

Page Numbers

A Few Design Thoughts Use 2 or 3 Column

o Improves readabilityo Use shorter paragraphs

White Space is Goodo Space not filled by copy or photos

A Few Design Thoughts Photos

o Take pictures to accompany your articles. o If you can’t use clip art or an online gallery photo

Fontso Use a serif font o Sans serif fonts for online-only newsletters or websites

Tips for Success Consistency and timing are essential

o Stick to a consistent date

Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!o You and another person should read it

Tips for Success Be Timely

o Up-to-date your articles are best

Incorporate Social Media and Websiteso Link back to your website and Facebook and twitter accounts

A direct link to the OCES Staff Development Facebook page

This module was put together by Krista Anderson - March 2013Contact her for more assistance at akrista@okstate.edu or 405-744-7760

Sources: Imtips.co, www.k12.hi.us, Shelly Sitton via Layout and Design course, and Gayle Hiner, Ag Communications Services