A newsletter can keep people aware of what’s happening at your learning centre. You could send it out to learners, local councillors, business leaders and potential partner organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce or voluntary sector agencies.
Can you print a newsletter yourself or do you have a budget to get it professionally printed? Generally, if you need a very limited print run, it could be cheaper to print it out yourself or get it photocopied.
If you’re using a a professional printing service, ask about costs and formats. Do they offer a basic design service? If not, do you have the necessary software and skills to do it yourself or can you afford to have someone design it?
Here are some tips for developing a newsletter:
· make a list of potential news stories and features – if there’s a lot of material, prioritise it
· ensure that you have an attention-grabbing main story, preferably with a good photograph
· use a variety of styles – some stories could be short news items, others could features, such as a case study on a learner
· prepare a rough layout
o decide on the format – avoid being over ambitious and start with A4 or double-sided A4.
o don’t forget to include a ‘masthead’ – the title of the newsletter – on the front cover. This could be something as simple as ‘Update’ with your logo and the month of issue
o work out a word count for each story or feature and stick to it
o for main text don’t use smaller than a 12 point font. Make the main headline the largest (e.g. 36 point bold)
· make it as readable as possible
- keep the headlines short and punchy – no more than about six or seven words for the longest headline – and use direct language (shout about your successes)
- keep sentences short
- ensure paragraphs are generally no longer than two or three sentences
- use quotations to break up stories – this makes them easier to read and adds interest and credibility
- include competitions or puzzles to add further interest
Download a template that you can use.