Four Steps To Newsletter Success

Four Steps To Newsletter Success

Once you've decided the purpose of your school newsletter, who is going to run it, and what kind of format you're going to use, you're ready to begin!

1. Name your newsletter and create a tag line.

• Have fun and be creative!
• Pick something related to your school. (Tip: Creating your newsletter's name can be as simple as using your school's name (i.e. "Snowflake Junior High School Newsletter") or your school's mascot (i.e. "The Lobos' News).

In reality though, the sky is the limit! You may even want to hold a school-wide contest to name your newsletter.

2. Create a content outline and template.

• Decide what articles you want to include
• Deadlines for the content
• The layout of the newsletter.
• Make sure the content is valuable and helpful to readers, or no one will read your newsletter!
• When you first begin your newsletter, two to four pages is a common length.

In writing the content, be sure to use short, to-the-point information, bulleted lists, and a positive tone. Also, don't forget to add pictures of students and graphics to increase the aesthetic appeal!

(Tip: Have a second person proofread your newsletter. Nothing's worse than an embarrassing typo!)

3. Determine your newsletter's frequency and stick to it.

• When deciding the frequency of your newsletter
• Consider factors such as when main school events occur
• Monthly or bi-monthly is a great place to start, but be consistent!

Telling your subscribers when to expect a newsletter and delivering on that promise is the key to communication and marketing success.

4. Syndicate your newsletter.

You've done all the work to put the newsletter together, so don't forget to spread the word! Add your newsletter to your school's website, add it to your school's Facebook or Twitter accounts, email or mail it to your local newspapers.