Newsletters

Newsletters

Internal newsletters can be a great way to connect faculty, staff, and students.

Starting a newsletter

When deciding whether or not to start an internal newsletter, you should first:

1. Review existing publications. Is there anything that already exists that would get your message out?

2. Ensure employees and/or students (including yourself) will have the capacity to consume another email. Will this newsletter help bundle or eliminate other email noise?

3. Determine what content you will include and how you will develop/curate that content.

4. Decide how frequently you will publish your newsletter.

5. Determine methods for regular feedback and evaluation to measure the effectiveness of the newsletter and make necessary adjustments.

Benefits of newsletters

Your unit may benefit from an internal newsletter if you are facing one or more of the following situations.*

• You organization is growing or large. When an organization grows in size or has multiple departments, teams, or locations, an internal newsletter can help facilitate communication, improve transparency, and keep employees/students informed about organization updates, achievements, and initiatives.

• You have remote or distributed teams. If your organization has remote workers or distributed teams, an internal newsletter can serve as a valuable tool for keeping everyone connected, fostering a sense of unity, and sharing important information across the company.

• You're going through a lot of change. During times of organizational change, such as restructuring or significant policy shifts, an internal newsletter can help manage the transition by providing updates, addressing concerns, and clarifying the reasons behind the changes.

• You're looking to boost employee/student engagement and morale. Boost employee morale and engagement by highlighting employee achievements, recognizing outstanding work, sharing success stories, and providing a platform for employees to contribute their ideas, suggestions, or feedback.

• You want to regularly share knowledge and best practices. Share industry news, market trends, educational resources, and best practices within the organization. Disseminate knowledge, promote continuous learning, and encourage collaboration.

• Leadership wants to reinforce culture and values. Reinforce your organization's culture and values by featuring articles, interviews, or stories that highlight the organization's mission, vision, and core principles. This can help align employees and create a shared sense of purpose.

• You frequently host events, launch new initiatives, or conduct employee/student programs. Promote these activities, provide event details, and encourage participation, while reducing the total number of emails that go out.

CEHD and University publications

Get more information on University and CEHD publications to help target and amplify your messages.

Email tools

Get access to and tips on using email tools, including Salesforce and Gmail Layouts and Multi-Send.

University tips and best practices

UMN Blog: Tips for standout newsletters

UMN Blog: Newsletter best practices

*Developed with the help of ChatGPT.