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Advice on newsletter publishing

How to Publish Your Newsletter
A complete guide to print and electronic newsletter publishing

Publisher: Square One Publishers
Paperback
349 pages
June 2006
ISBN: 0-7570-0045-2
ISBN: 978-0-7570-0045-4
List price: $21.95 US
amazon.com price: $17.12

How to Publish Your Newsletter: book jacket
Click the image to order the book from amazon.com.

With rapid improvements in technology, many more people now have the means to create newsletters. And for nonprofit organizations, businesses, clubs, hobby groups, and professional societies, newsletters can, indeed, provide a perfect way to educate, motivate, sell, raise funds, and promote.

Unfortunately, relatively few newsletters realize their full potential.

How to Publish Your Newsletter is designed to steer editors, entrepreneurs, and volunteers through every phase of the newsletter publishing process. First, it explores the world of newsletters and helps you determine where your publication fits in. Then, it leads you through the steps that apply to your specific newsletter, be it subscription or nonsubscription, print or electronic. The author helps you set up shop, from the creation of a budget to the development of a capable staff and a realistic schedule. And she guides you through the writing and design of newsletter articles, including the use of photos and other graphics.

Every aspect of the process, from planning to distribution, is carefully explored and explained, enabling you to launch your new newsletter--or improve your existing one--with both confidence and competence.

Whether you strive to educate the public about new products, inspire your company's workers, or share information about health, crafts, or politics, the newsletter can be an effective tool. How to Publish Your Newsletter will help you make that tool work for you.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I Getting the Big Picture: Planning Your Newsletter
1. Types of Newsletters
    Circulation Basis
        Subscription
        Nonsubscription
    Format
        Print
        Electronic
    Classification
        Professional
        Association
        Consumer
        Marketing
        Crossing Classifications
2. Laying the Groundwork
    Establishing the Basics
        Define Your Purpose
        Understand Your Audience
        Choose the Right Style
    Assessing the Competition
    All About the Name    
        Nameplates, Names, Logos, and Taglines
        Registering a Trademark
        Registering Internet Domain Names
        About ISSNs
3. Setting up Shop
    Choosing a Distribution Method
        Print Newsletters
        Electronic Newsletters
        Assessing Criteria for Distribution
        Managing Change in Distribution Format
    Creating a Budget
        Income
        Costs
        Profit and Loss
    Assigning Responsibilities
        Newsletter Roles
        Reviewers
        Recruiting Staff
    Creating Schedules
        Scheduling When and How Often to Publish
        Setting Your Newsletter's Length
        Creating an Editorial Calendar
        Developing a Production Schedule
4. Planning the Content
    Defining Your Content
        Editorial Content
        Understanding Copyrights and Agreements
        Advertisements
    Organizing Your Content
        News
        Features
        Regular Columns
        Sidebars
        Advertising
    Making Your Content Fit
        Assigning Article Length
        Creating Filler
        Cutting Copy
5. Finding Readers
    Direct Mail
        Finding a Market
        Using House Lists
        Using Rented Lists
        Constructing the Direct Mail Offer
        Writing and Designing the Direct Mail Piece
    Advertising
        Print Ads
        House Ads
        Internet Ads
        Other Advertising
    Telemarketing
    Internet Marketing
       Soliciting on Your Website
       Soliciting Through E-Mail
    Other Marketing Methods
       Solicit Media Coverage
       Build Your Credibility
       Distribute Sample Copies
       Swap Ads, Links, and Other Publicity
       Solicit Renewals
Part II Being Clark Kent: Writing, Editing, and Illustrating Your Newsletter
6. Writing and Editing
    Getting the Facts
     Understanding the Principles of Newsletter Writing
        Selecting a Tone
        Selecting Vocabulary and Detail
        Writing Concisely and Clearly
        Writing Accurately
        Encouraging Reader Response
    Organizing Articles 
        News Stories
        Features
        Other Stories
    Writing Headlines and Skimming Aids
        Headlines
        Kickers, Decks, Subheads, and Pull Quotes
        Captions
    Editing Your Newsletter
        Editing for Content
        Editing for Consistency
        Proofreading
7. Creating Graphics and Photographs
    Graphics
         Illustrative Graphics
         Decorative Graphics
    Photographs
        Photographic Equipment
        Planning Shots
        Gettting Permission for Photography
        Outside Photo Sources
        Preparing Photographs for Production
Part III Taking It to the Streets: Producing Your Print Newsletter
8. Designing and Laying Out Print Newsletters
    Principles of Newsletter Design
        Be Attractive and Easy to Read
        Draw Attention to Important Information
        Provide Information Through Skimming Aids
        Communicate Your Chosen Tone
        Demonstrate Editorial Stability
    Getting Help
        Graphic Designers
        Templates
        The Competition
        Other Resources
    Page Design: Creating a Blueprint
        Determining Page Size
        Setting Up Page Grids
        Using Color
        Selecting Paper
    Type Design
        Body Text
        Display Type
        Designing Other Newsletter Elements
    Layout: Constructing an Issue
        Obtaining Copy and Applying Styles
        Typesetting Punctuation
        Mapping
        Placing Text and Graphics
        Avoiding Jumps
        Fitting Copy
    Choosing Page-Layout Software
9. Reproducing and Mailing Print Newsletters
    Reproduction
        Choosing a Method of Print Reproduction
        Buying Additional Print Shop Services
        Choosing and Using a Print Shop
    Mailing
        First Class and Standard Mail
        Periodicals Mail
        Resources for Getting Help with Your Mailing
Part IV Launching It Online: Producing Your Electronic Newsletter
10. Producing Website Newsletters
     Writing and Editing Web Newsletters
        Writing Less
        Using Headlines and Subheads
        Using Hypertext to Your Advantage
        Following Inverted Pyramid Style
        Editing Web Newsletters
    Designing Web Newsletters
        Page Design
        Type Design
        Masthead Design
        Designing Other Elements
    Laying out Web Newsletters
    Testing Web Newsletters
        Checking Navigation
        Checking the Elements
        Checking Type
        Checking Graphics
        Checking Columns
    Selecting Software
    Distributing Web Newsletters
11. Producing E-Mail Newsletters
    Writing and Editing E-Mail Newsletters
    Creating E-Mail Messages
        Creating Text E-Mail Messages
        Creating HTML E-Mail Messages
    Testing E-Mail Newsletters
        For Text E-Mail
        For HTML E-Mail
    Distributing E-Mail Newsletters
        Do It Yourself
        List Hosting
        Avoiding the Spammer Label
        Archiving Back Issues
12. Producing PDF Newsletters
     Writing and Editing PDF Newsletters
     Designing and Laying Out PDF Newsletters
     Converting Page-Layout Files to PDF
     Testing PDF Newsletters
        Local Testing
        Web Server Testing
     Distributing PDF Newsletters
Conclusion: Sustaining Your Success
Glossary
Worksheets
Resources
Credits
Index

Copyright 2008 by Carol Luers Eyman