Newsletter Production
Top Ten Things
to Avoid When Producing Your Newsletter
1. Don’t use too many
fonts.
This is a big one and a very common mistake that many newsletter publishers
make.
Approach your use of fonts carefully and you’ll have jumped a major
design hurtle from the beginning.
2. Don’t make type too small to read or too
large to feel comfortable.
Anything smaller than 10 point could be hard to read. Anything above 12 point
for article text will look out of place.
3. Don’t make headlines too long.
Rambling headlines take up too much room and will seem overbearing.
Headlines shouldn’t be over two lines in length, and one line is always
better. Check out
our tips for great headlines.
4. Don’t overuse clip art.
It’s everywhere, inexpensive, and fun. So why shouldn’t you fill up your
newsletter with it? Because it can be overused and can clutter up your
newsletter faster than any other element. It is also tempting to use several
different pieces of clipart, when one larger one will do.
Learning to use clipart to its best advantage is of the utmost
importance.
5. Don’t underline text.
This is a throwback to the days of typewriters, when the only technique
available to emphasis text was to underline it or use the italics element.
But we’ve come a long way since then. Today, underlining text causes your
reader to associate with a hyperlink, an active link to a webpage. So avoid
using underlining if at all possible.
6. Don’t forget to proofread (and don’t rely on
just your spellchecker).
Sometime we feel that we’ve caught all our errors just because we’ve been so
involved in producing our newsletter. After all, you’ve read it over and
over, so it must be fine, right? Well, sometimes the little things get by
us. If possible, have a friend, associate, or co-worker proofread for you.
Different eyes see different things and can sometimes catch little mistakes.
7. Don’t bury the point of your article in the
middle.
Bring it to the first paragraph to be sure to bring your readers into the
rest of the article. A rambling start is no way to keep your reader
interested, or even to continue into the rest of your newsletter.
8. Don’t forget to keep some white space in your
publication.
Cluttering up your newsletter is a sure turnoff. Next time you’re feeling
cramped, check out our
tips for uncluttering your newsletter.
9. Don’t box every article.
There is usually a need to emphasize some articles over others in your
newsletter. You may also find that you have several articles to highlight.
But putting a box around each one isn’t the way to go. Use shaded boxes,
rules lines, clipart placement, and adequately contrasting headlines to
organize your pages.
10. Don't forget who you are.
Design a masthead for your front page that clearly identifies your
newsletter, and if applicable, your company or organization. If you are
stuck thinking of a great name for your newsletter, check out
our suggestions. You may also want to include a short mission statement.
Contact information is also crucial, especially if you are sending your
newsletter to the public or to customers. Make it clear who the newsletter
is from and how you can be reached.
