Newsletter Production
What's In a Name?
“What's in a
name?
That which we call a rose
by any other word
would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would,
were he not Romeo call’d,
retain that dear perfection
which he owes without that title."
- Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare recognized that even if you call a rose by another name, it
still is the same flower, with all its beauty intact. But a newsletter can
benefit from improving its name. The name of your newsletter is the first
thing your readers will see. If you want to capture their attention, now
might be the time to reevaluate the name you have chosen for your
newsletter. Your goal should be to make it interesting and recognizable
for your readers.
Make It Familiar
The most common way to name a newsletter is after the
name of your company. For example, an apartment complex named Park Avenue
Estates could simply place their community logo at the top of the front
page of their newsletter. This gives your newsletter instant recognition,
as your residents are familiar with your logo and name from seeing it
daily as they travel in and out of your community. As long as this is done
professionally, it can have a good effect.
Get Creative
Your newsletter might get more attention if you get more creative when
you come up with a name. It is often easy to play on the name of your
community or neighborhood.
For example, “In The Hunt” might be a good name for The Huntington
Apartments’ newsletter. Or Sunset Creek Apartments could have a
newsletter called, “On The Horizon.” And Village on the Green
Apartments could use “Village Voice” for their newsletter. Use our
list
of Notable Names to jump-start some creative thinking.
If you do decide to come up with a clever name, keep these points in
mind:
Make sure the name is easy to pronounce.
You don’t want the name to be confusing or ambiguous. Keep it simple
and straightforward.
Watch out for negative
connotations in the name.
Be sensitive to any alternative interpretations of your newsletter’s
name.
Test your newsletter name on several different people to get their
feedback.
Your best bet is always to give the name a few “test runs.” Make a
list of names you like and feel are appropriate. Ask friends and even some
current readers which they prefer. You may even get some new ideas for a
name this way. Once you’ve narrowed your list down, simply choose your
personal favorite!
