How To Publish Your Own Newsletter

With the expansion and diversion of businesses,manufacturing plants? Have their local newspapers
manufacturers, and even hobbyists into more andwritten about public opinions about those plants, such
more specialized areas of endeavor, there is anas pollution or high employment?
increasing need for information. And newsletters are
the high profit way to cash in on the market forIf you have a topic that requires a certain environment,
specialized information.how do the local towns cater to the enthusiasts,
especially during a main event?
You can write and produce your own newsletter from
home with a low overhead and potential for highWRITING COPY
returns. Many newsletter subscriptions range from $25
to $100 per year, some much higher. Even aIn this publication, you are the authority. Use strong,
thousands subscribers will bring in huge earnings. Theredirect statements with an active voice. Although you
are no tried and true methods of making a newsletterare often offering opinion, the content should be
successful, but if you investigate the market thoroughly,factual.
and are cautious in your moves, you can make a
break-even profit turn into a sound income year afterYour readers are intelligent, and experts in the same
year.field you are writing about. You'll need to back up
statements with research. A rule of thumb is that three
You don't have to be a famous business consultant orconcurring sources make fact.
an insider on the stock market to produce a
newsletter. There are many that cater to all types ofAlthough you don't need to be a polished writer your
sports, crafts, health, housing or money making.copy must be easy to read and understand, It should
be exciting, filled with lots of bits of information.
The most important aspect of creating a successful
newsletter is the market. You need to research whoThe main thrust of the newsletter is enthusiasm,, Your
will buy the subscription and how much they are willingsubscribers are into the subject you are writing about..
to pay. But there are sound methods of testing theDon't be afraid to let them know you love the topic as
market so you can be sure to come out ahead andmuch as they do.. Go ahead--get excited...
establish yourself in the field.
If you have chosen a technical subject, you'll need to
If you have a special interest that has a broadbe an expert in the field. If you are not,have somebody
following, you might find that a newsletter will be readilyyou can call at any time to confirm fact. After all, your
accepted and flourish.newsletter is geared toward the experts.. so you have
to pull through.. You don't have to do all the writing
What interests or hobbies have you been involvedyourself. You can employ free lancers who collect or
with that can make a lively income for you? If youwrite material for the newsletter. The financial
follow the steps and carefully consider your market,arrangement is negotiable. But keep in mind that high
there is no reason why you can't get into thequality skills and expert knowledge usually cost.
newsletter business too.. And you can MAKE IT
WORK.The success of the newsletter lies with the quality of
information you have. Not quality of writing-the quality
WHAT IS A NEWSLETTER?of information.. If a reader can review an entire copy
and say, "i know that," you're not coming through with
A newsletter is a special timely report on a singleinside information or new trends.
subject. It is a personalized, concise statement from an
expert or person thoroughly familiar with a specializedQuality of information is the dozens of little tidbits of
field.information, expert advice, and tips for success. That is
the core of the newsletter, and should be the core of
Newsletters are maintained solely by subscriptions;your own interests. That is why you have unique
there is no advertising. Most are printed within lowknowledge to offer, and why your newsletter will be
budget means, typewritten, from two to eight pages.successful.
The specialized information is newsletters is current,What interests you? You are the best judge of lively
and usually cannot be found elsewhere. They are atopics, and are the best critic of the newsletter. If you
logical extension to trade journals and magazines.subscribed to this publication, would this be what you'd
expect? Are you delivering the full potential of the
Aimed at a select group, they often contain the insidesubject matter?
information in the field, hot tips or news scoops that
become old news in publications of the trade.Above all, the information practical? Can a person
reading the newsletter gain from having acquired that
Newsletters are not distributed by newsstands, nor areinformation? Although you are publishing the newsletter
they meant for the mass market. In fact, the averagefor a select group of people, you should direct it to
number of potential readers of newsletters in any oneeach individual person.
field is relatively small.
The personal approach is the best attitude to take in
Because of their specific information,, newsletters canboth gathering information and in writing copy. Since
command a high subscriptions fee. Business canthe newsletter is an informal publication, the copy
afford to spend money to offer executives top-rateshould read informally, as though you just heard the
information..hot news and are writing it quickly for your best friend
to profit by.
There are hundreds of newsletters now being
published and distributed in the United States. But thereGETTING READY FOR PRINTING
is room for hundreds more. Because of the specialized
market, there is often little competition amongThe first few newsletters you publish will require a lot
newsletters, and THERE IS A RISING TRENDof trial and error with copy and layout. You'll need to
TOWARDS SUBSCRIBING.decide how many spaces to leave between the end
of a paragraph and the beginning of a subhead, how
WHY ARE NEWSLETTERS POPULAR?many spaces to indent, and how big the margins will
be.
With all the print media and visual communications in
this country, you might think there is a saturatedThink about what is important to the format. Some
market. And that is true when it comes to generalnewsletters use italics or underlined words to
interest mass market publications. However, the needemphasize the importance. And some of these
for specific information in specialized fields is constantlyover-use these methods. Always let good taste
increasing. How can I beat the competition? How doesdictate the layout and style of your publication.
the world news affect my industry? Will a union strike
on the other side of the world raise our prices??When a whole line is taken up by a few words, or the
last half of a hyphenated word, it is called a widow.
The focus of the newsletter is success. Success inThese look sloppy in any type of publication, you may
business, success in hobbies, success in health andrewrite the paragraph to extend or shorten that
happiness. The information contained in the newsletterssentence.
motivates readers to follow the advice. What are the
best investments? Where are the trade shows? HowBe careful about carry-overs to the next page. It's
can I get an edge on winning contests?very awkward to hyphenate at the bottom of a page,
or have only one line at the top of the next, then
There is an endless need for specific knowledge inspace for a subhead. As you get more adept at
every field of endeavor. Since there is a high standardpreparing copy, you'll be able to write to fit. And that
of competition within every aspect of our modern life,looks good.
people search for ways to be in the know, and use
that information effectively.The basic standard for a newsletter is clarity. Can you
read the type? Are the ideas well presented and easy
One of the reasons subscription prices can stay high isto under-stand? Do the subhead interest and moti-vate
because people are paying for the knowledge andreaders?
what might be gained by it. If a two hundred dollar
newsletter saves a company thousands of dollars inThe final typed copy is exactly what will be printed.
excellent advice, then it is well worth the price.Since photo offset is the least expensive way to print
multiple copies of typewritten material, the pages must
WHAT IT TAKESbe clean. Any second color should be indicated with an
overlay. This is a sheet of tracing paper taped to the
you can start a newsletter by yourself; you don't needcopy with printers instructions written on it and sections
a large staff. A desk at home, a typewriter and acircled that need special attention. For the first year of
telephone are all the basic tools you need to create apublication, you won't need to put in any photos-in fact,
newsletter. Even when you get into computerizedyou may never use photos.. But give yourself a long
labels and mass mailings, you still will not need a largeenough time to get established before you go to more
space.expensive elements.
You don't need to invest a lot of money to begin aPRINTING
simple newsletter. You may need to put a little out for
advertising for subscribers or mailings to introduce yourThe least expensive, and most practical, way to print
product. And you need to spend some money onyour newsletter is at an instant printer's, using photo
getting the first newsletter printed.offset. These small local businesses can print, collate,
fold, and stuff envelopes, all for a reasonable fee.
But, if your subscription list builds properly, you'll be able
to earn back your initial investments quickly-with someIf you want to use two colors in the newsletter. first
left over.have your masthead and perhaps border designs
printed in huge quantities. All the clack type can later be
WHAT TO WRITE ABOUTprinted on those two-color pre-printed sheets.
The topic choose has got to be your major interest.Don't go to the expense of elaborate printing until your
You'll be living with it day and day out for years, sosubscription volume is high and you advance into a
you need to be devoted to the subject. Usually, it's notdifferent format. Almost any publication you read,
hard. You probably already have a chosen field of(newspapers, books, magazines) are printed on large
endeavor, or have developed a keen interest in aroll presses and require typesetting.
special hobby or sport. Writing a newsletter is only one
more way to demonstrate your interest.Typesetting is expensive, but it certainly gives a
professional finish to publications. Consider, however, if
Read any newsletter you can find. What do they talkyou want your newsletter to be slick. It may detract
about? How much do they cost? How long have theyfrom its personal approach, and subscribers may drop
been in business? You might want to talk to theif it leans towards a magazine.
publishers of a few to find out how they started and
what troubles they encountered. Consider paying themBut, if your subscription list is large and the newsletter
a consulting fee to help you get on your way.is successful, you can find excellent printers who will
handle the whole job of typesetting, layout, printing-all
Take a look at all the trade magazines of the topicthe way to mailing.
you'd like to work with. Find out if there are any
newsletters already existing in that field. But don'tHOW OFTEN TO PUBLISH
worry--there is usually room for more if you keep to
another aspect of the business or endeavor.There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding
upon a publication schedule. The main one is how fast
Keep up with the current trends in health, money,can you produce a newsletter.
sports, or social events and styles.. What's new with
the young people? Or the elderly? There are manyWork backwards, You want a subscriber to receive
retired people actively pursuing hundreds of variousthe newsletter on a certain date. It needs to be in the
interests. How can you tap into that market??mail a few days before that. And before that, it will
take the printer how many days to deliver the printed
WHO WILL BUY?materials? How long will it take a typist to finish the
copy, and for you to decide on the final layout?
The first place to test your newsletter is with
associates and colleagues. And, you don't need theirHow long will it take you to research and write material
subscription, just their input. What do they think aboutfor your newsletter? This may be a deciding factor in
your ideas? How much would they pay for athe size of the publication. Perhaps you'd prefer to get
newsletter delivered to their office or home on thea four page newsletter out every other week rather
subjects that are vital to them?than an eight page newsletter out every month.
The target you're aiming at is simply, anyone who willIf your topic is filled with today's news, then you'll want
benefit from the information you have. Not only areto get that out to your subscribers as fast as possible.
people in a specific profession hungry for news,, butOther subjects can be done monthly, bimonthly, or
there are people in all sorts of related jobs andeven quarterly.. Be careful with infrequent mailings,
organizations seeking specialized knowledge. Everyonehowever, because the subscribers may just forget
is interested in making or saving money. Although youabout it. And what use is a small newsletter only a
don't have to focus on investments--there are manyfew times a year?
such newsletters already--you can point out the
benefits of your inside tips on how to find the easiest,GETTING SUBSCRIBERS
or the least expensive, or direct-to-the-source
methods of attaining materials for pursuits or sports.Think about where the people who would want your
newsletter are, and go find them.
Generally, you have a small audience target--about
thirty to fifty thousand people. But even a smallDo you have access to mailing lists directly related to
percentage of that target will make your newsletteryour subject matter? Maybe you already have a small
profitable.business selling information, or have access to a
customer list of people who buy similar information.
Extremely successful topics are new trends where
people can't get enough information. Manufacturers,You can purchase mailing lists that have every
advertisers and entrepreneurs are all searching for thedemographic breakdown you can imagine. What is the
new to exploit. Depending on the subject you choose,profile of your potential subscribers? Think about those
tap into those potential subscribers.people, and write down their attributes. Write down the
age group, sex, education level, income, where they
WHAT TO CALL IT?live, perhaps the type of housing accommodation. A
good list broker can work out the best lists to give you
The title at the top of the newsletter is the most visualresults.
aspect of the publication. It reflects the content and it
reflects you. What title is best for your newsletter? IfA sure way to build up a potential subscriber mailing list
you are well-known in your field, you can use youris with a drawing at a trade show or convention. You
own name. Or, think of a few titles that indicate thecan have cards printed up for people to fill in their
topic, or use a catch-phrase that sums up thenames and addresses. All attendees would be
endeavor. Two-word titles work well.interested in the subject matter of your newsletter.
You might use an action title if you're going afterYou can take out display ads in the trade magazines
sports, or a title that includes the word "money" if that'sthat cater to the topic you are pursuing. Include the full
a main focus of your subject.details of your newsletter, or use a leader to get
inquiries, and send the details later. Especially with the
Make up a few titles of your own. How do theyprices of newsletter, you may want to prepare and
compare with the titles of other newsletters? Whichsend out literature and samples rather than go for a
rings true for your enterprise?low response.
Check at the library to be sure your title is original andPrepare a direct mail piece that describes the benefits
doesn't duplicate other publications currently on theand features of your newsletter and pushes for
market. The title is your trademark.subscription.... You can offer a special free booklet to
new subscribers, or a discount. You may include a
Although newsletters require very little graphic design,sample copy in the direct mail piece to show how
illustrations, or an art director on staff, you may wantworthwhile the publication is.
to consult a professional designer to help you with the
prototype.Selling newsletters, like any other direct mail or
publishing enterprise, takes a lot of testing. You need to
Since the title of the newsletter is so important, it wouldtest the initial response to the idea of the topic;; and the
be worthwhile to have it designed.. You'll only need toresponse to the first few newsletters produced.
pay a one-time fee, and you can use it forevermore.
Pricing is always a tricky of selling information. How
The logo can be very simple. If you have a title thathigh can you price your newsletter an still keep the
doesn't use your name, you might have a companynumber of subscribers to make it profitable? You'll find
name under or above the title in small print.. Althoughthrough testing that there's a plateau, and subscriptions
most publications don;t place the address under thewill fall off when the price gets too high.
title,, newsletters often do, so potential subscribers
know where to write.Frequency of publication is also important. Although
you may be able to prepare and publish a weekly
Another aspect of the title at the top of the publicationnewsletter, your subscribers may not be able to keep
is the date and the issue number. These should beup with the reading, and prefer a monthly subscription.
considered in the original design. Since a newsletter
has timely information,, the date of the issue should beAny good mailing list should be used over and over. If
easy to find.you know you have alist of prime targets for your
newsletter, don't stop with one mailing. Follow through
The newsletter will be typewritten and photo offset, sowith subsequent offers at certain intervals to catch
an elaborate logo may look out of place. Start out withthose who couldn't decide the first time.
one color and keep it as homespun and fresh as the
news you'll publish. Avoid fancy type styles or thoseMAILING
that are hard to read. And don't go overboard with a
clever or cute design. Something simple and clear isYou can use computer services in your town to have
what you're after.labels printed up, or, if you're only dealing in a small
quantity, you can have mailing lists photo copied onto
STYLE AND FORMATaddress labels.
A low-budget newsletter is usually one column.,After your first success, and after you've paid your
typewritten copy, with ample but not wide margins.initial investment and you've got enough money to
Anything with two or more columns should be typeset,expand, make things easy on yourself.. The most
which is an extra expense you don't need.sophisticated, and the easiest method of mailing to
subscribers is by computer.
The most economical way of printing the newsletter is
on one or two 11 x 17 inch pages, printed on both sides,Nowadays, computers are so commercially popular
and folded. This will give you a small booklet of four tothat they are within almost anybody's budget. And a
eight pages, each the standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch size.computer that would store and print out names and
addresses need not be expensive. If the mail is
You might consider having it three-hole punched. Itpre-sorted by zip code, you can use a bulk rate for
doesn't cost much to have this done at the printers,mailing and save money. If your newsletter can meet
and it could be an added feature to encouragethe specifications, you might even be able to get a
subscribers to save the valuable information.special second class rate permit for educational
material. Talk with postal workers to find out what you
Any graphics should be kept simple, but don't be afraidneed to do comply with these special rates.
to use subheads to break up the copy.. A few words
capitalized or in a larger or darker print help the readerBOOKKEEPING
identify the information, and make it easier to read.
You can keep complete and accurate accounts of
Keep enough white space to encourage reading, but fillyour newsletter business by yourself. It's basically
the pages to make the subscriber feel the newsletterbroken down into two areas: how much you spend,
fulfills its promises.and how much you make.. If you keep track of all your
expenses, you'll have an easy time of it at tax time.
WHAT TO INCLUDEOpen up a business checking account at your bank.
Get to know the bank manager, if you don't already.
Consider a copy format that is divided by types ofAlthough you can start and maintain a newsletter
information. For example, you can have a sectionwithin a low budget, be sure to figure your costs and
labeled profiles, another on upcoming events. Perhapsrisks before you invest too much money, and be sure
you have a calendar of shows, conventions, orof a back up to be able to fulfill all the subscriptions.
seminars that would concern readers.
Maintaining your subscription lists is a task that needs
There might be sections on various industry policies ordiligence and a head for details. Since each subscriber
unwritten rules.. Past events and history are alwaysstarts at a different issue, you need to create and
good fillers. And don't forget humor. Although yourcontinue a method of keeping track of expiring
newsletter is serious, potent information, no field ofsubscriptions.
endeavor is without its lighter side. Don't lock yourself
into a format you can't always fulfill. Rather, haveYou'll want to write a standard appeal for renewal to
these sections available for you to use as each issuebe sent out in plenty of time for subscribers to renew.
is written.And you'll have to follow up for those who choose not
to renew at the end of their present subscriptions.
And always include subscription information. Your own
newsletter is the best way to sell more.The best advice is to get the best advice. Who can
help you set up a subscription system? Maybe
FINDING THE FACTSsomebody local is expert at that.
Your first issues won't lack for information, becauseFind out who handles subscriptions at a nearby
you already have pages of information to publish.. Butpublication, and talk to that person.
after that, you'll need renewable sources of copy.
WHAT'S LEGAL
What's new in the industry? Your associates and
colleagues are the prime source of undercurrents inAlthough any business in the United States is subject
the field you write about.. Renew and make newto the Federal Trade Commission's regulations, a
contacts, they'll be invaluable for getting information.newsletter business is simple.
Are there any correspondents you can use in otherYou don't need a license for this business. However,
parts of the country to give you fact? Perhaps youYou should consult with your local Sales Tax office for
can work out a financial arrangement with an insideracquiring a resale tax permit.
for important information you want to include.
The content of the newsletter must be documented
Interviews are important ways to get vital information.by facts if you get into any dispute.. If you don't border
If you can't contact the people in the high places, suchon libel, you should have no problem with any law suits
as presidents or directories, their assistants can be justfor the content of your publication. However, consult
as valuable, if not more, in acquiring information.your attorney if there are any problems with copyright,
confidentially, or access to news. If you write with
New trends are found by talking to the workers, or theintegrity, independent of any payoffs by companies or
participants.. An employee might describe the wondersindividuals, you'll have no trouble with being on the
of a new machine; and athlete may praise some newwrong side of the law.
equipment. And don't have to travel to see these
people. A good phone voice can unlock many doors.SUCCESS IS YOURS
Don't overlook the obvious-public relations people haveWriting and publishing a newsletter is a challenging and
a lot of information to disperse. Creating a goodexciting way to express yourself. And it will give you
rapport with a P.R. person can get you constant timelyprestige and acknowledgement in the community.
advice and specialized information..
You can start the business with virtually no overhead
Talk to people who have nothing to hide.. Secretariesand a small amount of capital, and you can build up to
often know more details than their bosses. And theymaking profits in the six-figure bracket.
usually aren't told to keep project secret. What they
know can fill pages of newsletters.A newsletter has a market, and the people who
subscribe to it will pay high prices for the information
Follow up on articles presented in the tradeyou have. Tap into the market and reap those profits.
publications. You might be able to use some more
in-depth aspects of the same topics they publish. CanThere's no news you can't find out about, and there's
you talk to the people they interview? Perhaps youno industry or type of endeavor in this country today
can critique some controversial subject and getthat doesn't have a large group of enthusiasts. How
someone to present an opposite opinion.can you find out what they want to know? This is a
place to use your resources and use your background.
The newsletter is a personal forum. That means that
you are welcome to give your personal commentsThe actual task of researching, writing, and having a
and opinions on anything..newsletter published is easy. There is no secret or
special tricks or skills you need besides a good nose
However, they can't be egotistical or narrow minded,for the best prices. What is important is coming up with
or you'll lose subscribers.an idea for a newsletter that will sell to a select group
who has no specialized information presently available
Trade shows and conventions are your gold. Everyin that or in a similar form.
person who displays or attends the show is interested
in the subject.. You could virtually interview everyoneYou've probably got your ideas already. Well, go
and get a complete overview of the industry.ahead. Make up a sample newsletter and pass it
around. Get a good response? A small sampling is only
If you are working with a sports topic,, meets anda good indication that the rest will like it too.
events are the place you need to be.... Talk to people
who arrange them and the broadcasters-they have aSUCCESS IS AROUND THE CORNER.
lot of background knowledge.. You might be able to
feature events regularly in the newsletter.If you need specialized legal advice or assistances, the
services of a pro-fessional person are
Where are the people who subscribe to the--Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a
newsletter? What events happen in their towns? Iffresh and informative newsletter dedicated to
you are writing about industry, where are the mainsupporting peoplelike you!