Comments on: Can your newsletter beat the competition? http://www.fundraisingassets.com/blog/2010/01/11/can-your-newsletter-beat-the-competition/ Providing expert help for the professional fundraiser Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:23:59 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Connie http://www.fundraisingassets.com/blog/2010/01/11/can-your-newsletter-beat-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Connie Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:40:59 +0000 http://www.fundraisingassets.com/blog/?p=381#comment-148 Pamela, I totally agree it's useful to picture the reader sorting the mail while standing over the trash can. If you can get the reader to sit down and take a look at your newsletter, great! What you don't want is for them to set your newsletter aside to look at later when they have more time, because they often never get back to it. If people can complete the whole newsletter-- and take action-- while standing over the trash can, that's terrific. Thanks so much for your comments! Pamela,
I totally agree it’s useful to picture the reader sorting the mail while standing over the trash can. If you can get the reader to sit down and take a look at your newsletter, great! What you don’t want is for them to set your newsletter aside to look at later when they have more time, because they often never get back to it. If people can complete the whole newsletter– and take action– while standing over the trash can, that’s terrific. Thanks so much for your comments!

]]> By: Pamela Grow http://www.fundraisingassets.com/blog/2010/01/11/can-your-newsletter-beat-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Pamela Grow Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:21:24 +0000 http://www.fundraisingassets.com/blog/?p=381#comment-147 My best advice would be to really engage your reader. I always imagine the donor/prospective reader sorting their mail over the trash. What will make that individual pause, take a seat and read my newsletter? The "letter from the Executive Director?" The list of donors (only if I've given and want to make sure my name appears)? People give to people and good storytelling is essential for a good newsletter. Stories by and about those who have benefitted from your work, stories of your volunteers, the stories of your donors. Oh, and keep it simple and keep it SHORT! The 1-2 page newsletter is much more likely to be read than the 8 page glossy publication. My best advice would be to really engage your reader. I always imagine the donor/prospective reader sorting their mail over the trash.

What will make that individual pause, take a seat and read my newsletter? The “letter from the Executive Director?” The list of donors (only if I’ve given and want to make sure my name appears)? People give to people and good storytelling is essential for a good newsletter.

Stories by and about those who have benefitted from your work, stories of your volunteers, the stories of your donors.

Oh, and keep it simple and keep it SHORT! The 1-2 page newsletter is much more likely to be read than the 8 page glossy publication.

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