Newsletter Companies

[Guest Marci]

Can anyone suggest a good newsletter company? Reliable, professional looking newsletters, on time...Thanks!

[lllucas 0]

Hi, Marci! :-)

 

I may be biased, but I highly recommend Newsletter-Express.com at http://www.newsletter-express.com . It is my husband's website. He is a retired administrator and is very particular about professional appearance, content, timeliness and affordability. Newsletter-Express.com offers you two options: 1. You can download a free monthly newsletter, Health Care Express, which you may use as your facility newsletter. 2. You may have the same newsletter personalized with your choice of title, address, etc. for a small monthly fee.

 

I suggest that you visit my site, The Activity Director's Office, and take advantage of Newsletter-Express.com's special offer to my visitors. Go to my homepage at http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com and click on Your Free Facility Newsletter. It will take you to a page that will explain how to download the free newsletter and how to get it personalized for your facility. Be sure to take a look.

 

I hope this helps you out. ;-)

 

Happy Newslettering!

[Guest Tinki]

We used Cox Custom Media - They were good but you had to submit your newsletter so early. I personally like to create them myself to make the newsletter more personal. :-D

[Miguel 4]

I suggest that you not spend money if you have a computer available, U can design decent looking newsletters and calendars on a simple program as Microsoft Word and Publisher. If your facility allows the money to be spent on something that can be done on a computer than fine, if you are not completely knowledgeble on computers maybe that can be a class you can take, But realize with today's budget cuts you can utilize those funds on programs.

I have heard of Activity Professionals paying Printers and having calendars/newsletters created, I cant believe that people would spend the time and waste money on such things that you should be doing as part of your job.

Just my thoughts

-Miguel

[Guest Guest_kimmyh]

I use BC Marketing/Publishing in Florida. They also print my calenders for me.

Hope this helps. Kimmyh

[lllucas 0]

Hi, AD's! :-)

 

Following is some vital information you need to know about the true importance of your facility newsletter. I know that many of you are not aware of the newsletter's impact on your facility. Yes...it's major purpose is to inform; but it has a much more valuable function as a marketing tool. Perspective clients will be attracted to your facility by the content and professionalism of your newsletter. One admission per year...brought in by your newsletter...more than pays any price your facility may pay for a preprinted version. If you can write on that level...and you have the time available to do so...then have at it. If you cannot write on that level...or if your time is too limited to wrestle with the writing...seek help from a newsletter specialist. For me...I'd rather spend the newsletter writing time for charting or for spending more time with my residents. The following article was written by Robert Lucas, a retired nursing home administrator and the editor-in-chief of Newsletter-Express.com, a newsletter service ( http://www.newsletter-express.com ).

 

Best Wishes in making an informed decision,

 

Linda Lucas, AD ;-)

 

________________________________________

 

THE EFFECTIVE NEWSLETTER

by Robert Lucas, H.F.A. (retired)

 

In many facilities the job of writing and publishing the facility newsletter goes to the Activity Director. Some AD's love to write the newsletter while others loathe it. It's true, your newsletter is a powerful marketing tool for your facility. From time to time potential clients may actually choose your facility over another because of the quality of your newsletter. If that happens, even one time, your newsletter has earned its weight in gold.

 

Also, the newsletter is your representative to the community. It's look and it's content reflect upon the quality of service your facility is perceived to give. It's as important as the facility's polished floors and being odor free. Besides that, a properly marketed newsletter can go places a marketing representative cannot; and it does it month after month. It is a great tool for you to mail to all of your "gatekeepers".

 

Here are a few basic tips for you to follow in order to produce an effective newsletter.

 

CONTENT

 

First you need to consider your readership. Who is your intended target? What is their age and their interests? Does your newsletter only circulate within your facility? Do you only mail it out to responsible parties? For a suggested marketing readership see "Distribution."

 

Once your readership is determined you will need to consider content appropriate to that reader's interest. For the most part, nursing home newsletters today are read by people aged 50+. It is people their parents' age who are your residents. So you need to ask yourself what is it that interests the Baby Boomer Generation.

 

Things to consider for content include personal health care articles, Alzheimer's/Dementia articles, lighter subjects like recipes and poetry and jokes, word search games, crossword games, facts about the month, the Activity Calendar, special events, a management personnel roster, equal opportunity employment and admission statement, the activity donations wish list, etc.

 

It is most helpful if you can get each department head to be responsible for making a submission from their department. Give them a byline (i.e. attach their name to the submission). Be sure to notify them in writing and verbally at least two weeks before you intend to write your newsletter. You will be surprised. They will come up with some great things.

 

WRITING THE NEWSLETTER

 

The old way of writing a newsletter included typing each article on a separate sheet of paper; collecting paper clip art; cutting everything out; moving it around on a large sheet of paper; taping or gluing it down. It took hours of work. Do you still do it this way?

 

The new way is much easier. It involves the use of a computer and a good software package. Although there are many excellent desktop publishing software packages available to you, we recommend using Microsoft Publisher. Publisher is extremely easy to understand, master and manipulate. It also allows a broader

latitude for creativity. However, it still takes hours of work.

 

Another way, and we highly recommend that you check it out, is to order a pre-written newsletter which is personalized for your facility. It works like a taco shell. All you have to do is prepare your calendar as a separate insert. It saves you a lot of time and energy, and it allows you to get back to the important things like activities and charting. You can get a great looking newsletter for as low at $12.95 per month at Newsletter-Express.com. Or, if that is still too expensive, try our FREE newsletter "The Health Care Express".

 

The size of your newsletter can range from one side of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper, to an infinite number of pages. However, 4 to 8 pages is a good size. It can be easily read from cover to cover in 10 to 15 minutes. We prefer to have our newsletters printed on 17" x 11" (tabloid size) paper. On one side, from left to right, arepages 4 and 1. On the other are pages 2 and 3. (Please visit "personalized sample" to download an example of a proper newsletter layout). The lower half of page 4 must be reserved for your mailing labels.

 

PREPRINT

 

For a 4 page newsletter we recommend you also prepare any printed material you may have for insertion into the newsletter. At a minimum we suggest you prepare your monthly activity calendar on one side of an 8.5” x 11” sheet or paper. On the other side you may enter residents' facts and figures (new admissions, birthdays,

residents who went home, deaths). Also, on the back of the calendar page you may want to advertise upcoming activities and events, a management roster and other items of interest specific to your facility.

 

PRINTING

 

If you decide to print your newsletter on your facility copier you may print the newsletter on 8.5” x 11” sheets of paper. However, it is far more professional looking to use 17” x 11” sheets (this size is larger than legal size paper, but can be hand fed into most copiers).

 

If you use a print shop have them print your newsletter on 17” x 11” paper. They will have a variety of colors for both your paper and ink. You can expect to pay more for color ink. If you decide to print your newsletter on color paper, avoid using dark colors and extremely bright colors (e.g.. fluorescent), they are too difficult to read.

 

If you take it to the print shop they will also print and insert your extra material and fold your newsletter for you. One fold keeps your newsletter ready for hand outs. Two folds prepares the newsletter for mailing.

 

MAILING

 

1. To prepare your newsletter for mailing, it must be folded twice so the mailing face is showing on the outside.

 

2. Each piece you plan to mail must be sealed twice on the loose page edge. Use 1/2” pieces of transparent tape (you can purchase seals at most office supply stores if you wish).

 

3. Write or stick your address labels near the center of the space.

 

4. Place postage in the upper right hand corner. First class postage will pay for your newsletter and at least two 8.5” x 11” insertions.

 

5. Your newsletter is now ready to mail. The Post Office appreciates it if you would pre-sort your zip codes and bundle the newsletters with rubber bands.

 

BULK MAILING

 

With bulk mail you can save a bundle on postage. However, you must set up an account with the post office, mail at least 200 newsletters at a time, presort your mail, prepare a billing form and deliver the newsletters to the post office. Although it sounds complicated, it becomes routine after you have done it a couple of times.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

For the most effective marketing of your facility, we recommend that you make an extensive mailing list including these listed below. The more newsletters you circulate, the more successful your marketing will be. Here is a list for you to start with:

 

· All responsible parties

 

· Seniors at home

 

· banks

 

· Hospital discharge planners

 

· nursing homes

 

· adult day care centers

 

· Churches

 

· home health agencies

 

· Federal, State and local social service agencies

 

· Social organizations and clubs

 

· Business organizations

 

· Corporate headquarters

 

· Area schools

 

· Area radio stations

 

· Area television stations

 

· Area newspapers

 

· Area businesses

 

TIMING

 

For timely distribution, your newsletter should be published by the last week of the preceding month and mailed prior to the first of the month the newsletter is dated. At Newsletter-Express.com we have your newsletter ready on the fifteenth of the preceding month.