Article Contributed By David Gruttadaurio

You spend a considerable amount of time and money producing your monthly client print newsletter. Having it tossed in the trash along with the 'B' pile (junk) mail is the last thing you want.

Yet this happens every day to small business owners just like you. In fact, it's probably happening to you right now.

Why? Because most monthly client print newsletters are not put together in a way that screams out "READ ME!"

Having Great Content is Just the Beginning

Ignoring your newsletter's 'packaging' or formatting is like giving your clients a lovely gift... and then wrapping it with duct tape and plain brown paper. The fascinating articles and interesting content in your newsletter must be presented in an appealing way to capture the eye's attention.

By following seven basic newsletter design rules you will ensure that your client print newsletter does not wind up in the trash.

7 Tips to Get Your Newsletter Opened and Read

1. Color attracts the eye. The only people who tell you color isn't important are the ones who refuse to use it. USA Today is one of the most popular newspapers in the world is - primarily because of its extensive use of color. Why? Because color animates everything! It livens up and attracts attention.

2. Use interesting formatting. Put your copy in a tinted text box. Use reverse text (white text on a black background) somewhere in your newsletter. Also use a multi-column format. With the proper use of shading, reverse text borders and bold fonts, you can design a professional newsletter template that grabs attention.

3. Don't go crazy with fonts. Stick to a maximum of three font types throughout your newsletter.

4. Headlines get noticed. Decades of newspaper reading have taught us to look for headlines. We look for them to get an idea of what to read. We scan the subheads to pick up on the key points. Powerful, punchy headlines get noticed and read.

5. Make your lead article interesting. This is critical. If the main article is boring (or sounds boring)... you can forget it. You've lost their attention and you won't get it back. Your customer or patient will simply stop reading your newsletter.

6. Position draws the eye. Without anything else to draw it, the eye comes to rest about two thirds of the way up the page and slightly to the left. That's a good place to put something interesting. Think picture or graphic.

7. Use pictures and graphics liberally. Everyone loves pictures. And they really are worth a thousand words because they capture our attention. That's why the captions on photographs are the most-read parts of ANY publication.

Hint: Use the "dollar bill" test. You shouldn't be able to lay a dollar bill down on your page without it touching a graphical element.

The Bottom Line

A successful client or patient newsletter is controlled by more than just good content. Your newsletter template design must be pleasing and attractive to the eye.

You can learn more about effective print newsletter design by going to our website at www.newslettersmadeforyou.com to see how the Exceptional Living newsletter uses each of these formatting steps in its template design.

Remember: A client newsletter is a powerful relationship marketing tool. When you follow a successful template, your newsletters will be well received. It will provide your customer with an interesting and fun experience. And, it will ensure that your monthly client print newsletters get opened and read every time.

About the Author:
When Print Newsletter Marketing Expert David Gruttadaurio discovered the power of publishing and distributing a monthly print newsletter to attract and retain clients, he instantly tripled the sales of his service business. Now, he is revealing his bullet-proof plan to survive the new, emerging economy at his Profit Exploding Newsletter Secrets Website: http://www.NewslettersMadeForYou.com

• 0 Comments

  

Comments

 Add your own comments

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)

What next?

 Digg it

 Save This Page

 Subscribe to GetEntrepreneurial.com

 Leave a comment

Next Article: Why Traditional Article Marketing Should Be Dead! »

Previous Article: Hiring a Winning Team: How Three Types of Women Entrepreneurs Put it Together »

Marcel Sim is a GE Network Expert. View Marcel Sim's profile or read more articles from Marcel Sim. Learn more about the GE Experts Network.

Have an expert opinion on issues entrepreneurs and small business owners face everyday? Join the GetEntrepreneurial.com Experts Network and share your expertise with the community!

The new GE Experts Network is inviting seasoned entrepreneurs and small business owners to come on board and contribute small business advice to our community of aspiring entrepreneurs. If you have an effective way of generating sales or you know how to use social networking to connect with your customers, join us in providing wider entrepreneurial content that would benefit small business owners worldwide.

Click Here to Learn More >>

Related Articles

 Ooh Local Activities » If you can find and do great, local stuff at home, why not do great local stuff that’s run by local people...

 Necktie Reuse » New Startups: Narwhal Company is the inspirational idea of an everyday person that was looking to move away from the 9-5 lifestyle...

 Dog’s Collar Comes with Tweets » "Puppy Tweets" dog’s collar allows dog owners to follow their dog on twitter. This plastic tag (introduced by Mattel), comes equipped with...

 Friend of Trends » Trend Friend is an online (and smartphone accessible) gift idea database that allows users to quickly find the trendiest gifts based on...

Need more brand new promising business ideas and innovations around the world you wish you'd thought of? Visit CoolBusinessIdeas.com now!

Ever wanted to be the CEO of your very own Starbucks or Amazon.com? Fire your boss and be your own boss? Now you can, with BIZNESS! - the free biweekly business newsletter about new business ideas, opportunities and innovations from around the world. More than just new business trends, BIZNESS! helps the aspiring entrepreneur (you!) with small business advice, business tips, and entrepreneur resources and opportunities.

   Subscribe for free now!    

---