Employee newsletters

Employee newsletters are newsletters created by companies for distribution to their employees. When a company grows so large that an employer cannot speak with their employees everyday, an employee newsletter, also referred to as a company newsletter, assists by connecting the entire company. Newsletters are publications, normally several pages in length, which contain articles and features of interest to a particular group. In this instance, an employee newsletter will contain articles and features that are of interest, informative, or entertaining to the employees of a particular type of company.

Employee Newsletter Content

An employee newsletter will contain articles and features that are informative, entertaining, or of interest to the employees of a particular type of company. Generally, employee or company newsletters contain:

• Articles;


• A letter from the company owner or CEO;


• Information on company policies, products, etc.;


• Contests, awards, or company events;


• Jokes and/or cartoons;


• Special mentions, such as employee of the month, an employee who has just had a baby, employee birthdays, or employee spotlights;

Employee newsletter content will vary from company to company. The type of company distributing the newsletter will determine the content as well; a bank will want or need to include items that a toy store would not, and vice versa. Some employee newsletters evoke a business-like mood, while others have playful or humorous tones.

Creating a Successful Employee Newsletter

Employee newsletters are potentially expensive yet useful and helpful items that unite companies and employees. A successful newsletter is one that encourages perusal and use rather than a toss in the garbage.

Successful employee newsletters:

• Can build company loyalty;


• Increase employee morale;


• Increase job productivity and/or knowledge;


• Establish credibility and/or authority;


• Help promote, publicize, or sell products or services.

Because a newsletter is similar to a magazine or newspaper in that it must contain items that attract a reader, or employee's, interest, there are several important points a company should consider to create a successful employee newsletter:

1. Start with an attractive name. A unique but not cliché or obnoxious name can pique the interest of employee readers and give them a hint as to the tone and content of the newsletter.
2. Create an interesting front page. Much like a newspaper, a newsletter's front page can either draw people in or turn them away. Including interesting and appealing articles, a few well placed and chosen photographs on the front page, and mixing up the location of a "letter from the president" so it is not always on the first page, can all be effective means of attracting employee readers.
3. Write in a readable way. Newsletter content should be readable and enjoyable. Articles should be written in an expressive and communicative way, rather than technical and exact like a manual. Content that heavily uses long or complicated words or wording makes reading difficult.
4. Use graphics and photographs. Photographs, cartoons, charts, and other graphics add visual interest to employee newsletters. Photographs of company parties or events or an industry related comic encourage employees to peruse the newsletter. Graphics should add to but not overwhelm the newsletter, and should never cause a newsletter to appear sloppy.
5. Proofread. Before a company prints their employee newsletter or has their newsletter printed, it is important to edit and proofread the document. Because company editors frequently create employee newsletters, proofreading is routinely done. However, a final spelling, grammar, wording, and visual check will prevent unprofessional errors.
6. Publish an employee newsletter regularly. Once a company decides to publish an employee newsletter, it should be published habitually. Regardless of whether the newsletter is to be published once a month, once a quarter, or once a week, distributing a newsletter then allowing distributions to lapse does not inspire professionalism or confidence.

Paper and Online Employee Newsletters
Many companies choose to publish or have published paper newsletter for distribution to employees. Other companies publish an employee newsletter on their website for perusal. Employees may be more apt to read a readily available paper newsletter, yet an online employee newsletter costs virtually nothing to produce. Employee newsletters may also be emailed to employees, or companies may choose to make past paper employee newsletter issues available on their websites.

Links:
http://www.companynewsletters.com/indexarticles.htm

http://www.101publicrelations.com/

http://publicrelationsideas.com/

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