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Holiday Newsletter Tips
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If you get writer's cramp penning greetings or letters to send
with your Christmas cards, you may find it easier to create
Christmas or holiday newsletters on your computer. Are you still
resisting this method? Keep in mind that there are many ways to
make them more interesting. Here are several tips that will make
your holiday newsletter personable and fun to read.
Gather Information
Write notes first! Make a compilation of the events that
occurred within the last year that you wish to include. It's a
good idea to ask family members for their input or you may
inadvertently leave out something important. Another way to jog
your memory is to look at the most recent pictures in your photo
album.
Pick Your Topics
Good topics include family vacations, job promotions, special
occasions, or baby's first step. To prevent it from being the
annual "brag letter," keep it short and add a little humor. For
example, instead of "We traveled all over the United States in
our new, expensive motor home decked out with all of the extras"
would be better put it you state that "We got to see much more
of the United States in our new motor home. It's definitely a
step up from the old one that was falling apart!" As you can
see, how you put it makes an incredible difference.
Bad things do happen. Although holiday newsletters should be
uplifting, some things can't be ignored. You can mention
illnesses and mishaps, but don't elaborate on blood tests and
surgical procedures. A death in the family can be acknowledged
with statements that express your loss but also convey happy
feelings of remembrance. Consider this: "Sadly, Aunt Betty
passed away last February after a long illness. We sure do
appreciate the Christmas ornaments she gave us. We were reminded
how generous she was when we hung them on the tree!"
Add Pictures
Add visual elements to adorn the pages, holiday style. Many
Christmas newsletter templates on the Internet have the layout
and images ready to go. Or, you can make your own with a word
processor or publishing program and add festive clipart. Better
yet, forget the clipart and add family photos instead, complete
with descriptive captions. Whatever your choice, keep it simple.
Busy pages look "overdone" and distract from the message.
Make it Personable
Close your holiday newsletter with Christmas greetings and warm
wishes for the upcoming New Year. You can make it more personal
if you hand-write a short note at the bottom, tailored to the
recipient. Does that defeat the purpose of saving time by
creating a printed holiday newsletter? Not at all. You'll pack
in much more information in the printed portion that otherwise
wouldn't have been included and still be able to convey an
intimate message. When you're through, proofread your letter for
errors, address, stamp, and send.
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