Getting your newsletter read
In this new era of digital technology, we are often bombarded with information, everything from the interesting and useful to the banal - what Paris Hilton did on the weekend! Rather than living in a time when we needed to go out into the world to seek information, we are now in an opposite position where information is coming at us from all angles, television, radio, newspapers, internet, mobile phones, etc.
Schools hold valuable information to their school community regarding news, events, dates, curriculum and functions that is important to convey to parents, but this information is often drowned out by the white noise of everything else vying for their attention.
An easy way to help get your newsletter read is to use a ‘teaser’ email to alert parents the newsletter is now online. We have developed a Newsletter Alert application that schools can use to collect their database of parent emails, and then for each newsletter they can
At our sponsor-ed head office, we are noticing through either talking directly with schools or through Google Analytics that schools are having trouble getting their newsletter read. Whilst sponsor-ed are aiming to improve methods of communication on all levels between families and schools, we are currently specifically working on how we can improve the readership of the newsletter.
We think that the Newsletter Email Alert (NEA) is the best place to start. Packaging content is half the battle to enticing people to read it. Not all schools are emailing an NEA, so their next step is to start collecting email addresses. If you don’t have this on your website, please contact the Help Desk and they will upload a ‘Subscribe to the Newsletter’ form to be added to your site.
When schools are emailing out their Newsletter Alert, the emails are tending to look like this:
The newsletter is now available on the school’s website
This isn’t a very inspiring email for parents to see in their inbox and act upon. We’ve found that a simple email such as the one below is a great intro and a teaser for what’s in the next newsletter. Bullet points with the top 3 articles/reminders in this newsletter, a link to take the parents to the school site and a friendly reminder for parents to make the school’s website their homepage!
Hello, our latest newsletter is now available on our website, please click here to read it.
In this newsletter you’ll find information about:
- An update on the canteen refurbishment
- Details on the Year 3 concert
- Student of the Month announcement!
When you are visiting our website, please remember to make it your homepage by clicking the Make this my Homepage button on the top right hand corner!
