Writing and editing customer magazines

This will be a great day of learning for anyone who edits or writes customer newsletters or magazines, whether they are printed or published online. After attending, you'll be able to produce more effective newsletters and magazines, in less time and with less effort. It brings together a professional editor's favourite insider secrets, tips, short cuts and resources into one seminar. It brings you new ideas about the marketing strategy for these publications AND about how to generate MORE and better quality content with LESS effort.

Course content

Session one: what is the purpose of a customer newsletter?

• How to agree on the right editorial policy.
• How to get the content right.
• The best ways to create a newsletter that supports your overall marketing strategy.
• Examples of good and bad newsletter content.

Session two: filling your newsletter

• How to source the content you need.
• 20 ways to guarantee you'll always have enough content.
• The good interviewing techniques that will open your path to more great articles.
• How to encourage more people to contribute stories.

Session three: writing and design tips

• How to write interesting articles.
• Techniques for writing great headlines.
• How to be topical - just like the magazines your customers buy.
• Overcoming writer's block.
• Proof-reading: how to do it, who should do it and when to do it.
• The design rules that every writer and editor should know, including text formatting, page layout and photography.
• Learn from the best: see examples of excellent design.
• How to get the most from your graphic designer.

Session four: editing your magazine

• Who should be involved in production?
• How can you get buy-in from more people?
• What's a good process for writing/editing/approval/proof-reading and design?
• How to create an effective and useful production schedule.
• An introduction to the practicalities of publishing an email newsletter.

Course delivery

This is a highly interactive course, full of exercises and challenging tasks to complete. It leaves delegates with a valuable 'to-do' list of actions that will dramatically improve your magazine.