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God and Me! 3 (Ages 6-9)
God and Me! 3 (Ages 10-12)

Devotional books for girls

God and Me! 3 (Ages 6-9) and God and Me! 3 (Ages 10-12)

Packed with fun, Bible-based stories and activities that equip girls to grow closer to God and discover promises for their lives.

Available at any Christian bookstore or online through Legacy Express or amazon.

10 Commandments of Newsletters

1. Thou shalt have one. Newsletters are a primary means of communicating with your donor base. Over time, they also provide a way of documenting your organization’s history.

2. Thou shalt not misuse the name “newsletter.” Understand this kind of publication: it provides news, not fluff. As such, make sure your content has substance. Include information, how-to’s, data, profiles and anecdotal stories about your services and activities to keep your readers up to date with your field. Ads and promotion are secondary.

3. Thou shalt know thy newsletter’s purpose. In a word, nurture. The tone is always reader-centered, designed to inspire and motivate. Newsletters are a service you provide to cultivate your donor and keep him in the family. No scolding, preaching, threatening, begging, or posturing allowed.

4. Thou shalt know thy audience. Select content that interests them. If prospects are your target, fill the newsletter with anecdotes and facts about your services and the problems they solve. If your audience is made up of donors and supporters, give them stories and evidence that shows how their gifts are making a difference. If your newsletter is internal, speak to the organization’s vision and growth.

5. Thou shalt honor the Law of Quality. Well-constructed articles, eye-catching layout and a professional presentation show the reader you are credible – and that you are serious about communicating with them. If you don’t have time or staff to put together a high quality publication, then outsource it.

6. Thou shalt use plain language. Keep verbiage to a minimum. Avoid niche lingo. Vary sentence length. Where possible, use lists and bullets for skimmers.

7. Thou shalt include attractive visuals. Photos, action shots, graphs, charts, color and easy-to-read fonts make your newsletter user- friendly.

8. Thou shalt stick to a mailing schedule. By sending at specified intervals (quarterly, bimonthly, monthly or weekly for example) you demonstrate reliability and earn your reader’s respect.

9. Thou shalt include a reply device. Always give your reader a chance to respond. Feature a special offer, an order form or a giving opportunity in every newsletter. A separate buck slip and return envelope will net better response than a tear-out coupon.

10. Thou shalt offer thy newsletter online. Consider sending your newsletter as an e-zine to readers who have email access, and archiving back issues on your website as an informational resource.

 

About the author
Kathy Widenhouse (www.kathywidenhouse.com) is a freelance development writer who specializes in producing materials for the faith-based, nonprofit market. She also provides strategic consultation to help nonprofits get their message out and get results. Kathy’s 90+ articles have appeared in more than 40 periodicals, and she has written 5 books.