The purpose of your newsletter may be to keep members of a club updated on current events, to promote your company and keep up a connection with customers, or to generate sales. Whatever your goals, there are a few things that you need to consider before printing, even before designing your newsletter. Deciding on layout format beforehand will save you from timely setbacks that can cause you to miss your deadline.

1. Some newsletters are printed in black-and-white to cut costs. While considering cost is necessary, you need to weigh money saved against the quality lost. Full color newsletters are much more appealing. Don’t be fooled by the term "full color," though. This term refers to commercial printing, which involves using the four color (CMYK) method of printing. A stunning newsletter uses color in concentrated, select areas rather than scattering small bits of color throughout.

2. Choose the type of fold for your newsletter. Generally, most newsletters use only one of two fold types: the French fold or the double parallel fold.

French Fold

The French fold involves folding the paper in half, then in half again perpendicular to the first fold. Often, the purpose of the second fold is to merely make it less bulky for mailing. Therefore, the layout is set according to the standards of a half fold. This creates a newspaper feel.

Double Parallel Fold

Double parallel folding also provides a "news" feel because the layout can also be based on the first fold only so that the second fold is to provide for easier mailing.

Of course, you may decide that you want to lay out the newsletter according to the full folding technique. Play around with the folding by sketching a layout on a piece of paper to help you decide what works best for your newsletter image.

3. The type of paper used in newsletter printing can help to reduce costs. Most newsletters use a lighter, uncoated paper, such as #70 text, which costs less than a heavy gloss paper. Although a heavier paper is not necessary since the idea is to copy the image of a newspaper, you might decide that yours needs the durability of a heavy, coated paper text.

4. The size of the paper refers to the final size when the newsletter is opened flat. Avoid delays in printing by designing your newsletter for the appropriate size. If you want an 11x17 tabloid size but design the layout based on an 8.5x11 letter size, then your final product will either have margins that are too large or its also possible that valuable information will get trimmed because of the size error.

5. When you are ordering newsletters from a commercial printer, you may not be able to find a template specifically for newsletters. If this is the case, simply choose a template from the flyer list, or brochure list if flyers are not offered. Both of these provide folding and paper options needed for newsletters.