GEN-EDITOR-L Archives

From: Lee Griggs <>
Subject: Newsletters
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 09:21:37 -0500

Some comments from one who publishes newsletters professionally
(sometimes I wonder about that): FIRST -- decide whether or not you are
going to publish a Family Letter or a Surname newsletter. There is a
big difference and everyone uses the word "newsletter" to cover a one
page family letter to a full-size tabloid type newspaper. SECOND: are
you doing this as a family venture (just for fun to keep the family info
together and to make family reunions more interesting) or are you doing
this as a business. So many get into the newsletter project only to
find that it takes a LOT of time, effort and expense and you are the
only one doing it. Someone said that they had gotten very little
support from family members--they are right! Many family members could
care less and this is for a "family" letter. You will end up doing the
research, writing, editing, publishing and distribution and family
members will say "how nice" "please send me a copy" and "I'll be glad to
give you a dollar or two to help out -- someday."
Now, if you are truly dedicated to writing a SURNAME newsletter, be
prepared to do it as a business. When I started in 1989, I purchased a
list of surnames across the US -- over 6000. I prepared a sample
newsletter and mailing. I researched my printing costs, mailing costs,
etc., to see how much I should charge to cover expenses and make a small
profit eventually. On a surname newsletter, you will NEVER make a
profit. Your research time and expense will become a labor of love or
you will give up in disgust and despair. Out of my first mailing of
3000 names, I got over 200 subscribers and on the second mailing, over
300. Now I had a newsletter base of over 500 subscribers interested in
one surname. This justified the time and effort. I began publishing on
a quarterly basis -- first mailing in an envelope and later trying a
self-mailer. The newsletter was based on 8 1/2x11 folded--and the pages
were limited to first class weight for one stamp. I used an outside
printer and did my own collating and folding.
Now my subscriber base is larger (you have to continually sell, sell
and sell), it supports the research and I have gone to more pages (25 to
30 or more), printed both sides, three hole punched and I use
photographs, maps, drawings, etc. The newsletter is listed with the
Library of Congress, on file in Utah and in dozens of genealogical
societies around the world. I publish THREE times a year now but give
more pages. I just changed the name this year to "Saints & Sinners"
because the newsletter has expanded to a lot of generic genealogical
information as well as the surname. I am printing queries from many
other surnames as well as GRIGGS. The newsletter goes all over the
world.
IT IS WORK!!! But it is a job that I truly love and that makes the
difference. I am a writer and researcher and this allows me to publish
three times a year. Not many authors can say that <G>. I get to travel
and write. Agreed, I do a few other things besides the newsletter but I
am self-employed and do what I want to do, not what someone else tells
me to do.
If you want to write a newsletter, I will be glad to help. If you
want to exchange newsletters, I will be glad to send you mine in
exchange for yours. There are excellent books on doing newsletters and
excellent programs for your computer that ANYONE (especially those who
are computer illiterate like me) can use to create excellent formats.
If I can help anyone, please ask. Just email privately. Someone is
going to get upset about this long comment that doesn't apply to
webpages for genealogists. So be it.
Lee Griggs
Saints & Sinners
Casu Non Mutatus

--
The MSE Group
PO Box 1536
Camden, SC 29020-8536
Tel: 803-432-9008 Fax: 803-424-0450

For Genealogical searchers and researchers----
http://members.aol.com/scribblerg/saints.ht

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