How to Create a Newsletter: A Guide for Healthcare Facilities

Your healthcare facility or long-term care residence surely has noteworthy information to share. If you’re searching for a way to get important news about your healthcare organization out into the world, though, you should learn how to create a newsletter.

While the need for medical services is holding steady, research has shown that marketing is a beneficial tool for healthcare organizations. A solid marketing strategy can make you more competitive, build a positive reputation, and prioritize patients’ needs, promoting a positive experience at your facility or residence.

There are several marketing strategies that your facility can put to use, such as crafting an engaging website, generating positive news through press releases, and managing your facility’s online reviews. If you want to regularly communicate with your audience, a newsletter is a great addition to your marketing plan.

Below, we’ll explore how to create an email newsletter by sharing some key considerations in the planning process. Then, we’ll share some tips for creating newsletters using online tools.

How to Create an Email Newsletter Strategy

Newsletters are a powerful branding tool that can serve a number of purposes: building awareness of your offerings, advertising new services, establishing credibility, and expanding your audience. Some say that email newsletters are obsolete in the age of social media, yet this cost-effective strategy allows an organization to deliver quality content right to a subscriber’s inbox on a consistent basis — something social media sites can’t do.

There’s a lot to consider when starting a new marketing strategy. Use the following questions as a guide as you formulate your newsletter plan.

Why Are You Creating a Newsletter?

The first step to your newsletter campaign is to clearly define your organization’s goals. Ideally, the newsletter should be a part of a larger marketing plan. Discuss these questions with your team:

• What do you hope to accomplish with the newsletter?
• Do you want to grow a larger audience, promote new services, or something else?
• How does the newsletter fit into your organization’s broader marketing strategy?

Who Will Receive the Newsletter?

Next, you’ll need to compile the list of email addresses that will receive the newsletter. This is often referred to as a mailing list database — an organized digital file containing all contacts. You might want to explore how to create a newsletter in Gmail for a simple way to group your newsletter recipients. Refer to the following questions as you create your mailing list:

• Where does your facility keep their patient emails?
• Do you need to convert any physical files into digital form?
• How can you best organize the emails in your database into subcategories?

What Will the Newsletter Include?

Now, you need to decide what content you plan to focus on in your newsletter. Consider the overall goals and your intended audience, and determine what information would most likely be useful and compelling to them. It may be helpful to review email newsletter templates to see what types of newsletters would best meet your organization’s needs. As you do, use these questions as a resource:

• What specific audience(s) are you targeting with your messaging?
• What information would you like them to know?
• What call to action (CTA) will you include so readers can take next steps?

When Will You Send the Newsletter?

You’ll then want to choose the frequency of your newsletters. It’s a good idea to set a consistent schedule to build your brand’s reliability and get the word out. Make sure to communicate the schedule with your team to provide ample time for each part of the newsletter to be completed. These considerations can guide you as you plan:

• What bandwidth does your team have to create the newsletter?
• What newsletter frequency would match the amount of content you have to share?
• Who will be responsible for managing the newsletter schedule?

Reminder: Federal laws outline regulations for commercial emails. Make sure to review guidelines such as offering the option to opt out of communications and being up-front about your messaging.

Ready to Create a Newsletter Online?

Once you’ve determined your messaging, sorted out your email list, and decided on frequency, you’re ready to tackle the “how” — creating your newsletter. There are several options for creating professional newsletters online and sending them yourself.

How to Create a Newsletter in Google Docs

1. Navigate to Google Drive and select “New.”
2. In the Google Doc dropdown, click “From a template” and select a newsletter option.
3. Add customization to the template.
4. Download the finished newsletter in your preferred format (PDF, web page, etc.).

How to Create a Newsletter in Photoshop

1. Open a blank document or select from a selection of newsletter templates.
2. Customize the content to your organization’s needs.
3. Save and download your completed newsletter in a variety of formats.
4. Edit and revise as needed.

How to Create a Newsletter in Canva

1. Create a Canva account and sign in.
2. Search for “Newsletter” in their template library.
3. Select the template that best aligns with your branding and customize your design.
4. Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and select “Share.”

Want to Learn More About Healthcare Marketing?

Managing a healthcare facility or residence is not for the faint of heart. You’ve learned how to create a newsletter, but you could probably still use some advice as you navigate the ins and outs of the medical world. The IntelyCare newsletter delivers free healthcare content and resources that can help take your organization to the next level.