How to Create a Newsletter in Microsoft Publisher

Newsletters are a great way to share information with family, friends and customers. Microsoft Publisher's newsletter function provides complete design and layout flexibility. Use the program to select a design layout and color scheme, format text and insert images quickly and easily to create a custom newsletter. Read on to learn how to create a newsletter in Microsoft Publisher.

Instructions

1. Choose a newsletter design. On the main menu click "File" and then "New" to open the Catalog Window. Click the "Newsletters" option on the Wizards menu, select the desired design from the options and then click "Start Wizard." Enter your contact information in the window prompt. Delete the sample text in the field to leave a field blank. Click "Include color scheme in this set" and select the desired colors. Click "Update" when finished. Complete the steps in the Wizard or click "Finish" to exit the Newsletter wizard.

2. Enter the text. Place the mouse inside the desired text box and click once. Type the text or cut and paste from a Word document. Format the font style, size and appearance by using the main menu at the top of the screen. Place the mouse over the border until the word "Resize" appears. Click and drag the border to the desired size.

3. Insert images by clicking "Insert" and then "Picture." Select from clip art or photos stored on your computer. Resize the image. Click and drag the mouse diagonally towards the center of the photo until the photo reaches the desired size.

4. Edit the text box and image layouts as needed. Create a new text box by clicking the text frame tool ("A"). Place the mouse in the desired location, then click and drag to create the desired box size. Place the mouse over the item until the word "Move" appears. Click and hold down the mouse and drag to the desired location. Place the mouse inside the box and click once, on the main menu click "Edit" and then "Delete Object" if you need to delete a text box.

5. Change the number of pages in the newsletter as needed. Click "Insert" and then "Page" and follow the instructions in the pop up window. Click the desired page number at the page display on the bottom of the screen and click "Edit" and then "Delete Page" to remove pages.

6. Finalize the newsletter. Proofread and spell check. Print the document on paper and place the pages in order to ensure the page numbers line up properly before copying. This is helpful if you plan to copy two-sided or convert to 11 x 17 inch paper.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have experience using Microsoft Word, learn the basic functions before creating a newsletter in Publisher.

• Since newsletters contain a lot of text, write the content in Microsoft Word to allow easy proofreading and editing. Then cut and paste the text into Publisher.

• As soon as you create the newsletter design, save and name the document. Save the document frequently to prevent losing your work in the event of a computer problem.

• Microsoft Publisher includes additional formatting features that will make your newsletter look more interesting. Look at the Help menu to learn how to create borders and background shading.