Print

Print publications have the potential to radically amplify and focus the work of grassroots groups. The Print guide for Message in-a-box helps you plan, produce, distribute and evaluate your publications.

Do you want to reach out to your target audience with a campaign brochure or a fundraising flyer? Print a poster to announce an event or a newsletter to update your supporters? Publish an illustrated report with an in-depth analysis, or a comic book for children or low-literacy adults. Maybe a poster campaign is what you need. The Print guide for Message in-a-box is here to help.

Advances in information technology have made it possible to create high quality publications with minimal training and resources. It’s a myth that to run a successful publication you require high-end computer resources. It is still possible to make a print publication using a typewriter, scissors and tape, and some sort of duplication method, as many publishers of grassroots “zines” still do, although you may find it easier to go digital (here’s what you will need).

You don’t even have to print what you make. Formats like e-books and brochures can be distributed widely and at very low cost in digital form via the Internet. They can also be kept up-to-date on your website and sent out virally with the help of supporters, partners and friends-of-friends-of-friends.

By making a template the first time you create a print production, plus putting a good plan and team together, ongoing projects should get easier and easier.

We walk you through the production of newsletters and magazines and one-off publications such as information booklets, reports or communiqués. But first of all, you need a plan.

Find out more about the future of the internet and campaiging in the other sections of our Internet / Online Campaigning? guide:

• Online marketing
• Email marketing
• Plan your website / Websites (with top level change over)
• Search engine optimisation
• Getting started
• Mini-projects

In other section of Message in-a-Box can also look at how to:

• bring video and audio into our blog/website
• how to use powerful images
• how to distribute print publications (newsletters, posters, anything) via your blog/website, nd even
• how to use mobile phones to help get material quickly up onto your blog/website from just about anywhere.

But first of all, make sure your blog/website strategy is working with
your overall organisational or campaign goals, audience, situation and
messages. Look at who's online and how to mix online and offline
strategies. Go to the Strategy Overview first and save your valuable time and resources.