Newsletters Appeal to Current Users

The time you spend on developing a professional newsletter representing your local office or your program seems to be well worth the effort. Marketing research continues to show the value of newsletters as an information source for people currently involved in your program.

In his 1988 doctoral dissertation, Jim Lindquist (currently the Assistant Director for Extension Field Operations), reported that 57 percent of all Kansans used newsletters as an information source. In 2007, K- State Research and Extension's statewide telephone survey showed that more than 3 in 4 Kansans consider newsletters as "very effective" or "somewhat effective" ways to find information.

Lindquist's study found that the use of newsletters was highest in rural areas and for Kansans who were already involved with an Extension program ("users"). The 2007 survey also indicates high usage among rural residents (83.3%) and current users (86.9%), but also among young adults (84.4%), non-users (75%) and suburban residents (72.6%).

Professional newsletter design and printing services are available through K-State Research and Extension's Department of Communications, and can be paid with the county allocation. For more information, contact Greg LeValley at glevalle@ksu.edu . --Pat Melgares melgares@ksu.edu

Newsletters Appeal to Current Users