Newsletter Redesign Wins Silver Circle Award
In March of last year, the City announced a redesign of the city's newsletter. The monthly eight page layout had seen few changes since 2008 - and 14 years of design was showing its age! After analyzing data from a newsletter survey, the Communications Division learned that readers enjoyed several components of the old layout, such as council minutes, calendar, and the message from the Mayor. Information was also gathered on what readers felt was lacking from the old layout, including information on new businesses and events, employee highlights, and more photos. With a mission to provide better organized information and the opportunity to showcase more photographs, the Communications Division went to work on developing a new template.
"We had several goals set when redesigning the newsletter," stated Communications Manager, Trisha Hall. "We couldn't fit what we wanted to inside an eight page newsletter. By changing it to a bimonthly publication, we were able to increase the page count and save money in postage." Along with changing the frequency of the delivery, the Communications Division also brought in a more prominent identity by naming the newsletter "MH Life" and organizing news articles by department. "The previous design had various topics scattered throughout eight pages," said Hall. "With the new design, we were able to create a more unified and cohesive look." By changing the delivery from monthly to bimonthly, the City saved approximately $12,000 in postage alone!
3CMA is the City-County Communications and Marketing Association, a premiere network of local government communicators. The Savvy Awards ceremony occurs every year at the 3CMA conference. On September 8, 2022 at the 3CMA conference in Portland, Oregon, the City of Maryland Heights received the Silver Circle Award for their entry "Newsletter Redesign After Fourteen Years." This will be the first Savvy awarded to the City of Maryland Heights.
The Communications Division would like to remind those who miss the monthly publications that you can still receive monthly emailed updates. Those interested can sign up at marylandheights.com/MHLife. Mature Matters, the City's bimonthly publication for those ages 55 and older, alternates in the months of delivery with MH Life. To sign up for Mature Matters, contact Trisha Hall at (314) 738-2497 or email here.
"We had several goals set when redesigning the newsletter," stated Communications Manager, Trisha Hall. "We couldn't fit what we wanted to inside an eight page newsletter. By changing it to a bimonthly publication, we were able to increase the page count and save money in postage." Along with changing the frequency of the delivery, the Communications Division also brought in a more prominent identity by naming the newsletter "MH Life" and organizing news articles by department. "The previous design had various topics scattered throughout eight pages," said Hall. "With the new design, we were able to create a more unified and cohesive look." By changing the delivery from monthly to bimonthly, the City saved approximately $12,000 in postage alone!
3CMA is the City-County Communications and Marketing Association, a premiere network of local government communicators. The Savvy Awards ceremony occurs every year at the 3CMA conference. On September 8, 2022 at the 3CMA conference in Portland, Oregon, the City of Maryland Heights received the Silver Circle Award for their entry "Newsletter Redesign After Fourteen Years." This will be the first Savvy awarded to the City of Maryland Heights.
The Communications Division would like to remind those who miss the monthly publications that you can still receive monthly emailed updates. Those interested can sign up at marylandheights.com/MHLife. Mature Matters, the City's bimonthly publication for those ages 55 and older, alternates in the months of delivery with MH Life. To sign up for Mature Matters, contact Trisha Hall at (314) 738-2497 or email here.