The Unique Appeal of Print Newsletters for Senior Centers

If you are a part of the community relations team or life enrichment activities team at a senior center or senior living community, you may be wondering if print newsletters are still a good way to connect with the public. In the digital age, it’s easy to assume that an e-newsletter is all you need. While they are a good marketing tool, print newsletters still appeal to many people.

As you weigh your options, there are a few factors you’ll want to keep in mind.

Why Print Newsletters Are Popular with Older Adults

A few of the reasons print newsletters remain popular with seniors include:

• Distraction-free reading: We all know how it goes. You jump online to research a topic or look for a phone number, and then an interesting ad pops up. Or you decide to “quickly” check Facebook. Before you know it, you’ve wasted an hour and haven’t even accomplished what you signed on to do. By contrast, holding a print newsletter in your hands gives you the opportunity to sit down and read uninterrupted.
• Longer shelf life: Another benefit is that you can hang on to a newsletter and revisit articles and calendars in it. That’s especially helpful if it’s a quarterly newsletter, for example, that highlights three months’ worth of programs and activities seniors can participate in.
• Often easier on aging eyes: Let’s face it, staring at a computer screen for long periods of time can be tough on the eyes. For older adults who are more likely to live with a vision issue, that’s important. And websites aren’t always optimized for older visitors — small font sizes and poor contrast between font and background colors often make it tough to read online. Even if a senior has to use a magnifying glass to read, that’s simpler to do with a print newsletter.
• More private and secure: A closely related issue is privacy concerns. It’s no secret that Google uses retargeting to sell your online information to companies that, in turn, target you with social media ads. It’s led people to be suspicious that their personal information, held electronically by online stores and other websites, might be compromised. In fact, researchers say 71% of consumers are worried about privacy.

If you decide to move forward with a print newsletter, you’ll likely need some ideas on how to develop it and what types of content to include. Things to Include in Your Print Newsletter is a quick read to help you get inspired. Even more tools are within easy reach in the “Newsletter Tools” section of our blog.

LPi Newsletter Resources

Are you interested in printing a FREE monthly newsletter for your organization? LPi makes it possible with our ad-supported newsletter services! We even offer free custom-designed newsletter templates so that your publication looks professional and inviting — Learn more here!