I agree that most people will not read much text. Is there a way to
create a brochure or flyer or insert that has pictures and provides more
information? That way people have more information if they want it, but
are not overwhelmed on the first glance.
Nina
Nina Stoyan-Rosenzweig
Education Coordinator and Archivist, J.H. Miller Health Science Center
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of History
Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs
Box 100014
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32610
(352)846-1360
archive.health.ufl.edu
medinfo.ufl.edu/~medhum
If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood,
divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the
vast and endless sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery
>>> [log in to unmask] 05/07/05 11:45 AM >>>
So many charities and non-profits are sending out
appeal letters today. In alot of cases, if it looks
like an appeal letter, it goes into the circular file
without being read at all.
For people who may have an interest in your museum,
they still will not read much. Regrettably, thanks to
television, video games, etc., attention spans are
much shorter in this day and age.
So, you have to grab their attention immediately.
Then, they may be willing to read a short letter; but,
they still will skip most paragraphs of a long letter.
Grab their attention with the first paragraph. Use
bullets to give the three or four major reasons [not
more than five, certainly; even this would be too
long] you need the money.
Then end the letter asking for their kind
consideration of your plight.
Anything longer is a waste of paper and ink; it just
will not be read.
gaw
>>>Original Message:
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 13:11:35 -0700
From: "Erica Maniez" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] direct mail letter survey
To: [log in to unmask]
What are the lengths of most museums? direct mail
appeal letters (if you do them)? We are about to send
out a special appeal, and there is some concern on the
Ways & Means committee that 2 pages (two sides of one
sheet, actually) is too long. I?m of the mind that we
should take as much room as we need to explain why we
need the money. So I need some support for the idea
that I?m not off my nut and might know a thing or two
about direct mail after working with it for 10 years?
And of course, if I am wrong, then I?d like to know
that too. J
Thanks for the input,
Erica
Erica S. Maniez
Museum Director, Issaquah Historical Society
425/392-3500
[log in to unmask]
www.issaquahhistory.org
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
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< http://www.planetarium.cc >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
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* Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear:
< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
< http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >
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< http://www.incline.cc >
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