When developing a newsletter, your goal is to provide employees with timely and useful information. But all too often, you’re so pressured by deadlines that you forget to focus on the needs of your employee audience.

The good news? In just a few minutes, you can avoid common mistakes and create content employees will crave. Here’s how:

Mistake #1: NSOA (Not Spelling Out Acronyms)

Instead, do this:
Speak employees’ language
Use words that employees—including new hires—understand. That means spell out acronyms and avoid using corporate jargon such as “synergy” and “bandwidth.”

Mistake #2: Substituting PRESS RELEASES for fresh content

Instead, do this:
Provide employees with news they can use
Press releases are written for media outlets—not employees. Write original articles that explain how “news” impacts employees. When possible, describe clear action steps.

Mistake #3: Writing only for one audience: executives

Instead, do this:
Tell the story of employees
Start by choosing topics that are meaningful to employees. Instead of always quoting the CEO, bring employees into the story with quotes, photos and examples from “real” people.

Mistake #4: Not investing in headlines

Instead, do this:
Draw in readers by offering a benefit or posing a question
Most of us scan headlines until we find one that piques our interest. Create headlines that signal that the article will be worthwhile by using intriguing questions, can’t-miss lists and must-read benefits.

Mistake #5: Reporting only good news

Instead, do this:
Present a balanced picture
Be as candid and transparent as possible, reporting on challenges as well as successes. One way to do this is to include articles on lessons learned: how an individual or team solved a problem to help the company succeed.