"Incorporating the newsletter into my marketing program has been the best decision I have made. My clients, past clients and networking circles all have provided me with positive feedback (and referrals). I hear all the time how much my newsletter is anticipated and how enjoyable it is to read."

—H. Lowenstein, California

FAQs

Questions We Get Asked All the Time

What kinds of articles do you write?

Who writes the articles, and what is their background?

Does the newsletter work if I have a particular specialty?

When is it published?

Do I have to do four issues a year?

What other options do I have to further customize my newsletter?

Are there back issues available?

What if I only want to use some articles, not the whole newsletter?

What if someone else in my area is using Thriving?

How many copies do I get for the price?

How do I find out how to get them printed, who prints it for me, and how much does it cost?

Is the format you use compatible with and can be used by any printer?

Can I do a mailing off a list? Do you do that?

Can I add color?

What kind of paper do I use to print the newsletter on?

Where in the community do I place them?

Can I subscribe to say every other newsletter?

Can I find out in advance the subject matter of the articles in the next issue?

Can I contact someone if I have any other questions or concerns?

Q: What size is the newsletter, and how many articles are in each issue?

A: The four-page newsletter contains five to six articles each issue. We believe that this approach offers nuggets of useful information to diverse readers, rather than one exhaustive article that may or may not appeal to everyone. Most of the articles are about 500 words, which is more “digestible” to readers in today’s fast-paced, busy world.

Q: What kinds of articles do you write?

A: The articles are written in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand style that eliminates jargon and technical terms, and makes them helpful and interesting to read by a nonprofessional audience. Each issue contains articles on general-interest topics that include: stress; relationships; communication; self-care; life transitions; self-responsibility; parenting; grief & loss; self-esteem.

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Q: Who writes the articles, and what is their background?

A: The articles in Thriving are written by professional writers, each with more than 25 years of professional writing experience, many of those years writing articles on personal growth topics. Each issue is reviewed by a licensed mental health professional. The writers are experts at capturing the “voice” of a therapist and at communicating in a way that interests the end reader (your clients and prospects). Thriving is scrupulously researched and written using information gathered from books, articles, professional publications, interviews and the vast resources of the Internet.

Q: Does the newsletter work if I have a particular specialty?

A: Yes, the general-interest nature of the content can support most all practices. If you would like to explore additional customization for your specialty, there are several opportunities discussed below.

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Q: When is it published?

A: Thriving is published four times a year, at the beginning of each season. However, you can subscribe at any time during that period. Also, back issues are always available.Click here to see a list of all back issues.

Q: Do I have to do four issues a year?

A: Most of our subscribers use all four issues a year. However, you may take as many issues as you would like; you may even use back issues if you’d like to send out more than four newsletters a year. We strongly encourage our subscribers to use all four issues every year. Effective marketing is consistent and regular. One-shot newsletters will not yield nearly the same results as a regularly distributed one. There are some who prefer to “try one and see what the response is.” Inevitably, these customers become full-time users of Thriving.

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Q: What other options do I have to further customize my newsletter?

A: Several customization options you may select at any time are as follows: 1. The short column on page 2 is a good place to include information about workshops or groups, add local flavor, announce the inauguration of the newsletter, write an article specific to your practice, etc. 2. We can also replace the page 1 or page 4 articles with one of your own. Both options for extra customization incur a small additional fee each time the option is selected.

Q: Are there back issues available?

A: There are eight years of back issues available for purchase at any time. Click here to see a list of back issues.

Q: What if I only want to use some articles, not the whole newsletter?

A: Articles are available for purchase individually. When an article is purchased, it is emailed to you in a Word document. Click here to go to our articles website. 

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Q: What if someone else in my area is using Thriving?

A: While we don’t guarantee geographic exclusivity for Thriving, the chance of an individual receiving Thriving from two separate mental health professionals is extremely remote. In the eight years that Thriving has been published, we have not heard of a single occurrence of this happening despite having a number of locations where more than one therapist sends out our newsletter. That having been said, the personalized newsletter model is not new. It has been around for years, used by such professionals as dentists, chiropractors, realtors and financial advisors. If this concerns you, we are always willing to let you know if someone else in your region already uses Thriving or is interested in doing so.

Q: How many copies do I get for the price?

A: We don’t sell you a certain number of copies. We send you the master document (or we send it directly to your copy center) and you get to make as many copies as you need, reprinting if you run out.

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Q: How do I find out how to get them printed, who prints it for me, and how much does it cost?

A: If you make fewer than 1,000 copies, it is usually most economical to use a copy center. Any copy center with a digital copier (and I think they ALL have them now) will do. More than 1,000 and you’ll likely want to use a traditional printing company (w/ printing presses, etc.). At copy centers in our neck of the woods (Northern CA), we’ve found prices varying from $22 to $35 per 100 copies.

Q: Is the format you use compatible with and can be used by any printer?

A: Yes. We email you (or we can email it directly to your copy center/printer) a print-quality PDF file that can be used by any copy center or printer. To print this, you can either forward this email to your copy center w/ a note or burn the file to a disk and take it in. Make sure your copy center uses a digital copier to copy directly from the PDF computer file. This way, all copies are “first-generation.” It will not copy well if you print out the PDF first on your own printer and then attempt to photocopy from those printouts on a regular copy machine.

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Q: Can I do a mailing off a list? Do you do that?

A: The newsletter is intended for use with your personal/professional mailing list and to send to or place with personally developed referral sources (e.g., the offices of professionals or organizations with offices, etc.). The use of the newsletter for direct mail marketing via rented or purchased lists is prohibited without the express permission of Claire Communications. Our audio course, which comes with your first issue, goes into using mail houses and various printing strategies.

Q: Can I add color?

A: At the moment, the Thriving newsletter is available only w/ black print. Reproducing a color master is cost-prohibitive for most solo professionals. However, we recommend printing the newsletter on a colored paper. (See the next question for more info on that.)

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Q: What kind of paper do I use to print the newsletter on?

A: The newsletter goes on an 11x17 paper, folded in half. Use a 60# or 70# paper for maximum professional appearance. We recommend going with a lightly colored paper. The Wassau Papers Royal Fiber line is our favorite, but there are plenty of other, less-expensive papers that work perfectly well. You might want to visit a paper store and select a color and line that you like, buy a ream and take that to the copy center. Doing so usually gives you more options and less cost.

Q: Where in the community do I place them?

A: This is covered in depth in the audio course that comes with your first issue.

Q: Can I subscribe to say every other newsletter?

A: You can, but this offer for the 4th issue free requires that you subscribe to four consecutive issues.  

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Q: Can I find out in advance the subject matter of the articles in the next issue?

A: We always send out a preview note three to four weeks before sending the PDFs. This preview lists the topics and gives deadlines to those who would like us to do extra customization (such as substituting your own article or writing your own page 2 letter, each of which carries an extra charge of $25 whenever the option is selected). In general, each issue will have five articles: one on relationships, one on communication, one on self-care, one on self-esteem and one “wildcard” on parenting or addiction or depressions, etc.

Q: Can I contact someone if I have any other questions or concerns?

A: Don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 866-200-6945 or complete the contact form if you have any more questions or want to discuss your particular needs.

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