How to Create a Newsletter in Microsoft Office Word 2007

Whether you need a newsletter for business, your classroom or just for fun, creating a newsletter is easy in Microsoft Office Word 2007. This tutorial will walk you through the basics from creating a header to altering text boxes. If you're new to computers or an old hat, you'll be able to create your own newsletters by the time you finish reading.

Open a new document in Microsoft Office Word 2007. First you will create the header. This is the place where you write "Newsletter." You will eventually write what you want that will include your business name or family name, but for now let's just use the word "Newsletter."

Click the insert tab at the top of the screen. Click on "text box." Click "draw text box." Your pointer arrow will turn into a cross. Click on the upper left hand corner of the document and drag down about an inch and a half. Keep the mouse button pressed and drag over to the right hand side of the page. Release the mouse button and you should see a large rectangle that spans across the top of your document.

Type the text "Newsletter" and then highlight it. (To highlight: left click and drag your pointer arrow across the entire word then release the mouse.) Place your pointer over the word and right click. Two boxes should appear. The top smaller box will allow you to alter the text. This is the one you will use the most.

Move your arrow up to the word "Calibri" and click on the down pointing arrow. This opens a list of fonts you have available. Click on the word "Cambria." This will change your font immediately.

Next, change the size of the text. Click on the down pointing arrow next to the number "11." Click on the number "72." The word "Newsletter" is difficult to miss now. Center the word in the middle of the text box by clicking the block beside of the slanted "I" that has vertical lines. Now click on the document.

You will use this same technique to continue creating the rest of your columns and text. Just make your text boxes long.

To insert photos, create a text box anywhere on the page. Click insert at the top of the page. Click picture, then select a picture from your computer. You can resize or move the picture around the page by clicking on the dots around the text box. To move the picture around the page, point your mouse arrow on the box line until the arrow becomes a cross. Left click and hold the button, then drag the picture to your desired location.

To resize the picture, put your pointer in one of the four corners of the text box. The pointer will become a diagonal line with arrows on both ends. Hold the left mouse button down and drag the photo diagonally to the desired size.

So how do you remove the black line around the text box without deleting the text box? Right click on the line of the text box. Click "format text box." A window opens up with formatting options. In the middle of the window is a section called "Line." Click on the down facing arrow beside the box "Color." Click "no color." Select "OK" at the bottom of the window. Now the line is gone.

Why use text boxes? You can alter text and images inside text boxes and move them around the page freely. There is more freedom for object placement for object placement with text boxes than without.

A regular newsletter is a great way to keep customers, students, and family informed of what's going on. Include fun trivia or word puzzles. Most of all have fun while you create them.