I need to create the content long before the newsletter appear! My newsletter isn't quickly assembled after a trip!
On this page you can view each newsletter to come... just to appreciate all the effort that goes into creating them!
Follow the page through as I will discuss the things to keep in mind when creating a newsletter.
My 7th newsletter thus far... The TOUR EDITION....
Rules and things to keep in mind when creating such a newsletter.
I will most probably have to mention campsites, names of people and places. It is important to get the permission of the people to mention them. From my first newsletter I had a request to change information.
If people are not informed that their name appear, it may turn unpleasant when they do find out! I know of someone that only described a campsite in a negative way and when the camp owners found the information, that person was facing a courtroom!
Just imagine how bad something like this can turn if that negative comment get published somewhere... such as in some magazine or newspaper!
PLACING PHOTOS.
There are laws pertaining to photographers in South Africa and all over the world. Have you ever googled photos on google street views? Did you notice that number plates and faces are blurred out?
There is a reason for that! You may not publish a photo of someones place or people without their permission! The criminal law in South Africa make provision for such offences! You may be charged criminally when publishing a photo that is described inappropriate! Google uses strict set of rules to supply that service.
On this subject, I was once asked to do a photo session for a campsite with the idea of the owner to use it for publication purposes. I had to ask people to move out of the frames. The swimming pool was quite popular with the campers. I had to ask the children to leave the pool area during the photo session. You may not take photos of children, at a pool, as that is automatically seen as a form of child pornography! Unless you take a photo of your own children with your own camera!
One little "innocent" photo can land you in big trouble!
Photos at public places are allowed but no faces or identification plates must be visible. Many people see a campsite as a public place, well, its not! Usually I choose my camera angles in such a way not to depict a specific campsite or person. If I do that, I have the permission of the persons camping to use that photograph.
Editing software is essential when you do photos with your write-up! Sometimes it's needed, for example to remove other objects or people from the intended frame. Many free editing software have a cropping feature that you can use to accomplish this.
NEGATIVE COMMENT
Avoid negative comment! Rather not mention it! Most of the time people don't object to positive input as that can benefit their place, but negative comment may land you in big trouble!
KEEP INFORMATION
I always keep my original newsletter files and folders should I need to go back to a previous issue to make a correction or change something. Since I've started my newsletters I often went back to make changes. If someone pre-approved something earlier, they have the right to have it changed at a later stage.
Therefor make sure your initial publication can be reversed! When a situation becomes irreversible, you might find yourself in big trouble!
Planning ahead, helps a lot to create content that is factual and not harmful to individuals! As far as a campsite goes... remember... You are his guest!
TOURING FRIENDS
This blog was the 3rd blog I've tried... Someone else placed my first original blog on a publication magazine's Facebook page.... without my consent, and my blog went viral with very negative comment! I had to close it! The second blog wasn't in English... closed that as well!
The problem was with my first attempt, it was all about me... With this blog I wanted to bring in a new idea of Touring Friends that became the most popular part of my newsletters!
With each newsletter, I can introduce new touring friends and ultimately my touring friends are my main stream followers. We all have the same objectives in common! Tour, Travel and camping! I have a few more South African touring friends lined up for future newsletters.
I make new touring friends abroad to balance the scale!
Finally, the place where I meet new touring friends are on my trips and tours! A growing list!
All these planning goes two or three months in advance!
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Please read my sharing preferences on the home page of this blog!
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Photos and content. © Johan du Toit