An attractively designed, well-written newsletter is a supreme channel of communication.

It has a longer "shelf life" than electronic delivery, its message is more likely to be retained, it can be read and shared by a large number of people and it can be picked up and put down at leisure.

In short - for reaching, informing and influencing a variety of audiences from employees and clients to sector movers and shakers it is very hard to beat.

Which makes it all the more surprising that so many corporate newsletters are dull and unappealing. Frankly - and at Mercury we are great believers in honesty - many of them are no more entertaining to read than a cornflakes packet, and far less attractive.

There's no need for it to be like that. We have former newspaper designers, sub-editors and journalists who can lay out pages, write headlines and write stories with the sure, just-right touch that comes from many years of practise.

They will also conduct interviews, input ideas, ghost-write features and editorials for senior personnel, and edit and organise submitted material.

Very importantly they will ensure in discussion with the client that the newsletter is suited to the target audience, too. But sedate and sober or bright and breezy, it will always be worth reading.