What to Do If You Use Publisher for Your Bulletin
- Gloriam Marketing
- 5 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Well folks, just about 100 days left: On October 13, Publisher will officially no longer be supported by Microsoft.
And since they announced it in February 2024, panic has ensued.
Because many, many, MANY churches were using it to design their bulletins.
So if "switching the bulletin out of Publisher" is on your to-do list this summer, I rounded up the five main options I see for parishes to use instead.
And then one thing I know you are 100% going to want to do but I am imploring you not to do.
1. Canva
This is the most common option I'm hearing, and since many of us already use it for flyers and other graphic design needs, it makes sense to use it for your bulletin as well!
Pros
Inexpensive/free (Pro version available free through Canva for Nonprofits)
Easy to use and learn, even if you don't have a graphic design background
Flexible
Tons of elements and assets built in
Cons
Not always the best print quality (make sure you do a test run with your printer to make sure they will support it!)
Flexibility can make it easy to "break" (i.e. element shifting accidentally) or be designed poorly
(Adobe Express is Adobe's version of Canva. I haven't used it in years, but personally prefer Canva. If you already have Adobe products, the integration is nice though!)
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2. Adobe InDesign
InDesign has been around forever and is the gold standard in the graphic design world for laying out print publications.
Pros
Professional standard for print
Lots of tools + integrates with other Adobe products
Been around for a long time so there are lots of tutorials online
Cons
Expensive (monthly or yearly subscription fee)
Steep learning curve if you've never used it before
Daunting if you don't have a graphic design background
Note: Adobe has been listed as a donor to Planned Parenthood in the past, but this is unverified since they have not, to my knowledge, responded to requests on if they are actually supporters. From my research, both Canva and Adobe pay for employee travel costs for abortion.
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3. Affinity
Affinity has been InDesign's biggest competitor with a similar interface and features. It was bought by Canva a few years ago and is now also offered for free for individuals (enterprise licenses are paid).
Pros
Free
Integrates with Canva
Professional quality design software
Cons
Steep learning curve (similar to InDesign)
Not as widely used, so not as many learning resources available
Need to ensure output is acceptable with bulletin printer
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4. Bulletin Printer Software
Some bulletin publishers (LPI, Diocesan, etc.) offer bulletin design tools directly in their platform or partner with Canva for additional templates.
Pros
Included in bulletin printing
Easy to integrate asset library
Definitely compatible with printer
Possibly offers some support/training
Cons
If using built-in designer, less templates and flexibility
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5. No Print, Only Digital Bulletin
You might decide to use this transition to move to a digital-only bulletin model! But be cautious before making this transition that you've done the research in your parish that this will work for your parishioners.
Pros
Easier to maintain/takes less time
Link out directly, so higher likelihood people will actually take action (go to website, register for events, etc.)
No printing costs
Cons
Miss out on having something physical to hand out
Might not be read by older population, visitors, and those who haven't signed up for emails
So what should we pick?
Personally, unless you have a graphic design background or your main role at the parish is communications, I would recommend switching to Canva. That will likely be the easiest transition. But be sure to do a test run and make sure the print output is accepted by your printer!
If your main role is communications and you have some time to learn a new software, though, InDesign or Affinity are great choices that will allow you to really elevate your bulletin in the transition. Plus, you can do so much more than just bulletins with these software choices — brochures, posters, yard signs...the possibilities are really endless, so learning them would definitely be a worthy investment of your time.
What NOT to do
Now here's the temptation:
I KNOW what your default is going to be.
You're going to pick a new software, learn it, and simply recreate your current bulletin in a new platform.
***Please do not just recreate your bulletin in a new software!!!***
You have a unique chance you might never have again to actually make your bulletin work.
You're starting from scratch anyway; why not take the time to reevaluate the whole bulletin strategy?
It's like when you have to empty a bedroom to paint it: You could just put everything back exactly where it was.
Or you can take the opportunity to sit back and actually think about: Does the bed actually work in this spot, or would it be better on another wall? (The sick list)
And why do we keep that really old dresser that's falling apart that we've hated for a decade? (Random clip art of whatever holiday is coming up)
And when you see it with new eyes, you realize that a mirror over the desk would brighten up the whole room. (Adding in parishioner stories)
What if needing to move to a new bulletin design software wasn't just a hassle — what if it was an opportunity to completely rethink your bulletin so it actually works?
(Aka, people actually take it, read it, and do what it says so you get 50% less calls about "Why didn't I know this was happening?" even though it's been in the bulletin for weeks.)
So I am imploring you, begging you — please don't just recreate your bulletin in whatever software you decide to switch to.
Reinvent it.
How Do We Reinvent the Bulletin? [FREE TRAINING]
The first step? Coming up with a strategy.
Don't have a bulletin strategy (besides slamming the submit button with 13 seconds to spare and praying you didn't forget that ministry's ad)?
Let me help you make one!
My free training, "5 Essential Strategies for an Easier and More Effective Bulletin," will walk you through how to create a strategy for your bulletin that takes less time to make and gets more people to take and read it.
In one hour, you'll learn:
The question that changes everything about how you plan your bulletin (and what goes in it)
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The solution that fixes not one, but TWO of your biggest bulletin problems: 1) Taking too long to make and 2) People not submitting things on time
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How the page you likely spend the least time on is actually the most important (and what to do to make it more effective)
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Simple design tweaks that will have people grabbing bulletins like they're palms on Palm Sunday, even if you don't have a design background
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The real role of the digital bulletin, and who the print bulletin is actually for (it's not who you think!)
Other Bulletin Resources
Looking for more help with your bulletin? Check out these other resources!
FREE GUIDE
5 Easy Fixes You Can Make to Your Bulletin This Week
Short on time, but want to give your bulletin an upgrade? Grab this free guide with 5 easy things you can change this week that will encourage more people to take and read it.
The Main Thing Not to Forget
It's easy to forget in the crush of submission deadlines and tweaking margins 15 times to get everything to fit...
...but creating the bulletin is holy work.
When we do it with a strategy and a purpose, it can be one of the biggest communications tools we have for evangelization and drawing souls closer to Christ, not to mention growing our churches and getting people more involved.
So yes. It is holy work. Even the work of moving to a new software.
So above all, pray on it. Ask God to help guide you to the software that will best help you to maximize your efforts and create a bulletin that will draw people closer to Him.
For His greater glory!
Take the Next Step
Ready to get started reimagining your bulletin? Make sure you do it with a plan! Sign up for my free bulletin training, and I'll walk you through how to set up a bulletin strategy that saves you time and gets more people to take it, read it, and do what it says!