As a quick recap of the initial process to your yearbook planning, you should recall that the first steps involve setting a goal, building your team, training the members, creating the yearbook ladder and setting the production schedule. With these elements in place, you should already be starting to feel the pressure subsiding because you have a solid foundation for developing your yearbook and some direction for the end result. Now you are ready to start working on the product itself. In the following sections you will get to understand the final steps which include: the content collection, the design process, the marketing and sales, and the distribution.
Collecting the content
You have a plan, you have a team, and you have a schedule. Now it’s time for action! The team can begin creating and collecting the content for the yearbook. Here are a few content ideas to include:
- Photos
- Quotes
- Autographs
- Favourite moments
- Inspirational stories
- Student awards
- Student trends
- Student artwork and creative writing
- Cover competition
The “Calendria app” (hyperlink) is a great resource for organizing the content and facilitating interactions with everyone involved in the yearbook’s production so that the process is easy and seamless. Check it out!
Design Process
The design of your yearbook is the way it gains attention and leaves a lasting impression; therefore, you will want to make sure that it is visually appealing. The yearbook cover, layouts, fonts, colour schemes and clip art all work together to bring the yearbook to life. If your team needs some cover and layout ideas or the team is pressed for time, you can try some of the cover and layout templates (hyperlink) that we have available. Due to time constraints, you will want to start with the design process as soon as possible. Ideally, you would want to begin this process while the content is being created and collected. The design team can simultaneously get started on establishing page layouts, fonts, colour schemes and clip artwork. They can also begin formatting the pages as they receive the content to minimize the pressure of last-minute page designing.
Marketing and Sales
As the production of the yearbook is nearing its completion, you’ll want to begin promoting it. There are several effective ways to raise awareness and generate buzz for the yearbook. PA announcements, posters, social media, emails, website ads, and newsletters are all traditional marketing tools that will encourage sales. However, do not feel restricted to these media channels. Be creative and entertaining. The more inventive you can be with your marketing, the more likely you are to attain that sale. Contests, promotional videos, bookmarks are just a few creative ideas that have been used to advertise yearbooks.
Distribution
The final process is to get the yearbooks printed and ready for distribution. Contact your publisher and send them the finalized draft. Keep in mind that every publisher has a deadline for submission; therefore, you will want to make sure that your final draft is delivered promptly. Once the yearbooks are shipped, the yearbooks can be given to everyone that has purchased.
Now it’s the end of the semester, the yearbooks have been distributed and you have peace of mind because you have made the yearbook a success. This could have only been accomplished by having a solid strategy, a committed team, and discipline to maintain the production schedule. Just remember that the Calendria team is always here to help you with your production needs, whether it be providing design resources, answering questions, or handling the production and distribution. Browse our website (hyperlink) and social media (hyperlink) to see all the services (hyperlink) we offer.
