Choosing the right yearbook company is no small feat. To help guide you through this crucial process and ensure the perfect fit for your school community, Treering has crafted a list of ten essential questions every adviser should ask potential yearbook companies. Let’s dive in!
1. What is the real price per book, including all fees?
Determining the actual price per yearbook can be complex, although it shouldn’t be. There’s a reason: hidden fees (similar to this $30 hamburger!). Here are a few you can ask about now so you’re not surprised later:
- Minimum book requirements
- Missed-deadline fees
- Shipping costs
- Software subscriptions
- Training and support costs
- Custom cover upgrades
- 100lb. paper upcharge
- Personalized pages costs
- Online photo storage fees
Request a detailed quote that breaks down all expenses, deadlines (more on these in a bit), and exclusions. Some companies offer per-book pricing that encompasses all these elements and more.
2. Are there any costs for which the school is responsible?
We believe the yearbook shouldn’t cost schools a single penny. Zip. Nada. Zilch. Traditional yearbook companies often burden schools with additional expenses.
Explore options that remove schools from the financial equation completely (except for the ability to earn money – see number eight!). Treering, for instance, adopts an all-inclusive, per-book pricing model. Families handle online purchases, and schools stick to the fun part – designing a beautiful book.
3. How user-friendly and powerful is the yearbook software?
Effective yearbook publishing software should be user-friendly and collaborative, facilitating the quick design of beautiful pages. Seek platforms with professionally curated templates, InDesign compatibility, unlimited photo storage, and seamless integration with popular services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and social media platforms.
Request a live demonstration to gauge the software’s capabilities. See how to add and move a page in the yearbook, whether portrait pages auto-adjust when roster changes arise and what system they provide to help you collect and organize photos. Even better, request a free trial and explore the features for yourself.
4. How are each student’s memories captured in their copy of the yearbook?
Raise your hand if you were ever disappointed when opening your yearbook because you were only featured once or twice.
Treering believes every child deserves to see personal memories in their own custom yearbook. In today’s world, where children have photos documenting their entire lives, it would be wonderful to include these unique memories in their individual copies of the yearbook.
5. Are you locked into a specific quantity of yearbooks?
One of the reasons traditional yearbook companies still use printing presses is because they’ve invested a good deal of money in them, resulting in a revenue model strongly favoring the publisher.
With this model, schools must commit to a certain number of books in advance. If you predict incorrectly, you’re either stuck with costly leftovers or you have students who can’t purchase a book. One of the benefits of Treering’s flexibility is that you don’t have to take this gamble.
6. How many deadlines does your yearbook company require?
Streamline the yearbook creation process by focusing on a single deadline—the day the book needs to be print-ready. Treering empowers editors to control and change this date at any time without incurring fees.
7. What’s the turnaround time?
A yearbook publisher using digital, on-demand printing technology can guarantee that your yearbook will arrive within three weeks of clicking the print-ready button, allowing you to document more of the school year.
Ask about inclusive pricing that includes bulk shipping to the school and custom presorting for easy distribution. (Bonus if they provide a free, printed proof so you can ensure your final product is perfect before it goes to print!)
8. Can I raise money with the yearbook?
The yearbook can be a great way to raise money for essential areas like technology and supplies. With traditional yearbook companies, these fundraising dollars often go to paying a yearbook invoice instead.
If you add a fundraiser to the core price of your yearbook, you’ll want to make sure your school – not your yearbook company – receives those funds.
9. What is the cost and level of support you’ll receive?
Many yearbook companies will provide you with a local rep, which can be great if that person is readily available anytime you need them. Everyone edits their yearbook at different times, and you’ll want someone who works on your schedule.
Make sure you’ll have help when and how you need it, see if they charge for different levels of support, and ensure you’ll have free access to help videos, training events, and articles.
10. How is the yearbook print quality?
Request a sample so you can see their print quality for yourself. Don’t worry; you don’t need to be an expert to judge the quality.
First, do the “see-through test.” Hold up a page – can you see through it? You’ll be able to easily see images from the other side of the page if the paper is less than 100lb. Next, do the “pull test.” Grab a page in the middle of the book and bounce the book up and down. Does the page rip or pull out? Finally, do the “fade test.” Leave the book out in the sun for a day. Does the cover start to fade? If it’s not UV-coated, it might.
Materials matter. Your yearbook not only holds the memories of the school year, but it’s something people hold onto for a lifetime – and should last that long.
