February 20, 2024
Yearbook in 60 days - part 3: yearbook design
Two blogs ago, we began our journey to start and finish a yearbook in 60 days. From establishing a ladder and crowdsourcing structure to flowing portraits and adding in fall events, the first month yielded a near-complete yearbook. These next fifteen days of our adventure include proofing, promoting, and packing in spring events. All the resources you need are linked below (for help center articles, you will need to log in to the editor help center).
Yearbook (yes, it is a verb) along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
1. PDF Proofing
Just because we are speeding through the yearbook creation process doesn’t mean we will be careless. Proofing tools such as downloadable PDFs and a free, physical cover-to-cover proof of your yearbook are free through Treering.
Let’s start with PDFs. English teachers everywhere will tell you errors that are missed on the screen often pop on paper. Read any copy (stories and captions) aloud to assess for tone and errors that digital proofing tools missed. These are low-resolution (the actual print file size might crash your computer), so you can download them quickly.
Use your PDF proofs to also
- Triple-check your portrait pages: correct spelling of names, the accurate placement of students and teachers in classes or grades
- Ensure faces aren’t lost on the edges (margins) or in the middle (gutter) of your spread
- Students are visible in the photos: sometimes, a photo box is the wrong size, and the faces are either huge or unrecognizably small. When possible, try to make all faces on a collage spread the same size.
- Show sneak peeks to your buyers - when parents see their child is in the book, they will buy the book!
Pro tip: use as many of your 99 PDF proofs as possible!
Yearbook Editing Resources
2. Design Pages (Spring/Second Semester Events)
Last time, you learned two ways to design. Because the second semester is unfolding as you build your yearbook, it may be easier to collect photos. This is the time to evaluate those first semester spreads: if they are not full by now, combine events and re-allocate space.
Coverage Resources
- Blog: Six Ideas to Fill Pages in Your Yearbook
- Article: Adding Pre-Designed Pages (You must login to the editor Help Center to view)
3. Purchase Reminders
In these remaining 30 days, up your promotion game by doing at least one thing a week to share about the yearbook:
- Reach out after each school event with the appropriate photo share link and email
- Call or email parents of students who are in the book three times and have not purchased
- Have a contest: the grade or homeroom with the largest percentage of purchases earns extended recess
- Remind purchasers to customize their yearbooks (more on this next time)
- Ask campus influencers (ASB, PTA/PTO accounts, athletics) to hype the yearbook
- Have flyers at a school-wide event, such as the band showcase
Yearbook Sales Resources
- Google Slides: Customizable Flyers
- Article: Tools for Promoting Your Yearbook
- Blog: 5 Social Media Posts to Sell Yearbooks
4. Printed Proof
Treering’s Marketing Manager Megan P. likes to say, “Works in progress welcome!” Because you need your printed proof in hand before your final deadline, order it now. It can take up to 18 business days for this yearbook freebie to arrive.
With portraits and fall events in the book, there is plenty to evaluate. Use your remaining PDFs for copy and photo edits.
Pro tip: When my printed proof arrives, I take a Sharpie and mark it up. Then, I use it as a tool to clean up each spread one by one.
Proofing Resources
Yearbook with a Friend
Involve a second or third set of eyes during the proofing process. Potential yearbook proofing heroes include:
- Front office staff (they know all the things)
- Student TAs
- The secretary of the parent group
- Coaches and club leaders
- A friend who owes you a solid
Next time, we’ll send the yearbook to print and prepare for distribution.
