Dear <<First Name>> <<Last Name>>,

With this newsletter, you’re getting two in one. First, tips on calendar design and, on top of that, some simple and easy to realise marketing ideas for calendar self-publishers. Makes sense, doesn’t it: After ensuring that your calendar looks the best it possibly can, you’ll want to get it out there and attract an audience interested in buying it.

So, without further ado, read on and don’t forget: Now’s the time to set up your project for the current calendar season. Your creative idea could be ready for sale much quicker than you think!

Best wishes from
Your CALVENDO Team
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Things to remember when designing a calendar

When designing your calendar, the most important thing to bear in mind is that great images only are not enough. You need to make sure that the photos, illustrations or graphic designs you select work as a whole. Also, the overall layout of the calendar needs to be coherent so make sure that you’re not working with different images formats or edit them accordingly. Not to forget, establish beforehand that your image resolution is sufficient and check out required sizes.
 
One of the most common mistakes people make is not paying enough attention to their cover. This is, after all, the first visual impression potential customers get of your product. The image you choose needs to be expressive and an eye-catcher, something that makes people curious. It should also relate to the topic and title of your calendar, which might sound trivial but is often overlooked. Another thing: When it comes to the font size for the title, you can never think big enough since the product images on retail sites such as Amazon are very small.
 
Take a look at our design section with lots more tips on how to get it right!
Plus: Always refer to our checklist. If you’ve never created a calendar before, it’ll give you some essential guidelines.
 

Once a product is created and put on the market, the work of a self-publisher is not quite done yet. Actually, marketing your calendar is vital to the success of your endeavour. And luckily, spreading the word has become so much easier in the age of Social Media and there’s a lot you can do to attract buyers that won’t cost you any money:

• Use social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest to spread the news and work with the link for your calendar in the Product Gallery to show some sample images

• If you’ve got your own website or blog, promote your calendar there and link to your calendars on sales platforms such as Amazon and Hive.co.uk

• Get involved in online communities that might have an in interest in your calendar topic

• Speak to your local book shop and see if they want to sell your product. Retailers can order your products through our wholesaler (see Retail).

• Tell your family, friends and colleagues about your products - don’t be afraid to send out an email to blow your own trumpet!

Last but not least, read more marketing tips on our website.


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