If you’re new to the yearbook sales process, it’s helpful to think about it in 4 key stages:
(1) scheduling the timing of sales campaigns
(2) creating several sales activities that generate awareness and excitement about the yearbook being on sale
(3) collecting orders and payment
(4) distributing the books when they arrive.
Scheduling the timing of Your Yearbook Sales Campaigns During this stage, the goal is to identify ideal sales times that attract attention about the yearbook being on sale.
Take some time to enlist students, staff and others interested in the yearbook to brainstorm ideas on what will work best for your school. Use a school calendar to compare your thoughts against school activities to determine the best times to have sales campaigns. Typically, you’ll want to allow a total of 3-4 weeks to conduct a sales campaign by the time you promote, sell and wrap up the campaign activities. Many staffs conduct 3 campaigns a year to ensure everyone knows they have the opportunity to purchase a yearbook. Of course, you’ll want to also have all the material needed in advance. Here is a game-plan many schools use. Feel free to expand, refine and adjust it based on your needs—it’s just intended to get you started.
Three Weeks Before yearbook sale date(s) — create and organize the announcements, posters and other materials needed to promote yearbook sales. Make sure you take
advantage of any promotional materials provided by your yearbook publisher.
Two Weeks Before yearbook sale date(s) — hang up posters and begin, “Creating Excitement and Awareness” about the yearbook
One Weeks Before yearbook sale — continue promoting yearbook sales happening the next week – send letters home and post info on school marquee. Have announcements begin!!!
Sales Week – Have fun executing the sales activities you had planned and taking orders!!!
One Week After Sales – Ensure all funds have been collected and accounted for. Enter buyer’s names and payment amounts into a tracking system or spreadsheet software so you know who has purchased the book and can use that list later on when distributing books when they arrive. Also, make a deposit with a bookkeeper or bank (if you
haven’t done so already) to ensure that the yearbook funds are secured.