Spring is here! Flowers are starting to bloom, the birds are singing. You know what else happens in spring? Yearbook deadlines. In order to make sure that your yearbooks are delivered on time, it’s important to make your yearbook deadline.
It can be a hectic time of the year. Late evenings and weekends spent working to ensure that yearbook deadlines are met. But it doesn’t need to be this way.
When planned correctly, your yearbook deadline should be seen as an accomplishment, rather than a dreaded date hanging over you. That’s why we’ve put together these 5 tips to help meet your yearbook deadlines.
5 Tips to Meet Your Yearbook Deadlines
Meeting yearbook deadlines can be a daunting task for yearbook advisers. However, deadlines can be easily managed with a bit of organization. These tips can help make the process much smoother for you.
- Set Micro-Deadlines
You can get ahead on your yearbook creation by setting micro-deadlines throughout the year. For example, certain school events will happen earlier on in the year. Once the event has passed, don’t wait until the spring to collate your yearbook pages detailing it! Get it prepped, proofed and ready to go.
- Create a Team Calendar
Take your micro-deadlines one step further by setting up a calendar that your yearbook team can review. Visible deadlines can help keep everyone more accountable and build a great sense of teamwork.
Make sure your calendar includes the small and large deadlines. You want your final yearbook deadline front and center of mind. Try writing it at the top of your calendar, so everyone is reminded as the date gets closer.
- Checklists
Checklists are a great way to keep everyone on track. Build out a checklist for everyone to see. You may want to build it by page, or by section. Whichever you feel is more suitable. Plus, by creating a checklist, you get the added satisfaction of marking items complete as you make progress!
- Proofing Deadline
This can go hand in hand with your micro-deadlines. Set proofing deadlines for your yearbook content as you go along. It will help you save time later!
For example, proofing school portraits. When you get these files from your school photographer, build in a deadline for these to be proofed.
- Build in a Buffer
Giving yourself a bit of a time buffer prior to your yearbook deadline can be a great idea. Consider how long your yearbook is going to be. Say, for example, you need to finish 30 pages over the next 3 weeks. That’s 10 pages per week. Step it up a notch and aim for 15. This puts you slightly ahead, so if you finish in advance, great!
Similarly, when it comes to your yearbook class, set an earlier deadline. Because let’s face it, even with the best planning in the world, delays can happen! Building in a time buffer of a couple of weeks can help take some pressure off.
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At YearbookLife, we make yearbooks easy. Our easy-to-use yearbook design software and technical support assistance help simplify the yearbook process for you. Plus, our experienced customer care team are on hand to help you market your yearbook and increase your yearbook sales. If you’d like to request a quote today, please click here.