Your yearbook is a history of the school year in both pictures and words. Captions, headlines, and interview content help tell the full story of the events captured in those images. Some of the most historical content can be found in interviews. In this blog, we’ll explore some tips on how to get the best interview from the best people.
BE PREPARED
Always prepare a basic set of questions for interviews ahead of time. This displays a level of professionalism and caring on your part and a respect for the people you will interview. Having some knowledge ahead of time of the person you will interview, or the situation you will be talking about, will help. Do some research!
For example, if you’re interviewing the football coach about the team’s record for the season, it would help to know what that record is and what some of the best, and worst, games were. When preparing the questions, use a mix of close-ended and open-ended questions to gather valuable information and encourage storytelling. Be open to unexpected information and ask follow-up questions to explore further. This is when that knowledge of the person or event will come in handy.
BE PROFESSIONAL
When you first reach out to the person you want to interview, introduce yourself. Let them know that you are part of the yearbook staff and are interested in interviewing them for the yearbook. Arrange a suitable date and time for the interview. When the interview starts, reintroduce yourself and ask for the correct spelling of their name and their title. Maintain eye contact throughout the conversation to show active listening, and ask some follow-up questions to their answers to prove that you’re engaged, knowledgeable, and interested.
BE CONVERSATIONAL
When conducting your interview, use a conversational approach to allow the interviewee to speak freely. Actively listen, avoid cutting off answers, and ask follow-up questions based on the responses to gather useful quotes and details. Listen more than you speak!
BE DETAILED
Taking notes and recording interviews are crucial for telling accurate stories. Recording interviews aids in verifying key facts and quotes during editing. Notes help you remember important details, especially direct quotes, which should be checked for accuracy. Be sure to get approval to record the interviewee beforehand.
STAY FOCUSED
Ask relevant questions based on your knowledge of this person or the event in particular. Try to avoid questions that don’t apply to the situation or person. Getting off track can muddy the details of a good interview.
FINISH THE INTERVIEW
Double-check your notes! Make sure you’ve had the chance to get answers to critical questions and ensure the accuracy of those answers with the source. Ask if they have any additional information you may have failed to cover, and thank them for their time.
Interviews are an invaluable aspect of creating a memorable yearbook. By following these tips, you can ensure that you capture compelling content that truly reflects the essence of your school year.
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Creating Effective Headlines…
Now that I’ve got Your Attention
Headlines and subheadlines in a yearbook serve as reader entry points. A headline should grab the reader’s attention in both style and content, while the subheadline provides additional context. It is crucial to invest time in creating meaningful headlines rather than adding them as an afterthought. People may not read all of your engaging content if they’re not drawn to it in the first place.
Consistency in detail and style is important across all sections. Visual and verbal elements should be reviewed together to ensure the headlines stand out.
Here are 3 Tips to Help You Create Effective Headlines:
- Originality Over Clichés: Create content without using clichés. Be original or timely in your message. Use terminology that is meaningful to your audience, but be sure it will hold the test of time. Today’s lingo may be a distant memory by your 20th high school reunion.
- Consistency in Style: Make sure the style and mood represent the entire spread in terms of content as well as artistic style. Language, font choice, color, etc., are all important features of an engaging headline. If your team isn’t working with a Style Guide, consider outlining the different font styles and colors to use across all sections to keep a consistent style in your book.
- Use Engaging Language: Use strong, engaging language! Headlines should be succinct, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t be engaging! Use strong verbs, descriptive adjectives, and make sure the past or present tense is appropriate and consistent. Need help coming up with just the right word? Consider referencing a thesaurus. Alliteration always gets attention. And how’s your poetry style?
Headlines that are creative, engaging, and just the right style are sure to draw the reader into the full story and images that go along with it.
Now that you’ve learned how to craft compelling headlines, it’s time to put these tips into practice. Start brainstorming and experimenting with different headline styles to create a yearbook that captivates readers from cover to cover. Remember, the headline is the gateway to the story, so make it count!
>>> Font Style Tips for School Yearbooks
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Hi There!
I’m Trying To Get Your Attention
so you can learn more!
When flipping through a magazine or book, what grabs your attention? Often, it’s the style, color, and content of headlines or keywords. In the world of yearbooks, captivating someone’s attention means creating stylish, fun headlines that compel readers to explore further.
Experienced designers understand the importance of crafting engaging copy. Eye-catching headlines, captions, and sub-headlines aim to make readers stop and engage with the content.
But you don’t want all of that fun, engaging content to look scattered. There is something to be said about maintaining a consistent design throughout your book. But consistency does not have to be boring. Creating your own unique “Style Guide” helps bridge that gap.
A style guide is a road map that your entire design team can follow to help create a cohesive look to your book. In terms of “words on the page”, key considerations include headline sizes, body copy points for different content levels, and maintaining a cohesive theme throughout. Sub-headlines, body copy, and quote collection styles should be clear and engaging, with variations based on coverage levels.
Font Style Tips for School Yearbooks:
- Most HEADLINES should be a minimum of 30 points, with the primary headline occasionally reaching 100 points or more. Primary headlines often introduce a section of your yearbook. For example, your largest Primary Headlines may include: Sports, Underclassmen, Clubs etc. While Headlines may introduce: Football, Soccer, Freshmen, etc. Other headline styles for different coverage levels should be smaller, with the Level Three headline at around 30 points or less. Headline styles should vary across sections while still aligning with the overall theme.
- SUBHEADLINES can range from 7-point to 10-point, depending on the associated coverage level.
- LEVEL ONE body copy should not exceed 10-point size. There should be only one Level One style for the entire publication, so consider making the initial words or sentence more prominent. Each spread should have only one Level One copy.
- LEVEL TWO body copy should not surpass 9-point size. You can have two Level Two styles, but ensure they feature distinct type combinations. Bolden the first words or sentence to capture readers’ attention.
- LEVEL THREE body copy should be a maximum of 8-point size. You can have two Level Three styles, each with unique type combinations. Bolden the first words or sentence to engage readers.
- QUOTE COLLECTION copy should not exceed 8 points, but it can be as small as 6-point bold italic. Maintain one consistent style for this less critical content on your spread.
Make sure to review all of the font styles available to you, keeping in mind that different font type sizes can be complementary and coupled together to create your own unique style.
>>> How to Design Captivating Yearbook Page Layouts
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Funding a yearbook in many schools primarily relies on selling business and personal ads. However, staff members frequently delay the ad-selling process until it’s too late in the year. If you wait until November or later, businesses typically have already used up their community marketing budgets, families may lose that beginning of school enthusiasm, and parents of graduates may have already spent their resources.
Follow the tips below to create a strong ad section that can contribute to boosting a staff’s discretionary budget.
“A FAILURE TO PLAN IS A PLAN TO FAIL”
Get organized in spring and summer for next year’s ad sales. Here are a few tips to get you thinking:
- Set up your online storefront through your yearbook provider or school district. The advantage of using your yearbook provider’s storefront site is that ad design can be done by the families and businesses, instead of your yearbook team.
- Prepare an email targeting families of rising Seniors about the opportunity to create a dedication ad for their senior. These emails can be sent over summer and into the fall. Link them to that storefront site.
Target Local Businesses!
- Prepare a list of previous business advertisers and divide them among the upcoming staff for summer targeting.
- Think about the local businesses that have a working relationship with your school: after care companies, karate studios, dance studios, t-shirt vendors, etc.
- Create a personal connection by having a student leader send a Sample Business Ad Letter to existing businesses for ad renewal.
- Encourage staffers to find new businesses for the yearbook ads, focusing on effort rather than sales numbers.
BE PREPARED, PROFESSIONAL & READY TO CLOSE THE DEAL
When it’s time to visit a local business, consider these suggestions:
- Bring a copy of last year’s yearbook. Let the business see the quality of the product.
- Remind them of the size of the student population and how many potential families their ad will reach.
- Bring a completed contract so all the business owner has to do is pick their ad size and sign.
- Carry a pen!
- Practice your pitch! Remember to introduce yourself by name and how you represent the school.
- Know who to speak to. Call the business in advance and ask who makes those decisions and when that person may be available.
- Avoid busy business hours.
- Dress professionally. A school uniform would be appropriate so the business owner sees your spirit and recognizes who you represent.
- Be polite, even in the face of rejection. The business may be a better opportunity next year, so don’t leave anyone with a bad impression.
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
The pricing structure you use for personal and business ads will have a lot to do with the cost that your school community is willing to bear. You don’t want to price families or businesses out of the opportunity to place the ad in the yearbook. But you also don’t want to lose money on the cost required to print those ads in all the books.
Some schools charge more for business ads than student dedication ads. Some offer discounts to those businesses if they are owned and operated by a family at the school. These are all things to take into consideration.
Here’s a good rule of thumb to help you determine how much each ad page will cost:
- Divide the Total printing Contract price (total number of books x price per book) by the total number of pages to determine the cost per page.
- Now that you know the cost of the printed page, you can decide, based on economic factors of your community, how much you will charge to either break even, add to your profit, or to help offset the cost of the yearbook.
Start Planning Your Yearbook Ad Sales Strategy Today!
Ad sales and yearbook sales are the business side of the yearbook process. Don’t wait until it’s too late in the year; take action now to maximize your yearbook’s budget. Make sure you have a solid plan to solicit ad sales and a fair pricing structure so that everyone who wants to can afford to be a part of this cherished keepsake.
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When it comes to printing your school’s yearbook, there are various printing and publishing companies to choose from, each offering different services and products. Some focus on traditional methods like offset printing, while others offer digital printing or print-on-demand services. It’s essential to understand these options to find the best fit for your needs.
Understanding Your Yearbook Printing Options
Printing & Publishing Companies: There are many companies out there, but they’re not all the same. Some specialize in traditional printing methods, while others offer more modern approaches. It’s essential to consider factors like delivery times, customer service, and affordability when making your choice.
Printing Methods: When it comes to printing your yearbook, you have several options. Traditional offset printing provides high-quality results for large print runs, while digital printing offers quick turnaround times for smaller batches. Print-on-demand services are ideal for schools with fluctuating demand or tight deadlines.
Which Option is Best for Your Yearbook Project?
- Traditional Printing Companies:
- Specialize in offset printing.
- Ideal for large print runs.
- Known for high-quality results.
- Digital Printing Companies:
- Offer a modern approach to printing.
- Transfer digital files directly onto paper.
- Suitable for smaller print runs with quick turnaround times.
- Print-on-Demand Services:
- Yearbooks printed as needed.
- Eliminate the need for large print runs and excess inventory.
- Provide flexibility for schools with fluctuating demand.
Why Choose YearbookLife?
YearbookLife stands out as the top choice for your school’s yearbook needs.
Here’s why:
- Fast Delivery: We understand that you’re eager to get your yearbooks, so we offer fast delivery to ensure you receive them on time.
- Superior Customer Service & Support: Our team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and support every step of the way. We’re here to answer your questions, address any concerns, and make sure your yearbook project runs smoothly.
- Quality Yearbook Products: We take pride in delivering high-quality yearbooks that you’ll be proud to share with your school community. At YearbookLife, we also offer specialty yearbook products, including church directories, corporate catalogs, summer camp memory books, and more. Learn more.
- Easy-to-Use Yearbook Design Software: Creating your yearbook should be fun and straightforward. That’s why we offer easy-to-use yearbook design software that makes it easy to bring your vision to life. Learn more about our yearbook software options.
- Affordable Prices: We believe that every school should be able to afford quality yearbooks. That’s why we offer competitive prices to fit your budget.
Looking for a Yearbook Printing Company? Get a FREE Quote Today!
When you choose YearbookLife, you’re choosing a company that’s committed to making your yearbook experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Contact us today to learn more and get started on creating your perfect yearbook! Click here, to get a FREE quote.
