You’ve probably already heard that planning a yearbook takes time. It’s true; the earlier you get started on your yearbook creation process, the easier the process will be. One thing that is important to consider is the cost of your yearbook. Yearbook costs can fluctuate each year based on design enhancements selected.
Yearbook sales and revenue from ads should contribute towards the basic cost of the yearbook, meaning the amount required for printing. But what happens when this income stream doesn’t cover everything? How do you pay for the additional, fun enhancement options that you want to include to make your yearbook unique?
At YearbookLife, we’ve been in the yearbook industry for years. Through our experience, we’ve seen some great ways to help raise additional money for your yearbook. Give it a try yourself with these school yearbook fundraising ideas.
5 School Yearbook Fundraising Ideas
These 5 ideas can be great yearbook fundraisers. Plus, they give you a great opportunity to get the whole yearbook team involved!
- Host A Movie Night – Hosting a movie night is a great way to raise some additional cash. Find a family-friendly film to attract as many people as possible! Sell tickets for admission, and offer up additional extras like popcorn, candy, or even pizza.
- Take Advantage of the Holidays – We’re not just talking about the traditional holidays! Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day can also be great opportunities for fundraising. You could offer candy grams for sale at Valentine’s. How about green flowers for St. Patrick’s day? Let your creativity run wild. Don’t forget to get your school involved – you’ll want to make sure that they’re onboard with your holiday fundraising ideas.
- Raffle – A raffle is a great way to raise additional funds for your yearbook. People love being able to win a fantastic prize. It’s also a great way to get local businesses involved. Why not approach some and see if they’d be willing to contribute a prize?
- Bake Sales – Who doesn’t enjoy cake? A bake sale is a great way to raise some money. Don’t limit yourself to the traditional cupcake and brownie. Why not try throwing additional items in the mix for people who are looking for healthier alternatives? Trail mix or popcorn can be great additions.
- Photo CDs – Throughout the year, you’re probably taking a lot of photos for your yearbook. But let’s be realistic, not all of them are going to make the final cut. Throw the photos onto CDs, and offer them for sale to students and parents alike. Bonus points for organizing the CDs by theme, eg: homecoming, prom, rallys, etc.
These school yearbook fundraising ideas are a great way to raise extra money. After all, you want to make a yearbook to remember, right? If you’re looking for additional help marketing and selling your yearbook, check out the YearbookLife Marketing Supplies Store.
Get a FREE Yearbook Quote from YearbookLife today!
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.
A great yearbook photo caption should do two things: it should inform readers and it should entertain. Your yearbook photos are going to be some of the most-seen graphics in the yearbook. If the photo captures your readers’ attention, they’re likely to read the associated caption.
Great yearbook photo captions should tell a story. You may be wondering where to even begin? Our yearbook caption writing tips can help you create memorable, entertaining and informative captions.
Tips for Writing & Designing Yearbook Photo Captions
A photo caption is a small, easily digestible piece of information. A great caption should tell the reader everything they need to know about a photo: Who? What? When? Where? Why? Once you’ve gathered this information, the caption will all but write itself!
Think of writing your yearbook caption like a story-teller would. Give your readers enough information to give them the complete story. Your caption should be able to answer the five W’s:
- Who? Make sure your caption describes who is in the photo. Name up to 6 or 7 people or groups. Top Tip: Take advantage of yearbook publishers with software that helps you index your yearbook images. YearbookLife offers software that will automatically index people you tag in your yearbook photos. Talk about a useful feature!
- What? What is happening in the photo? Try to focus on the non-obvious information. For example, it’s Tom’s first time playing the flute at a school event. Rather than “Tom, playing the flute” you could try, “Tom’s first time playing the flute at the Spring Fling.”
- When? When did the event happen? Was it special in anyway?
- Where? Where was the photo taken?
- Why? This is a great opportunity to provide additional information behind the photo. Perhaps it was a charity bake sale. This gives you a chance to tell the reader something they cannot see in the photo.
Tip: Getting a quote from someone in the picture can really compliment your story-telling!
Yearbook Photo Captions: Dos and Don’ts
Here’s a quick list of the dos and don’ts for writing your yearbook photo captions:
Do:
✅ Answer the five Ws
✅ Be descriptive
✅ Be factual
✅ Use lively, visual, action verbs
✅ Write in the present tense
✅ Use first and last names
✅ Write in complete sentences
Don’t:
❌ Use label leads (such as baseball guys, etc.)
❌ Use a lot of -ing verbs
❌ State the obvious
❌ Use joke or “gag” captions
❌ Forget you’re telling the reader a story
Writing the yearbook photo captions is a great opportunity to think back on all the fun you’ve had in the school year. Put on your story-telling hat, get creative, and most of all, have fun!
Get a FREE Yearbook Quote from YearbookLife today!
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 is 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.
It can be difficult to choose a yearbook publisher. We’re here to let you in on a secret to make it easier. “What’s that,” you ask? You’re already on the right track. Asking questions is the best way to determine if the yearbook publisher is the right fit for your school.
Choosing your yearbook publisher is an important decision – so what’s important to you and your school? To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve put together this cheat sheet of questions to ask your yearbook publisher.
There are many choices when it comes to yearbook publishers. Whittling down the right choice for you can depend on a few key questions. Here are 5 we recommend you ask:
1.) What services do you provide?
You may have a fantastic yearbook staff in house, but there may still be additional services that you require. You may want a yearbook representative who is on hand to help with the whole process. Do you need them to stop by on a monthly basis? Perhaps you’d be more comfortable with email correspondence or phone calls to check in. Finding a publisher that offers customer care and technical support teams is key.
You may also need help marketing your yearbook. How about tips and tricks on the best places to market your yearbooks? Perhaps you’re more interested in tools to help promote and sell your yearbooks. Don’t be shy to ask what services your potential yearbook publisher has to support you.
2.) How much does it cost?
Let’s get the tricky question out of the way. Asking about price can help you prepare your budget in advance. It also helps ensure that you have enough set aside for your yearbook publishing costs.
Remember, it’s not just about the bottom line cost. Many yearbook publishers will offer free tools or software to give you more bang for your buck. Verify what the price quoted includes. Don’t forget to ask about shipping and delivery costs.
3.) What kind of quality can I expect?
You’ve spent a long time putting your yearbook together. Naturally, you want professional quality from cover to cover. Vibrant color printing, specialty cover options and personalization features can all help to give your yearbook that professional look.
But don’t just take their word for it! Holding a sample in your hand is the best way to assess quality. Ask if your yearbook publisher offers free yearbook samples. This will help you determine if the quality offered matches your expectations.
4.) What design software do you offer?
Yearbook software can help you to take your yearbook to the next level. Do you want software that allows you to collaborate with your team? What about software that allows you to work remotely and share your progress?
At YearbookLife, we offer a choice of yearbook software, including Pictavo and YBLive. Choose from an extensive library of page designs, templates and backgrounds. The enhanced design features allow you to create a one-of-a-kind yearbook.
5.) How fast is your delivery time?
It may seem like a small detail, but the delivery time for your yearbooks can be a big deal. If your yearbook publisher requires your yearbook months in advance, you risk missing out on the end of year events.
Finding a yearbook publisher that can offer fast delivery means that you can include every event of the year in your book. At YearbookLife, we can deliver your yearbooks in as little as ten business days!
Get a FREE Yearbook Quote from YearbookLife today!
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.
As the yearbook season approaches, you might be looking for ways to boost the excitement surrounding yearbook sales. Generating a buzz around your yearbook sales in order to get your students and parents to purchase the yearbook is key. Things like posting relevant yearbook sales information on social media, doing giveaways and contests, and printed materials can help you achieve your yearbook sales goals.
How to Generate Yearbook Sales Buzz
If you’re wondering how you can generate yearbook sales buzz, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a few tips to help with your yearbook marketing this year.
- Print marketing – Printing flyers, using A-frame signs or large print vinyl posters or signs using colorful text and even selected photos from your yearbook can draw attention to the upcoming sale. You can put blurbs in any newsletters and announcements you may put out to your parent or student body, as well.
- Email – Email lists for parents can be a great way to boost your yearbook sale numbers. Often times, parents are not aware that yearbooks are available – keeping them in the know might mean they’ll get one for themselves.
- Use humor – We live in a time where memes rule the world! Sprinkling memes in your emails, on your posters and on social media is a great way to draw attention to your pitch. A well thought out meme is worth its weight in gold.
- Social media – It’s not uncommon for schools to maintain their own social media accounts. From Facebook to Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, using your well maintained social platforms to post about your upcoming sales should help get the visibility out there.
- Run contests – Winning a free yearbook or even bigger prizes when your students, parents and staff place their orders will certainly generate some positive buzz around ordering time. Make it simple but it’s something you can share in your email, social and print media marketing plans.
- Display sample photos – You can print out or share some of the photo selections you made throughout your school or on social media.
- Ask for ideas – Before it’s even time to publish your yearbook, asking your student body and staff for fun or new ideas to add to your yearbook content. Letting students feel included can definitely up the odds they’ll want to purchase one!
- Make a video – It’s true, in this day and age, video is king! Create a fun video with clips of images you chose, events you’ll cover and other great content from your yearbook and spread around the fun! It can be shared on social and in email!
- Tables at school events – It’s easy enough to do. Set up a table and be present at sporting, fundraising and other school related events. Making yourself visible is truly the best way to boost your school’s yearbook sales.
The goal is to get yearbooks in the hands of your staff, students, and their parents. If you generate enough excitement and get your student buy in, you should have no issues at all boosting your yearbook sales and getting everyone’s attention.
Get a FREE Yearbook Quote from YearbookLife today!
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.
Creating a yearbook is a process, and it helps to have support along the way. Not only is it important to assemble the right yearbook staff, choosing the right yearbook publisher is equally important. There are a host of yearbook publishers out there; a simple Google search will yield many results! Learning what resources are available when creating your yearbook can help you whittle down the results to find the right publisher for you.
5 Yearbook Publisher Resources You Should Be Using
Yearbook Design Software
Creating a high quality yearbook takes more than the right copy and right photos. A yearbook that will truly pop off the page requires the right yearbook design software. When you’re selecting your yearbook publisher, consider what software they offer to help you design and create your yearbook. Do they give you flexibility on page designs? Can you create your own, bespoke yearbook? Are there templates available for you to use?
At YearbookLife, we provide free easy-to-use yearbook software to you create a spectacular school yearbook that you will remember for years to come. Our software includes a robust art library with an array of backgrounds, templates and clip art, to assist you in designing the most creative yearbook you’ve ever had.
Customer Service & Support
While you’re creating your yearbook, you’re probably going to have questions. While most yearbook publishers will offer a level of customer service, finding a yearbook publisher that goes above and beyond is important.
Your yearbook publisher should provide you with online, email and phone support, and be prepared to help you throughout your yearbook journey. The best yearbook publishers will also offer you ongoing support, training opportunities, and even some advice about the yearbook creation process such as tips on moments you should capture for your school yearbook.
Personalization & Other Enhancement Options
Your school yearbook should be unique. The best way to ensure that you are able to create a unique and memorable yearbook is to find a yearbook publisher that offers a variety of options when it comes to personalizing your yearbook. This includes specialty cover options, custom backgrounds, and design art, just to name a few.
Marketing Resources
Once you’ve settled on your yearbook layout and design, it’s time to think about marketing. How are you planning on marketing & selling your yearbook? Will you use posters around the school? Perhaps you’re more drawn to the idea of flyers, or even online marketing.
A good yearbook publisher will not only offer you tips and advice on the best ways to market and sell your yearbook, but they will also provide you with helpful resources along the way, including posters, flyers, and online yearbook sales support.
Also find out if they have an online storefront where parents and students can go to purchase yearbooks online. This makes the purchasing process more secure and easier for parents and also means less accounting work on your end.
Fast Delivery
When you’ve finalized your yearbook, the next step is getting it delivered. Longer production and delivery times require earlier deadlines, which means some spring activities may not be included and the amount of time you have to finalize your yearbook may be reduced. Finding a yearbook publisher that offers a fast delivery gives you more time to include spring events and focus on the details.
Get a FREE Yearbook Quote from YearbookLife today!
Choosing a yearbook publisher is an important decision in your yearbook creation process. YearbookLife makes it easy to create your school yearbook. We pride ourselves on our competitive pricing, customer and technical support, fast delivery, and our free, easy-to-use software. If you’d like to request a quote today, please click here.
