WHY MAKE A BOOK IF NO ONE BUYS IT?
The entire purpose of having a yearbook is for people to enjoy it. So why make it if no one knows where and when to buy it? At the beginning of the year you will set up sale prices with the Herff Jones representative, probably Kara. It is important that everyone in the school knows when these deadlines are and how much the book costs and where they can order it from. Here are some advertising things I have done in the last 3 years to try and boost sales.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
A week before Back to School Night, get approval/permission from the principal to set up a table or booth at the front of the school for when parents walk in. There are plenty of yearbook banners in 603 that you can use for the table, and this is the best way to directly give parents the information. Print order forms with clear directions that can be returned with cash or check to 603, or print flyers for how parents can order and pay online. This is also a great time to hand out baby ad flyers to try and get as many orders as early as possible.
FOOTBALL GAMES
This is not something that I have done, but having a booth at the football game would be another great way to directly contact the parents with order forms and baby ad forms. It is also a great way to advertise the program as something that is involved in the community and something that people should want to be a part of.
HALLOWEEN, WINTER BREAK, VALENTINES DAY, AND SPRING BREAK
For all of these things, you should get permission from the principal or admin to pass out candy. People love free anything, especially candy. Everyone in the class needs to bring in bags of candy where the pieces are bigger enough to put a sticky label on. The business manager should print sticky labels with the website and the school code on them. Stand in the front of the school or in the main hall and pass out the candy.
MAKE SHIRTS
Once you have a theme and know what you are doing for the book, make shirts! These shirts should be a staff requirement to purchase (ask any admin if they want one as well so the price drops on custom ink). For the first shirt made, it should resemble the cover of the book and the design throughout. Wear this shirt in all promo videos and during promo events such as last day to order before prices rise, passing out candy, and any time at an event where it is possible to wear it. The second shirt made should be for distribution and should just be something about yearbook in general, a cute catch phrase or an inside joke.
BEFORE THE BOOKS COME...
Once you have a rough estimate of the date that the books are coming, make sure and let the school know! Make sure and tell people what the prices are and when they will rise for the final time. The best way to do this is to make a sign with a countdown and post it somewhere where everyone will see, such as in front of the cafeteria or when they first walk into the school.
Also do a final sales push. Make a table in front of the cafeteria during lunches or in the main hall in the mornings and give out flyers.
Also do a final sales push. Make a table in front of the cafeteria during lunches or in the main hall in the mornings and give out flyers.
A FEW MORE IDEAS...
Sidewalk chalk in front of the school a few days leading up to the price increase deadlines
Flyers in the hallway
Signing up to do the morning announcements
Passing out candy and mini flyers at lunch
Use the Twitter to your advantage and advertise as much as you can through that
ALWAYS have a buyers list posted outside of 603 and continually update it
Flyers in the hallway
Signing up to do the morning announcements
Passing out candy and mini flyers at lunch
Use the Twitter to your advantage and advertise as much as you can through that
ALWAYS have a buyers list posted outside of 603 and continually update it