The The BUSINESS BUSINESS

of of YearbookYearbook

??????

A Rural Success StoryA Rural Success Story►Small High School, less than 100 per class, Small High School, less than 100 per class,

no large cities or businesses around themno large cities or businesses around them

►Yearbook muddled along financially for several yearsYearbook muddled along financially for several years

►Yearbook went into debt over time, using this year’s Yearbook went into debt over time, using this year’s money to pay last year’s billmoney to pay last year’s bill

►A change was needed…A change was needed…

A Rural Success StoryA Rural Success Story►Two new co-advisers began in JuneTwo new co-advisers began in June

►Recognized the financial problem, immediately tackled Recognized the financial problem, immediately tackled the problemthe problem

►Over the summer gathered their yearbook staff and Over the summer gathered their yearbook staff and made their plansmade their plans

►A change was started…A change was started…

A Rural Success StoryA Rural Success Story►Began efforts in late JulyBegan efforts in late July

►First problem tackled: selling adsFirst problem tackled: selling ads

►Once school year began, tackled other problem: selling Once school year began, tackled other problem: selling booksbooks

►A change was made…A change was made…

A Rural Success StoryA Rural Success Story►Got staffers plugged in to the problemGot staffers plugged in to the problem

►Challenged and motivated staffers, offering incentives Challenged and motivated staffers, offering incentives for successfor success

►By end of October, around $20,000 was already deposited into By end of October, around $20,000 was already deposited into their yearbook account from book and ad sales (48 pages)their yearbook account from book and ad sales (48 pages)

►A change was accomplished, in just 3 mos.A change was accomplished, in just 3 mos.

Where Do You Get the Money for Where Do You Get the Money for your Yearbook?your Yearbook?

►Book sales – the number one sourceBook sales – the number one source

►Ad Sales – business and personal adsAd Sales – business and personal ads

►FundraisersFundraisers

►School money?School money?

What are the What are the TWO Keys to a TWO Keys to a

Good Good Yearbook?Yearbook?

OrganizationOrganizationandand

PlanningPlanningIf you do this thoroughly with If you do this thoroughly with

your editorial effort, why not do your editorial effort, why not do it with your SALES effort??it with your SALES effort??

Who should handle the sales Who should handle the sales effort?effort?

►Entire yearbook staff?? Already overworked?Entire yearbook staff?? Already overworked?

OR

►A NEW idea? A REAL WORLD idea??A NEW idea? A REAL WORLD idea??

A Yearbook Business/Sales A Yearbook Business/Sales TeamTeam

►Separate Business and Editorial TeamsSeparate Business and Editorial Teams►Student Yearbook Business ManagerStudent Yearbook Business Manager►Use business students? FBLA?Use business students? FBLA?►Looks great on a resume or college Looks great on a resume or college

app.app.►Work on the book? Create the ad Work on the book? Create the ad

section!section!

Create a Yearbook Budget!!Create a Yearbook Budget!!

►Don’t laugh, some folks don’t do this!Don’t laugh, some folks don’t do this!►Make a preliminary REAL budget or get Make a preliminary REAL budget or get

one from your yearbook representativeone from your yearbook representative►Aim HIGH for your budget goalsAim HIGH for your budget goals

Book sales – how much money?Book sales – how much money? Business ad sales – how much money?Business ad sales – how much money? Personal ad sales – how much money?Personal ad sales – how much money? Fundraiser(s) – how much money?Fundraiser(s) – how much money?

Selling Your YearbooksSelling Your Yearbooks

►Use a company programUse a company program Students order in school, parents pay Students order in school, parents pay

later by mail, phone or onlinelater by mail, phone or online Parents have order form mailed home, Parents have order form mailed home,

then paythen pay►Do your own yearbook saleDo your own yearbook sale

Allow students to order with down Allow students to order with down payment, then pay in full laterpayment, then pay in full later

Your business team NEVER stops selling!Your business team NEVER stops selling! The table in the cafeteria is EXTINCT!The table in the cafeteria is EXTINCT!

Selling Business AdsSelling Business Ads

►Businesses WANT to support their area Businesses WANT to support their area schools – use this to your advantage!schools – use this to your advantage!

►Organize and Plan – the key to success!Organize and Plan – the key to success!►Being thorough is a lot of workBeing thorough is a lot of work►Prime time for selling ads –Prime time for selling ads –

Spring yearbooks – SUMMER thru ChristmasSpring yearbooks – SUMMER thru Christmas Fall yearbooks – SUMMER thru MayFall yearbooks – SUMMER thru May

►Offer Sales Incentives, just like the real Offer Sales Incentives, just like the real world – free yearbook, money?world – free yearbook, money?

Selling Personal AdsSelling Personal Ads

►Why? It’s a chance for someone to put Why? It’s a chance for someone to put their imprint on the yearbook or their imprint on the yearbook or remember their memories for remember their memories for everyone to seeeveryone to see

►ALL personal ads?ALL personal ads?

Types of Personal AdsTypes of Personal Ads

►Senior parent ads Senior parent ads ►Underclassmen parent ads – why not?Underclassmen parent ads – why not?►Buddy adsBuddy ads►Club or group adsClub or group ads►Local churches, celebrating graduatesLocal churches, celebrating graduates►Others?Others?►Be creative, not limitingBe creative, not limiting

Yearbook FundraisersYearbook Fundraisers

► Set your goal BEFORE the fundraiserSet your goal BEFORE the fundraiser►One big one or several continuing smaller One big one or several continuing smaller

onesones►What kind of fundraiser? What kind of fundraiser? ► Look for high profit fundraisers – 50%Look for high profit fundraisers – 50%► Schoolwide fundraiser, get everyone involved Schoolwide fundraiser, get everyone involved

for a free or partial pay yearbookfor a free or partial pay yearbook► Avoid single fundraisers that earn little – car Avoid single fundraisers that earn little – car

washwash Maybe a series of car washes??? Once a month?Maybe a series of car washes??? Once a month?

Need More Help?Need More Help?

►Scott’s Office: 814-422-8058Scott’s Office: 814-422-8058►Scott’s Email: Scott’s Email: scott.geesey@jostens.comscott.geesey@jostens.com►Scott’s Website:Scott’s Website:

www.jostenscentralpa.comwww.jostenscentralpa.com Look for the Audio Archive in the left columnLook for the Audio Archive in the left column Hear a 5-minute interview with Kim Bowser, Hear a 5-minute interview with Kim Bowser,

adviser at Port Allegany High in McKean adviser at Port Allegany High in McKean CountyCounty