Print Promotional Tools: DIY Tips

Doing it yourself can be a money-saver IF you have the skills and the time. But that doesn't mean it's the best way to go. When you figure in your time, and what you were not getting done by working on it yourself (like building your business), it's often better to let someone help you get all your print promotional stuff designed and printed.

But if you want to give it a go, here are some tips that should help speed things along. I use this info every day, I hope they will help you as well:

You should do this first: Stop and think about what you're trying to accomplish.

Whether you're a fine artist or just run your own business, read Start with Your Promotional Identity and How to Build a Healthy Art Business so you're clear on where you're trying to get to. If you are a fine artist, download a free copy of "11 Tips for Success for Fine Artists". Actually, even if you're not a fine artist it's all great stuff, so get it anyway. Decide what printed pieces you'll need for everything you want to do over the next few months. You can always order more. Feel like you're doing "Ready, Fire, Aim" and not getting anywhere with your art business? You need some coaching and advice, contact Aletta de Wal for a free 15-minute consultation. That's what I do, she's a Master Coach, wonderful.

Start with great images of your work and images you'll use for backgrounds and decorative effects.

Read How to Get Great Images, and visit the iStockPhoto website for great background and decorative images to use in your marketing materials. Read their article on image resolution.

Also check out these sites for stock images: Fotolia, Jupiter Images, Getty Images, Shutterstock, and 123rf.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until artists stop sending me images of their work taken with a cell phone. That is NOT what I mean by "great images."  I mean high resolution, professional-quality photographs. Skimping here is self-destructive. 

Get a design guide and layout template from the printer you'll use for a truly custom piece. Or, use their online design software. 

Here are links to the design guides for a few printers that are helpful and make it easy to order online: Overnight Prints, Modern Postcard, and Vistaprint. Or ask your local print shop for design help. Please remember that designing for the web and designing for print are two entirely different beasts.

To design and print catalogues:

If you're a Mac, iPhoto can handle it. Design and print books of many sizes at Blurb, or Lulu.  Try MagCloud to create a magazine-style catalog.

Of course there are many, many more great resources out there. If you know of one, add a comment to this article, or just email me and I'll add it for you.

All my best to you and yours,

~Robin