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3 Dos and Donts game (Read 1162 times)
Tom_133317
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3 Dos and Donts game
Sep 18th, 2009, 4:31am
 
List 3 Dos and 3 Donts as it partains to card design, keywording, and so on.  The idea is to share things you know work and things you've tried that have just plain flopped!
 
Then share a link to a new card of yours you think is a future WINNER and WHY!
 
My Dos
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1.  DO go to the target category and study the characteristics of the most popular cards before you start a design.  The best card likely have some design details in common.  Write them down and make a card as good as you can to compete with the most popular cards in the group.  ("Plain" cards won't sell!)
 
2.  DO use a card title that matches what a Google shopper likely would use in a search.  THIS IS KEY.  This is far more important than using a title that describes the card such as a birthday card called "Evening Star" or something.
 
3.  DO use depth, such as shadowing and 3-D objects.
 
My Donts
=======
1.  DONT go blank.  Blank cards and note cards are poor sellers.  Shoppers can take any card and make it blank inside.
 
2.  DONT use thin borders.  During trimming these borders may be too thin and may come out looking crooked and uneven compared to the one at the fold.
 
3.  DONT use the watermark.  I believe it can limit sales, but it's certainly a personal choice.
 
And now for one of my new cards:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/viewdetails.asp?pid=491664
WHY? - I think this one might sell since it stands out as a large and interesting photo and uses an appealing catch line.  It stands out.  It is also targeted at the 60+ female age group which is a key demographic of buyers/receivers.
 
WHO's NEXT?
 
 
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Mary__137064
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #1 - Sep 18th, 2009, 5:19am
 
Great info, TR. I'll see if I can put 3  and 3 down.
 
3 Dos
1. Do write from the heart for serious cards.
2. Do card sentiment and image to match each other so the whole package conveys one clear meaning.
3. Do put cards in the appropriate category so they can be found.  
 
3 Don'ts
1. Don't write too long of verse,  I just can't help myself though!  See, there I go again!  
2. Don't be too complicated in style.
3. Don't be afraid to try new color schemes.
 
Right now, I don't have a new card that I think will sell anytime soon, so I'll think about that for now.
This is fun!  Good exercise, thanks Tom.  Hope more artists will add their suggestions, too.
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Bright's Greeting Card Boutique:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Bright
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Mary__137064
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #2 - Sep 18th, 2009, 5:21am
 
Oops, number 2 do should be
 
Do put card sentiment and image to match...
 
Sorry, just woke up!
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Bright's Greeting Card Boutique:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Bright
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Angela_134247
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #3 - Sep 18th, 2009, 6:46am
 
Do: Network your business and advertise in other places on the web and in other businesses.
do: try to find local stores that will carry your work.
do: Only submit your best work. It helps your store look nice when people visit it.
 
Don't: give up! You never know when one of your cards will take off!
Don't: use other people's work without their express permission.  
Don't: talk about only GCU and nothing else to friends and family. You do have to change up the conversation sometimes!
 
I have 250 new cards in the works right now, but only 17 up for submission so far. It's been one of those weeks!
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Tanya_135475
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #4 - Sep 18th, 2009, 8:04am
 
My Dos..
 
Do beleve in yourself yes you can do it
Do Advertise yourself where you can when you can
Do Designs things that appeal to yourself
Do Enjoy every single moment of life and designing Wink
 
My Nono Don'ts
 
Don't forget to spellcheck  Grin
Don't forget to always extend a helping hand in the community
Don't put yourself down, art is for anyone, if it comes from the heart it works
 
Hmm new card *ponders* ok cute wins well it's cute to me Tongue
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/shopping/zoom.asp?pid=461718&w=1
Sold a few so far but I like goth I like fairys I like attitude in art so I duno this one crrently a fave.
 
Hugs
-Moonie-
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Tom_133317
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #5 - Sep 18th, 2009, 8:19am
 
Tanya -- that's an amazing image!  A reflection too.  Amazing.
 
Good dos/donts everyone!  Keep 'em coming!
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Doreen_137017
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #6 - Sep 18th, 2009, 9:35am
 
Leave it to Tom to keep us think'in!  Great idea Tom!
 
DO
1)  Do take your artist's hat off once and awhile and put on your consumer hat.  If you were in a card isle, would you choose your card over others?  
2)  Do use proper keywords!  Using only two or three words that describe the art and not the purpose of the card don't find buyers very often.
3)  Do promote your store.  Send out a monthly newsletter to friends & family or create a blog to post new creations.
 
DON'T
1)  Don't create only a few cards and sit back thinking you're going to make a ton of sales.  More cards means more sales.
2)  Don't let your store become stagnant!  Stores that are not updated frequently will be passed over by the search engines.
3)  Don't ignore or delete old cards that haven't sold or have no clicks. Evaluate them and modify them so they might be more appealing.
 
Here's a new one of mine.  This has been successful as Holiday apparel, thought it would appeal to the Dog Lover community as a card!
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/shopping/zoom.asp?pid=490951&w=1
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Rosalie_136698
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Re: 3 Dos and Donts game
Reply #7 - Sep 18th, 2009, 4:08pm
 
This sounds like a fun game.  Here are my Do's
 
      Do open your GCU e-mails, you will find a lot of help, like this thread.
      Do be true to yourself and your design style
      Do check out the cards in retail, they may give you some new ideas.
 
      Dont copy any of the cards you see in retail or anywhere else.
      Dont use any negatives, or put yourself down.
      Dont compare yourself and your sales to other people, yours will come.
 
      Now, I hope I did this right to get the card I recently designed on this note, that I think will sell.
 
     http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/viewdetails.asp?pid=491705&pag e=1&aid=136698&title=Believe, Orange and Green Water Lily Leaf             rosiecards
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