Mindy
GCU Administrator
artist
 
 
 
 
Posts: 2719
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New Contact Artist & Custom Photo Cards
Oct 13th, 2009, 5:49pm  Quote  As previously discussed on the forum we will be putting some additional focus on Custom Photo Cards hopefully in time to catch some Winter Holiday sales but also for all year 'round.  
 
There are several online sources for photo cards that offer a wonderful selection of designs and powerful user editing tools.  We do not plan to compete in that do-it-yourself market but instead would like to highlight GCU's strengths.  The appeal is REAL artists for a truly unique and CUSTOM photo card and at no additional cost.  
 
Shoppers will still need to communicate with the artist and email photos to be used in the card.  This is not a do it yourself product for shoppers but a custom designed product with your assistance.  
 
Here are some steps GCU will be taking over the next week or so...  
1) Available Now - a new "Custom Requests" setting in your Admin page under Global Preferences.  The default is set to YES.  If you do not want to receive custom requests you need to set this to NO.  This new setting applies to ALL of your cards, it can not be managed on a card by card basis.  
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/edit_globals.asp  
 
2) New Contact Artist icon -  will be added under ALL thumbnail images.   This will replace the caption icon for card ratings & comments.  From this new Contact Artist icon, shoppers will be able to submit directly to the artist any comments, questions and Custom Requests that are card specific.  
 
3) New Custom Photo Cards Category will appear on the main All Cards page  
 
4) Promotion - Custom Photos Cards via many vehicles including a Custom Photo Card promotional/landing page, Blog, Twitter, email, Homepage, Photo Card page, etc.  
 
WHAT CAN ARTISTS DO?  
1) Create photo cards for all different occasions!    
 
See current photo cards here in Collections >> Photo Cards:  
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/shopping/cb_wide.asp?cid=1117  
 
2) Categorize  
Custom Photo Cards should be in the Photo Cards subcategory within the holiday/occasion AND in the appropriate Collections >> Photo Cards subcategory.  
 
For Example a Christmas Photo Card would go in these 2 categories:  
Holidays >> Christmas >> Photo Cards  
Collections >> Photo Cards >> Christmas  
 
3) Artist's Notes  
Indicate in your Artist's Notes something along the lines of "I will put your own digital photo in this card for you.  Please contact me."  
 
4) Card Image text  
In the photo area of your card design consider adding some instructional text like "Your Photo Here" or "Contact me to put your Photo Here" or include a sample photo with watermarking text over it.  
 
5) When you receive a Custom Request email contact the shopper asap to confirm their request, attain their photos and give them your private gallery URL.  Create their cards as PRIVATE and FastTrack them.  Shoppers will be able to shop their card(s) from your Private Gallery.  
 
See here re: Private Cards & Gallery:  
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1192215943/10#10  
 
Please let us know if you have any questions.  This should be fun!

Nan, welcome back!  I hope you are well on your way to a full recovery.
 
If you use Photoshop or the like and are very comfortable using that program to layer and manipulate images, so placing someone elses photo into your card and having it look good, then photo cards are a good addition to your store.  If you are not proficient at a design program that will let you do this easily and fairly stress free, then you are asking for headaches and more trouble that the .56 cents a piece is worth.  
 
Just thought I'd add that to the instruction thread that Linda posted for you so you would understand the complexities of what's involved at your end.