Hi, Tom,
 
I've just finished watching the video - it's a terrific one - and I believe this will be of help.  I'm certain the work that went into this was a labor of love and a whole ton of time!  Thanks to you and the GCU team for your efforts on our behalf.
 
Now a question, if you please.  Most of my cards are blank (maybe 75% ?) and, because they involve animals, bugs, and plants are not always a "fit" for any category.  I want to avoid "General" or "Other" whenever possible, and GCU has either added or beefed up categories to help me have a suitable place for my cards to live.  What is the best way to use a category that doesn't really fit the subject but is the closest I can find?  Do it, and make a note to the reviewer?
 
Thanks again for tackling this Herculean task!
 
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all
 
Carol

to this video. It is very helpful and will be bookmarked for future reference.

Quote from Carol_136775 on Dec 22^nd, 2010, 3:21pm:

 
I think the key is to use your creative mind, like you did with this card:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Painted+Turtle+Birthday-greeting+card-40 6131?pid=406131&aid=136775&ref=cb_card_title
 
I love this card, and it would do very well in Birthday HUMOR vs. the categories you have it in.  That is the key.  Use the Top Selling categories report to get a sense of which categories are selling cards.  Make a list of the top 50 or so.  Then, knowing your inventory of images, brainstorm ways of cleverly applying some of them.  Once you have a gem of an idea, go to the category and study the top selling cards.  Evaluate the detail of the images and the sophistication of the front text and inside verse.  In most cases these top cards are very well composed, the titles are superior, and the keywords are plenty and spot-on.  This is why they rise in popularity, and sell well.
 
This is the opposite process to what most artists do, as we tend to create first and then try to find a place to share our work with others afterwards.  A seasoned card designer learns to discover the strong interest areas first and then creates in a way to stand out and compete right up there with the best selling ones from other artists.
 
Now a turtle card may not appear to make a good Bridesmaid card candidate initially, but if you dressed one up and mated her with a frog in a tux (her prince), you might be shocked at how many you'd sell to perspective brides "coming out of their shells."  It would get clicked a lot and soon would be on page 1.  My goofiest bridesmaids' cards are my best sellers, and there are enough nutty brides out there that go for these.
 
When a shopper looks at a page of cards in any category, you want them to be drawn to yours.  If yours is just "plain," they won't.  Make each card clearly exceptional before you upload it.  Creating means being "creative," right?
 
I'm sure you can make very successful cards in ANY category with your animals, bugs, and plants.  Others do!
 
Good luck ...
 
Tom

Dear Tom,
 
This suggestion is more helpful than you could imagine; I never think to use "humor".  Since this is an older card (like the toad for brother's b'day) the categories are set and I can't change them.  The review/help team is so busy, I don't want to ask them to change the categories.  I'll just go forward with humor in mind.  You've been a great help in many, many ways!
 
Thanks again,
 
Carol
 
 
PS:  I need to learn how to use quotes in the forum, too!  I'll get there eventually