Reasons to Join Yearbook

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We’re here to keep it short and sweet: joining yearbook might just be your best decision this year. Still need convincing? Don’t forget about the Welcome to Your Yearbook Adventure curriculum video.

Yearbook lets you…

  • Showcase your talents in writing, photography, design, marketing, and social media.
  • Develop leadership and teamwork skills through key roles.
  • Capture and preserve your school’s most important moments.
  • Gain real-world experience in time management, marketing, and meeting deadlines.
  • Collaborate closely with classmates and faculty to create something meaningful.
  • Build an impressive portfolio for college or career applications.
  • Form lasting bonds with your team through shared goals and experiences.
  • Learn valuable skills in design software and technology that translate to professional tools.
  • See your hard work come to life in a publication enjoyed by the entire school.
  • Experience the pride of completing a big project while making lifelong memories.

Looking for more staff recruiting tools? Head to the Recruiting Center.

Not a Varsity Yearbook customer?

Fill out this quick form, and we’ll put you in touch with a local representative to see more Welcome to YBK resources.

Creative Book Sales Tips

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Boost yearbook sales with these quick and effective strategies. Don’t forget about the Six Tips to Sell Your Yearbook curriculum video and the extra book sales ideas.

Promotions

  • Post posters and fliers around school and the community.
  • Use banners, foam cup designs in fences or chalk on sidewalks.

Visuals

  • Showcase photos with slideshows during lunch.
  • Share sneak peeks on Instagram or teasers on TikTok.

Parent Outreach

  • Advertise in newsletters and on the school website.
  • Use Sales Assist for email promotions.
  • Sell yearbooks at open houses with payment options ready.

Creative Ideas

  • Add order forms to event programs.
  • Create buzz with announcements, videos or a “Top 10 Reasons to Buy” campaign.
  • Post a “Who’s Purchased” list with, “Are you on the list?” signs.

Not a Varsity Yearbook customer?

Fill out this quick form, and we’ll put you in touch with a local representative to see more Welcome to YBK resources.

Refresh your coverage

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Feeling like your staff is in need of some new and creative ideas for your coverage spreads? Don’t forget about the Five Ways to Up Your Coverage curriculum video and the Coverage gallery from Portfolio.

Student Life Spread Ideas

  • Day in the Life: Snapshots and Q&A with students from different grades.
  • Off-the-Beaten-Path Clubs: Feature unique or lesser-known clubs.
  • Traditions Reimagined: Highlight evolving or new school traditions.

Sports Spread Ideas

  • Game Day Rituals: Capture behind-the-scenes moments and pre-game rituals.
  • Player Profiles: Focus on athletes, from stars to lesser-known contributors.
  • Season Highlights Timeline: Showcase major games and standout plays. 

Academics Spread Ideas

  • Innovative Projects: Feature the coolest class projects across subjects.
  • Teacher Spotlights: Show the personal side of favorite teachers.
  • Senior Study Hacks: Share seniors’ best study tips and advice.

Not a Varsity Yearbook customer?

Fill out this quick form, and we’ll put you in touch with a local representative to see more Welcome to YBK resources.

 

Here’s Your Yearbook Cover 101

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The cover is the first impression of your yearbook and should reflect the theme and uniqueness of your school year. Before you jump into inspiration and designing, it’s important to make sure you understand cover terminology. Let’s get started with four terms:

 

Bleed: When an element extends past the grid and to the outside edge of the page. This can be used for color, graphics and dominant photos, but never copy.

Spine: Area of the yearbook connecting the front and back lids. The name of the school, name of the book, city/state, volume number and year should appear on the spine in a way that reflects the theme.

Crimp: Open a yearbook and lay it facedown. On either side of the spine, there’s an area called the crimp. Copy shouldn’t cross over the crimp because of distortion during the production process and repeated opening and closing of the cover.

Wrap: Area of the yearbook folding around the binders board that will be covered by the endsheet. If design elements are intended to go into the wrap area, they should extend to the farthest edge, similar to a bleed.

Find resources, ideas and more at ybk.link/cover-prep.

Not a Varsity Yearbook customer?

Fill out this quick form, and we’ll put you in touch with a local representative to learn more.

Teach These First

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To make teaching yearbook easier, we developed the Welcome to YBK education videos. These bite-sized videos supplement our core curriculum. Access the full gallery at ybk.link/edu-videos or visit sections under the Education menu on Yearbook Discoveries.

 

Start Here: Order the Welcome to YBK student workbooks and open the Adviser Guide. Focus on these key areas:

  • Theme: Establish the theme early to set the tone. Present the Theme 101 slideshow at ybk.link/theme and watch the videos on Yearbook Discoveries. (Workbook: Go to pages 14-19.)
  • Captions: Captions add context and make photos come to life. Check out ybk.link/reporting and download the Captions slideshow. (Workbook: Go to pages 76-77.)
  • Photo Composition: Great photos are essential. Visit ybk.link/photography and download the What Makes a Good Photo and Photo Composition slideshows. Watch the related videos on Yearbook Discoveries. (Workbook: Go to page 96.)
Not a Varsity Yearbook customer?

Fill out this quick form, and we’ll put you in touch with a local representative to learn more.

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