Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Customizing your Community Calendar. Make this year’s calendar your best!

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Creating a community wall calendar is not only a great way to raise money but also a great tool in building community support. Unfortunately, a big issue with community calendars is that they are often very similar and customization is sometimes tough. However, thanks to websites such as custombuiltcalendars.com, customizing your wall calendar to make this years calendar your best is now easier than ever!

When customizing your community calendar, there are lots of options available for you to choose from to make your community calendar stand out. One option that is available on sites such as custombuiltcalendars.com is the ability to design your own templates. By choosing the “upload your own design” template, you are able to customize your community calendar templates by adding multiple photos, colors and text. Another fun option available with the “upload your own design” templates is that you are able to insert images such as coupons for restaurant, etc in your template. Now your community calendar not only builds community support but also promotes local businesses.

Another option you can choose when customizing your community calendar is the selection process of photos in your calendar. Most community calendars usually showcase photos of local buildings and historic sites. However, an easy way to customize your calendar is by selecting photos that were taken by people in the community. This is a great way to support local artist as well as making your community calendar completely unique. If you decide to use photographs from local photographers or by children in the community, one way to decide whose photograph gets in the community calendar would be to create a local community contest. This will allow people to compete to have their photos displayed as well as create buzz and excitement for the community calendar. This in turn will generate much interest in the community calendar and perhaps boost sales once the calendar is completed.  A great way to increase interests would be to not confirm winners until the community calendar is completed. This way the locals will have to purchase your community calendar to see who made the cut!

Finally, a last option to consider when customizing your community calendar is to insert text into individual date boxes. Generally, most community calendars display information such as religious holidays, but with online calendars builders such as the one available with Custom Built Calendars, you are now able to insert customized text into your community calendars dates. By inserting events such as local festivals, community meetings, birthdays and other special dates, you are able to completely customize your community calendar and make it your own.

Designing and customizing your community calendar to make it as unique and creative as possible can be a difficult and challenging task but with the ideas listed above and with the capabilities of websites such as custombuiltcalendar.com, the once painful task has become much easier and way more fun to do!

School Fundraising Calendars – 7 Steps to Success!

Friday, August 27th, 2010

School fundraising calendars have become more and more popular over the past few years and are known to be a great fundraising tool. Custom school calendars are not only extremely effective in reaching your school’s fundraising goals; school calendars are also great for generating school spirit and community support.  When creating your school’s fundraising calendar, follow the following steps to ensure your school calendar is a fundraising success!

  1. Before you start to create your school fundraising calendar you need to decide when you would like to start selling. This is very important since it takes a bit of time to create the calendar and (hopefully) find sponsors! Generally, the beginning of the school year is a great time to have your fundraising calendar ready, so start planning in spring or early summer.
  2. Once you have decided when your fundraiser will take place, the next thing you want to decide on is the size and format of the calendar. Although 8.5” x 11” wall calendars are the most popular for fundraising, many people choose to make an easel style or CD case desk calendar. The oversized 9.5” x 12.25” wall calendars are also very popular since they allow you to have larger photos and date boxes, which are great when inputting school events.
  3. After you have chosen the style and size of your calendar, the fun part begins when you start to build the calendar online. While most photo calendar websites are tailored for personal (family) calendars, some such as custombuiltcalendars.com cater to businesses, charities, schools, churches and other non-profit organizations.  These websites generally offer more professional calendar templates and tools, and better pricing.  Another thing to keep in mind if you’re building your calendar from your work or school computer is that a computer firewall may prevent you from downloading software, so look for a site where you build the calendar totally online.
  4. Once you have selected the website that best suits your needs, select the appropriate template, upload your photos and insert the appropriate text. A great way to customize your school fundraising calendar is to use photos of teams, faculty and students as well as insert school events into the date squares.
  5. When you have completed your school calendar you can either download a proof or order a sample. Some calendar websites, such as custombuiltcalendars.com allow you to order a free print sample to review. This is always your best bet since you can see exactly what the calendar looks like and there are no surprises when you get your order!
  6. Upon receiving your proof, be sure to review it carefully and make all the necessary changes before you approve and confirm your fundraiser calendar order. Companies, such as Custom Built Calendars allow you to order a PDF every time you make a change. This is great because you can ensure all the changes have been made before your calendar goes to print.
  7. After all changes have been made and you are 100% satisfied with your school fundraising calendar, you can go ahead and order your calendars. Now get ready to sell sell sell!!