Everyone uses calendars! Plain & Simple! Most people end up using calendars given to them instead of going out to purchase one themselves or having custom calendars printed just for their personal consumption. So, to make sure your calendars will work for you, target who your end user is, create your calendar with this in mind and then make it beautiful! :)
1. Target market
Think about the people who will be using your calendars. Are you giving them away to doctors, professionals, supporters, business owners, friends? If you know your target market you know what they need and what they will be using.
2. Type of calendar
There are different types of calendars and just about every single type can be printed by ActsCo Printing. Consider the person you are giving it to in choosing the type of calendar. If you are primarily giving it to homeowners, poster calendars, wall calendars or fridge magnet calendars are a good bet. If you are giving it to an office and want to showcase pictures, try wall calendars. Should you focus on giving it to your supporters, then you should consider giving a desktop calendar, booklet calendars or a fridge magnet calendar.
You have a variety of choices for calendars:
• Desktop (tent style) calendars - Will be seen daily by your client.
• Wall calendars - Great for showcasing your pictures.
• Poster calendars - Allows for all 12 months to be seen at one time.
• Planner calendars - Used daily and can showcase your pictures.
• Business card calendars - To be kept in wallets or purses for easy access.
• Booklet calendars - Fits easily into a pocket and used daily.
• Fridge magnet calendars - Showcases your picture and seen every time someone is hungry.
3. Number of prints
If you have thought of the target market then you will have a general idea of how much you may need to print.
4. Size
Your choice of size of the calendar should be directly related with the type of calendar you choose and your target market. If you want something handy then have one created in a more miniature size. Standard sizes for ActsCo Printing is 11 x 8.5 inches, A4 & A5, but other sizes are possible.
5. Make sure you have the correct year for printing
Are you sure you are printing the right year? Double check the dates and the days in the calendar before going for printing. When designing calendars, sometimes people just copy and paste from the previous year without changing the dates. (This has happened a number of times from files submitted to ActsCo in previous years.)
6. Pictures
If you are using wall, poster or desktop tent calendars, remember to pick good photographs that reflect the company, ministry or what you want to relay to your users. Consider using pictures that are close up of faces or places, the same style that National Geographic uses.
7. Colors
Pick colors that are vibrant but not too flashy, but can still "catch the eye". Functionality and elegance are two things people consider before using your calendar. For example, if you have large spaces (or boxes) by each day, they will write events important to them. Some calendars only have the date, which makes this type of calendar for reference only.
8. Papers or boards
If you print business card calendars, you should consider using thicker paper to make it sturdier to last one year. All other calendars should use 210 - 260 gram paper for the cover with the inside paper being 120 - 190 gram paper. Remember that this calender will reflect your style, so pick the right paper. If you're not sure about what paper to use, ActsCo Printing can always recommend a paper for you to use.
9. Coatings for Your Calendar
Normally, just the cover of the calendar is coated with either a gloss UV coating or matte/gloss laminate. The inside pages normally do NOT take a coating. For business card calendars, we highly recommend either a gloss or matte laminate, to increase longevity. If you plan to write on your calendar, do NOT use any type of coating as this will prevent them from writing on it.
10. Extras (Special days, events and following months, area for notes)
Your calendar can be "tailor made" for your use. Consider putting your own birthdays, your ministry or company event days or the holidays of the country you live in. You may also consider having the previous or following months of that current month, on the same page, for reference. Our experience is that the majority of people using a calendar like an area for writing notes, expenses or meetings.
Calendar printing is easy when done in the right way. Take time to carefully check everything before the final print-ready file is done. As always, ActsCo Printing is here to provide you a wonderful, colorful, beautiful printed calendar that reflects you. We do provide design services, at a reasonable cost, for you if you need our help. Don't hesitate to contact us with any question you may have. Happy Calendar Making! :)
