Profit from Being a Published Designer

Many scrapbook enthusiasts would love to have their layouts published in a magazine, but for scrapbook entrepreneurs, being a published designer can give you a significant boost to business. Consider this:

• Once you've established a "name" by being published, you can approach manufacturers (or they might approach you first!) about teaching for them at national conventions and trade shows. That "name" might also unlock the door to getting your own product ideas and designs licensed to a large manufacturer.


• Retailers can advertise the fact that they, or staff members and instructors, are "published designers." There is much power behind those words! Scrapbookers want to learn from the best, and some aspire (even in their own minds) to be the best – and what better way than to hang out with the "stars" and hope some of it rubs off!


• Professional scrapbook artists who make scrapbooks for others can certainly use the fact that they have been published as a draw. Include it in your marketing materials, on your web site, in your portfolio, etc.

So we've determined getting your layouts published is a good business move. So how do you do it? Here are some tips:

First Things First
I recommend subscribing to all six of the consumer scrapbooking magazines, not just one or two. This gives you a chance to see the kind of layouts each magazine prefers. Also, as members of the industry, subscriptions to each magazine should be mandatory - plus it's a tax write-off!

Submitting Your Layouts
You have two options at first - scanning your layout and submitting it through email, or making color copies and sending it in. If you make copies to send, your costs can add up, especially if you're submitting to multiple magazines. Email might be your best option, as long as you have access to a scanner. (If the magazines choose to use your layout, they'll usually ask you to send the actual layout.)

With each layout submission, you'll need to include your name, address, phone number, email, and supply list. The supply list is important, as magazines will not publish your layout without one. If you're working on a layout you think you'll want to submit, keep track of what supplies you use and the manufacturer of each one. Be as detailed as you can!

You can submit the same layout to every magazine, but be aware that when one magazine publishes your layout, other magazines won't use the same one. If you decide to submit, it's also a good idea to take those layouts off of the popular Web sites, such as ScrapJazz.com.

Magazines typically keep layouts on file and will ask for them when the need arises for a layout like yours. You might be contacted months down the line, so try and be patient.

Success Tips

• Sometimes the magazines will say what types of layouts they're looking for in advance. Check the mags and their web sites. Remember that most magazines are working on issues that won't be out for months, so your Kwanzaa page may be accepted in the summer.


• Just do it! I've heard from so many scrapbookers that they haven't been published, but they "haven't submitted as much as they should." Write it on your To-Do list! Schedule time to submit your layouts on a regular basis. It may seem elusive, but consider that the magazines need to fill space with as many excellent layouts as they can. So keep submitting!

When You're Published
The excitement will be great the day you get the call! Be ready for some down time while you wait for the issue to come out, and then it's excitement time again! You'll usually get your layout back when the next issue of the magazine is published.

If more than one magazine chooses to publish a layout, you'll need to tell the other magazines that unfortunately, another magazine contacted you first.

Some magazines pay with product and others with cash. But the opportunity to put "published designer" after your name is priceless! Good luck!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sue DiFranco is the founder of Fun Facts Publishing and the author of more than a dozen books on building and marketing scrapbooking businesses and services. To learn more about how to turn your scrapbooking passion into profit, visit FunFactsPublishing.com to read a library of FREE information and get started today!

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