Online Groups for Greeting Card and Art Licensing Professionals


I often read or use these resources to get tips and advice from other greeting card designers. I have found them to be helpful in my greeting card and design business.



GREETING CARD GROUPS


Greeting Card Designers
A community forum for professionals in the greeting card industry.



Linkedin Greeting Card, Stationery and Gift Industry Gurus
Networking links of sales, marketing, product development and sourcing people from these related industries and to help entrepreneurs gain access to industry knowledge and 'how to's."


Greeting Card Professionals
The worldwide default network for publishers, distributors, designers, buyers, developers, (online) retailers and anyone else relevant in the business. Feel free to join and don't forget to invite your colleagues and business relations.



Greeting Card Network
A network of professionals involved in the Greeting Card business including the creative and production processes, sales, distribution, networking, social marketing and general promotion of the long standing traditition of sending greeting cards for all occasions including, but not limited to, Birthday Cards, Holiday Cards, Christmas Cards, Thank You Cards, Anniversary Cards, Get Well Cards, Sympathy Cards, Congratulatory Cards and more.



Greeting Card Professionals
The Independent Greeting Card Professionals Association is composed of working professionals--and beginning professionals--who create and sell greeting cards retail or wholesale, at craft fairs or trade shows, or via the Internet. Members produce work in a variety of greeting card genres.






ART LICENSING GROUPS


Art of Licensing
A LinkedIn networking group dedicated to Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Product Manufacturers, and Licensing Agents in the ART LICENSING industry.


Facebook logo
Yahoo Group Art of Licensing
A SPECIAL FORUM dedicated to Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Product Manufacturers, and Licensing Agents in the ART LICENSING industry.






MORE GROUPS TO CHECK OUT


Escape for Illustration Island
Illustration Resource Website and Podcast devoted to helping artists to connect and communicate with fellow creators.


Scbwi
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators


Art & Design Lounge
help Artists and Designers advance their careers and business goals helping them make vital new business contacts.




Stationery Trends
Facebook group for the magazine focused on the products, designers and inspiration that make up the stationery, greeting card and gift industry.






TWITTER RESOURCES


Stationery Show
Leading trade show for the social stationery industry.


Surtex
Selling and licensing art and design for every product, every industry.


Greeting Card Designer
Tips and resources for Card Designer and Writers .



 More Resources


Online Greeting Card Class
I have collaborated with skillshare.com to create an online course on Getting into the Greeting Card Business.  The content is based on my experience of working in the industry for over 20 years, and from publishing over 1,000 cards. Class is self-paced with student/teacher feedback on your final project in the gallery.
 
Register here. 


Topics Covered:
  • The fundamentals of professional card design.
  • Transforming art into a greeting card.
  • Writing sentiments.
  • Making designs "market-ready" according to industry standards.
  • Top selling occasions.
  • How to turn one card into a larger "collection".
  • How to make a card out of any image.
  • Handmade cards.
  • Where and how to sell cards (including online).
  • Licensing art on cards.
  • Manufacturing and distributing nationally.



Ebooks by Kate Harper

You can support this blog by ordering Kate's e-Booklets starting at only .99 cents! They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer. Free samples and lending options available. You can also view the list of all recommended greeting card books by a variety of authors.

  


Get Your Greeting Cards into Stores explains how to sell cards nationwide. Included are detailed guidelines on: How to price cards for a profit, get professional feedback, find sales representatives and follow industry standards. Information is also applicable to gift items, magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc.







20 Steps to Art Licensing is a book about how to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, or manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. Learn how to prepare your art, what companies to contact, how to find agents, and what trade shows to attend. Includes extensive resources on social media, copyrights, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers.






7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers is a booklet that explains what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Learn how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use your own personal experience to create card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting your market, when to use adjectives, not creating card for enemies, write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. You can increase your odds of success by 60% just by doing a few simple things. Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, and writing exercises for how to create good verse.





Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured is a booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways. Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get a special feature in national publication. Great tips for designers who are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people beyond friends and family. Special Section: 22 Gift Industry Trade Publications who seek out new greeting card designs and feature artists for free.





How to Make an EBook Cover for Non-Designers is an illustrated book will show you how to make your own e-book cover, even if you are not a designer. It is intended to help the indie writer who is on a budget and wants to publish and sell their own book in online stores such Amazon.com and the Apple ibookstore. Selling your book in these stores will allow readers to purchase your book and read it on multiple devices such as the Kindle, iPad, iPhone and many other electronic devices.

20 do's and don'ts on your website

This article is a practical and clear list of basic things an artist should think about when creating a functional--and not good looking--website. Check it out.

Here's and excerpt:

It’s a proven fact that sign up forms with more than 3 items (usually – name, email & one other item) will have a significantly lower sign up rate than the easier forms. People HATE doing things for too long – so don’t over complicate things. Make things as easy as possible for your readers by pretending a 4 year old will be viewing it. It definitely helps get things out in the open where they need to be.

50 Free Vintage Photoshop Brushes

Here is a sampling. Go to Article to download and see the rest.

Legal Note: Artists should investigate the legalities and/or get permission to use any brush sets on any mass produced item.

Vintage Brushes 1

Photoshop Vintage Brushes

This set includes several brushes.

Old Letter

Photoshop Vintage Brushes
Consists of several brushes.

Vintage Picture Brushes

Photoshop Vintage Brushes
Several brushes are included in this set.

Stamp Brushes

Photoshop Vintage Brushes
Fifteen plus brushes are included in this set.


Article continued...

Free Webinars

Just discovered these free webinars by Office Depot called the "Web Cafe". They all sounds interesting to me. What I like about these, is they have a free archive of past seminars, unlike most organizations who tend to charge a fee for past episodes.

If anyone has any opinions or experience with them, leave a comment.



Maximizing Your Social Networking

Tuesday, January 26th at 4pm ET.

  • What you need to know about marketing your business and connecting to your customers through the social networks
  • Take your current social networking to a new level
  • Leverage what you're already doing on-line
  • Create a fan base to further promote your business
  • Tips on what works and what doesn't, when it comes to Twitter, Blogs, FaceBook, etc.


10 Marketing Ideas for Under $100

February 2nd

  • Make relationships count
  • Be creative on a dime
  • How to create a memorable experience for your customer that exceeds their expectations
  • What is an effective communication plan for your clients that keeps you visible, consistent and pleasantly persistent in the marketplace

Organize Your Small Business, Save Time & Money

February 9th

  • Get back to business! Get your finances in order for 2010 & be ready for tax time.
  • Learn how to save time & money managing your business
  • Gain insights on where your business is most profitable


Free Archives
Marketing on a Shoestring Replay Webcast
Social Marketing Success Replay Webcast
Building Strong Customer Relationships Replay Webcast