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Vervante • July 7, 2021

If you use the online design program Canva to create your products, you’re not alone. Many of our customers use Canva with great results for creating planners, journals, card decks, calendars and more. If you have your Canva designs ready to send to us, here are a few tips and tricks to make sure your files are correctly set up and your printing experience stress-free. Page Limitations When you create a design in Canva that has multiple pages, Canva limits you to 100 pages. If you are creating a product that has more than 100 pages, such as card decks or daily planners, here’s what to do: Split up your design into multiple files within Canva. Send us the files and our design team will merge them into one final print-ready pdf for a small design fee. Please number the PDFs in the order they should be merged. We will then send you the final file for your approval before proceeding with setting up your product for printing with us. Adding Bleed If your product has color that goes all the way to the edge of the page, you need to be sure that you’ve added bleed to your design. Bleed helps to avoid having unsightly white gaps when you want your design to print to the edge of the paper. Here is how to set up bleed on designs in Canva: Click on “File” Select “Show print bleed.” A border of broken lines will appear close to the edges of your design. This margin is fixed and cannot be adjusted. If you see white gaps around the design edges, adjust your background and design elements to cover the white spaces. Due to the risk of a shift when cutting, make sure you extend the images outside of the bleed line to guarantee your document does not have a white stripe along the side of your page. Also, when you’re making those adjustments, know that anything in the bleed area will be trimmed off your print in the finishing process so if you want something to show up on your print, don’t let it creep into the bleed area. Crop Marks Crop marks show the printer where to trim (or cut) the paper or card for your product. The size for crop marks is fixed and cannot be adjusted. The time to add crop marks is when you’re ready to download your design and send it for printing. After you add bleed to your design, click the Download button on the toolbar. On the File Type dropdown menu, select PDF Print. Click the box next to “Crop marks and bleed.” Click Download. For more details and information about preparing your files for print, be sure to refer to this article “How to Prepare Your Files for Printing” on our blog.   ***Why are bleed and crop marks important? Missing bleed and crop marks seem to be the most popular reason for rejected print files. If your PDF has edge-to-edge printing, then you need bleed. This means the image should be slightly larger than the finished page size so that when we trim to the crop marks, we will cut through the image so that the printing actually prints edge to edge. Without bleed, your page/cover/document will have a white border all of the way around and the color will not print to the edge of the sheet. Print file preparation is extremely important, so even if you're not ready to start printing just yet, be sure to save these instructions to help you down the road.   Downloading Files From Canva Canva provides all you need to download a print-ready file, if you follow these directions: Start by clicking the download button in the top right. Under “File Type,” make sure “PDF Print” is selected. (Not PDF Standard). Make sure “Crop marks and bleed” are checked. Download your files in a single-page PDF format. Click “Download” to get your files. If you have any questions about using Canva for printing, or preparing your files to send to us, we’re here to help.

Vervante • August 13, 2019

While you're probaby still enjoying time on the beach, or just starting to think about shopping for school supplies, there's something that might not be on your radar right now, but should be - planning for holiday product sales!  Honestly, the BEST time to start planning for holiday sales is RIGHT NOW. You've got plenty of time to envision, create and plan your marketing and sales campaigns, and this little head start will help you create a stress-free, successful experience. Ready? If you haven’t started planning yet but want to give your income and your business an end-of-the-year boost, now is the time for action. First, let’s talk products. Here’s a few crowd-pleasing ones perfect for holiday sales: Planners: Wow, planners are the superstars of self-publishing right now and we've got everything you need to create the perfect planner for your audience. Journals: Timeless treasures perfect for just about anyone. Books: Small books that can be sold or used for free-plus-shipping offers are very popular during the holidays. Calendars: Calendars are also a great option for client and customer appreciation gifts and to use as lead generation freebies. Adult coloring books: Create your own using holiday themes, New Year themes, or branded content that supports your products and programs. Cards of all kinds: These are great sellers, make great gifts, and can be easily customized and configured to fit your business and audience needs. Card decks, note cards, and postcards are popular, or get creative and try tarot cards, affirmation cards, or health and wellness program cards. Planning a Holiday Sales Timeline Once you’ve picked your products, it’s time for action: AUGUST / SEPTEMBER Decide on products to sell. Make a list of ideas for how you will make them unique and start writing or designing. Contact Vervante at [email protected] and request free quotes for printing, shipping timelines, etc. If you’re just adding your logo to one of our ready-made products, upload a print-ready file to your Vervante account, then order a sample copy. For customized products, finalize graphic design files and upload to Vervante account. Order sample copies for quality and proofreading checks. Have Vervante list your books and products for sale. We can list on Amazon and add it to the Vervante Bookstore online (free for Vervante authors). If you sell from your own website, start working on your landing and sales pages, set up shopping cart, plan marketing strategies.   OCTOBER / NOVEMBER Put marketing plans into action. Announce special promotions, early bird sales and specials. Promote, promote, promote! Procrastinate much? For last-minute ideas in time for Black Friday, our ready-made planners, card decks, books, journals and calendars are easy and quick to set up and sell.   DECEMBER Confirm Vervante holiday shipping deadlines. Attend book signings. Continue promotions, especially for New Year / 2020 products. Announce surprise last-minute deals.   JANUARY Continue to promote New Year products. If 2020 planners were a hit, think about removing dates from planner and sell "undated" versions that can be sold all year long. Look back at your holiday sales experience, making notes about what worked (and what didn’t) to help with next year’s plans. Questions? Let us help you make the most of your holiday sales by emailing us at [email protected] or scheduling a phone call at https://vervante.youcanbook.me/.

Vervante • June 18, 2019

As an author, you’ve fulfilled your dream of writing and publishing a book. But your book is only the beginning – not the end! Because you can take that book and create products that will make you not only an author, but also an entrepreneur. Whether it’s your first book, or you’re a seasoned author, you can leverage the content you’ve already created to make products that increase readers’ enjoyment, expand your audience, and add new revenue streams – all without a lot of extra work. Because you’ve already done the heavy lifting by writing the book!   Books can be the foundation of a thriving business model. Our CEO, Cindy Tyler, loves brainstorming with Vervante authors to help them choose the right products that will complement their books, and boost their income. We’ve gathered up her best tips here, to give you a head start: Choosing types of products Take a look at your book and consider what else your readers might need that would add value to the book and to the readers’ experience. Remember, this is not about creating more work for you. It’s about repurposing great content you’ve already written into products like:   Workbooks Journals Planners Notepads: Shopping lists, exercise routines, learning course tasks, etc. USB flash drives Card decks: Educational flash cards, recipes, exercises, daily affirmations, etc. Children’s books and fiction can do this too. Products that go great with fiction and children’s books include: Coloring books Small journals Stickers Card decks: Educational flash cards, games, character cards Creating and selling themed products Products that continue the theme of your book can also help to increase book sales by packaging them with the book and offering as bundles. This increases the value of what you are providing – and allows you to charge a higher price. Once you’ve chosen the type of product you want to create, remember that you don’t need to write something brand new. Use the content from your book to create the product, then send us a print-ready PDF. Here are a few ways you can transform your books into a complementary product: Workbooks: Restate lessons from each chapter, leaving space for readers to write down thoughts, ideas, questions, answers, actions and next steps. Coloring Books: Remove the color from illustrations in a children’s book to create a coloring book. For adult coloring books, use images that continue the theme of your main book. Card Decks: We are rule-breakers here at Vervante – we’ll create a deck of cards in any amount you want and any design, front and back. So don’t feel like you have to do exactly 56, and the backs don’t need to match, either. Cards can contain daily affirmations, training tips, daily tasks, recipes, exercise routines, writing prompts, gratitude mantras, meditations, and more. The sky's the limit - as long as you can fit it on a card!  If you want to design some of these products yourself, Canva is a great graphic design program for creating your own card decks – and it’s free! Short on time and want a team of professionals to help? We have great designers, writers and editors we are happy to recommend to our customers. If you love to write and dream of making a living with your writing, it’s all about creating multiple streams of income. Check out our online catalog for ideas, and let us know if you have any questions or ideas at [email protected].

Vervante • May 21, 2019

We're constantly amazed by the clever, unique, brilliant and beautiful books and products our customers create. Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Hull, Ph.D., a seasoned author, artist, speaker and guide. Through the conscious use of the energy found in words+art+collaboration, Rhonda is a powerful advocate of whole-hearted living and to support her message she has created a series of Keepsake Treasures products that are easy to share, easy to carry, and always stay in your heart.  The story of Rhonda's Keepsake Treasures Q: What inspired you to create these products? I have long been some form of teacher, mentor and guide, but neglected to see my lettering and calligraphy as a worthwhile part of who I am and what I offer.  Walking the path of cancer with my barely 2-year-old grand-nephew (now 14), followed by becoming actively involved in the ongoing journey of my grandson when diagnosed with autism at age 3 (now 13), and then facing my own health challenges as a result of the stress of it all, I learned the power and importance of self-care, and in having a circle of ones who you love and who love you unconditionally. I learned that the things we think are so important become less so, and that love really is the answer to every question. Every moment can be a keepsake moment, even the messy ones.  I knew it was time to bring my art forward as a way to touch hearts and make a difference. The importance of savoring even the bittersweet moments is what I attempt to reflect in my products, dedicated to uplift and offer encouragement to those maneuvering the meaningful and messy moments of life. Q: What advice would you give other aspiring authors or creatives? Dare to believe it’s possible. Take at least one step beyond your comfort zone. Dream not only outside the box, but as if there is no box. Get clear on the people you want to serve.  It was amazing to me how by daring to hope, and ask, and take risks, and believe it was somehow possible, be willing explore pooling the talents of other creatives, and then leaning on the guidance and experience of Vervante, even more than I could imagine became possible. As a result, I found the courage to set my creativity free! Q: What do you love about the Keepsake Treasures products? They are filled with colorful energy captured in a variety of forms that expand my ability to touch hearts! A long time ago I took on the belief that I could never succeed as an artist. Vervante offered me the framework through which I could see beyond that limiting belief. Using words+art+collaboration transformed into variety of product formats, I was easily able to expand my product line and began to see the value in using my creative inklings to make a difference - and an income! About Keepsake Treasures The trickiest journey of a lifetime is only 16 inches, the adventure from your head to your heart. “But, where do I start,” you may wonder, and, “how is it possible for me to feel so easily overwhelmed, so little meaning, and all alone in a world where I am elbow-to-elbow with over 7 billion people?” In a world of too much ‘stuff’ and too little time, we can loose sight of the essential things that matter most; the things that keep us connected to our own heart and to the people we love, confident that every moment matters, despite our circumstances. Combining art+words+collaboration, the keepsake products at Rhonda's website, are infused with love and designed to keep us ever-aware that every moment is full of miracles, even the messy ones. Whether something simple that offers acknowledgement to someone you love (My Little Red Book), uplifting comments and profound questions to help you maneuver through tough times (Healing Heart Cards), or daily encouragement to focus on the power of presence and possibilities (Yes, And the Adventure Continues Playbook/Any-Time Day Timer), these products are an invitation for us all to make every moment a keepsake moment. Thanks to words, wisdom, and collaborative art skillfully brought to life through the craftsmanship of Vervante Press, RhondaHull.com offers a life-line of creative energy, and heartfelt encouragement on your adventure from your head to your heart. Come dare to make every moment a keepsake moment! Learn more Learn more about Rhonda and Keepsake Treasures products here: https://rhondahull.com/keepsake-treasures/ Get your product featured If you enjoyed this article and would like your Vervante product featured in our newsletter and blog email [email protected] with the following information: 250-word overview of your product URL link for the landing or sales page for the product High-res image(s) of the product and/or author Your creativity inspires us and your success deserves to be shared!

Vervante • December 12, 2017

We know the holiday season can get pretty crazy, so here’s a few quick tips and ideas for creating, selling and shipping products to your customers and making everyone’s season a little bit brighter. NEW 2018 CALENDARS ARE HERE We’ve got three new versions of our calendar for 2018 ready to go: A Desktop calendar, Wall calendar, and an impressive Poster calendar (pictured here). If you love calendars - and your clients and customers love them too - it's not too late to sell or share them as a part of your own business. It's easy to customize our calendars. Just add your logo and – bam! – you’ve got a great product that is gorgeous, useful and keeps your brand front and center all year long. Email us at [email protected] and we'll get them set up for you. 2018 PLANNERS YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL LOVE In addition to calendars, you also have time to add 2018 planners to your store or give as a holiday gift. Our new “Live, Love, Inspire" 2018 Planners have been flying off the shelves. They are easy to customize and a perfect product for the New Year. Here’s what you can do: Simply add your logo and use it as is. We can send you the InDesign files, you add content, modify the format, change the colors and make it into the perfect product, then we’ll print. Or… let us know what changes you want and our design team can make the changes for you. Click HERE for photos and details. A FIERCE START TO THE NEW YEAR Our Fun, Fit and Fierce Card Decks are another great product to maximize holiday sales and start the New Year strong. If you’d like to use for the holidays there is still time to add your logo to the cards. The deck includes 34 cards with inspirations, motivations and affirmations, and can be packaged in a drawstring bag or window tuck box. Click HERE for more details. Or email us to order them right away. No matter what, there’s still time to create valuable, interesting products your audience will love. Just send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll help you make it happen.

Vervante • August 22, 2016

Ready to stand out from the crowd? We've got just the product that's perfect for building up a business, creating new revenue, and just about a million other things - Custom Card Decks! Custom-designed card decks are a fun and creative way to present a message that's unforgettable. Card decks can be used to make a big impression with your target audience, giving them a handy and useful product to enjoy for months or even years, keeping your brand, business or message at their fingertips.   You're not limited to traditional playing cards stamped with your company logo, either. The sky's the limit when thinking of new ideas for using cards decks. How about as .... Stand-alone products (tarot cards, games, daily inspirations) Part of an information product Bonus for ongoing mentorship or business programs Marketing lead generators Additional revenue streams Retail products Table-top attention-getters Unique gift-bag goodies Recipes Fitness or nutrition programs Networking or workshop activities Our card decks are highly customizable – they can be printed at any size, with square or round edges, in either full color or black-and-white and can be laminated for extra durability. When it comes to packaging – the only limit is your imagination! Here are a few ways our clients have presented their custom card decks:  Drawstring bags Clear boxes Button/string poly envelopes Custom printed card deck boxes One-hole punch with ring For a free quote or to ask questions about creating your own custom card deck, email [email protected].

Vervante • May 21, 2015

Michelle Moore is a natural health advocate who strives to educate and help people to achieve and maintain optimal health through natural and integrative approaches. Michelle’s books, websites and consulting services have assisted thousands of people in understanding the numerous tools and approaches that are available to help in overcoming chronic health challenges, especially infections. Michelle’s interest in holistic health began when she worked for a major pharmaceutical company as a Microbiologist. For a number of years Michelle performed microbiological research on many kinds of bacteria. She later became a consultant; teaching pharmaceutical companies how to be compliant with the microbiological manufacturing regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After struggling for four years with recurring infections that mainstream medicine was unable to treat, Michelle discovered a way to restore her health using holistic and natural medicine. In her books, DVDs and other resources, Michelle helps people to view health challenges from a larger point of view by addressing the root cause of the condition. Rather than simply “fighting the disease,” the underlying causes of illness are explored. The use of a variety of traditional, integrative and natural methods focused on achieving both short-term and long-term results are revealed. In this interview, Michelle shares her experience using published products to share her knowledge and help change lives on a greater scale. Q: What was the inspiration behind your books? I’m a microbiologist who used to work for pharmaceutical companies. My husband Les and I published our first book MRSA Secrets Revealed in 2008. It offers a different perspective to help people in their recovery from Staph and MRSA bacterial infections. For me, it was a personal mission to help others in need as this issue struck a personal cord. I myself had battled against recurring sinus infections for several years. Antibiotics weren’t working and my doctor couldn’t offer me any other help. So, I had to start finding answers for myself. And that meant stepping outside the world I knew. What I found changed my life, and I put what I discovered into this book. Q: Give us a peek inside the publishing process for you We heard of Vervante through another colleague of ours. We discovered their publishing products met our needs and we were also very happy with their service, support and pricing compared to other companies we’d worked with. As our company is composed of just my husband and I, we can’t do it all (even though we try). It’s great to know Vervante can handle graphics and design issues for us when it comes to cover graphics and layouts. Whenever we’ve had any questions, they are quick to answer. Email support from Vervante is exceptional and it’s great to trust and know they are on top of things. We don’t have the time and resources to be stocking and shipping books to our customers with our busy work schedule. So, printing, warehousing and shipping each of our books is what we use Vervante for, and we’ve been very happy with their services over the years. Q: What do you wish that someone had told you BEFORE you began the publishing process? It would have been nice to do our homework ahead of time and brush up on editing and design. Some aspects of publishing are not obvious unless you are a designer and knowing that would have saved us some time. Thankfully Vervante was able to help us identify potential problems that would affect the quality of our book and printing-related issues so our publishing went smoothly. It’s worth having an expert alongside you to help you through issues you never even knew existed. Q: Is there anything you would do differently next time? I would do my homework and learn rudimentary of editing and graphic design, color management and printing. That being said, we also try to know it all and do it all. However, that’s not really possible if you want to be a profitable business. It’s better to let the experts do their thing so we can do ours. Q: How did Vervante support you during the launch of your product? The launch of our second book went very smooth. As usual, they sent us proofs of our new book, kept us apprised of the process and once we approved our proof, we were ready for our first print run. They handled everything like true professionals and that’s why it was a smooth start. Our books have been very successful and we get frequent reports of happy customers. Not only is our story great and helpful, but it’s put together in a professional quality package.

Vervante • November 4, 2014

Client and employee appreciation gifts are great any time of the year, but after awhile don't you get tired of the same old coffee mugs and cupholders that have been done to death? If you're looking for a creative idea for a gift that can carry your brand but also offer some thing fun, useful and memorable, how about giving out custom-designed card decks?    We're talking about a whole lot more than just a normal set of playing cards here. (Although, for you poker junkies, that's just fine!) Card decks have come into their own with the ability to come in different sizes and feature anything you want as the design on both sides. They are fun - yes! They are memorable - definitely!   As gifts, card decks will help you stand out from the crowd. As business-building tools, they are even better. Card decks can be used to make a big impression with your target audience, giving them a handy and useful gift to enjoy for months or even years, keeping your brand, business or message at their fingertips.Card decks are a creative and highly adaptable marketing and business tool. Vervante signature card deck and note cards offer an efficient, cost-effective, secret weapon for those seeking out marketing and informational product alternatives.   Vervante card decks are printed on full-color heavy cover weight stock, creating a beautiful and professional product that will compliment your message or intention. Rather than featuring clubs, heart, diamonds and spades, how about breaking the mold and giving your clients cards that:   1. Provide daily inspirational thoughts 2. Educate and inform 3. Display art, photography or design that brightens their day 4. Gives challenges to improve health and wellness 5. Promps them with topics ideas for writing 6. Boosts their business with coaching tips of the day   The possibilities are endless. Let us know what ideas we've inspired in you today by emailing us at [email protected] and we can help you design and create card decks that are sure to make anyone's day, any day of the year.