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Marketing Outreach Toolkit: Canva

This project consists of a monthly emailed checklist of outreach tasks that all build on one another to achieve large-scale goals. The idea is to frequently show stakeholders that the library is advancing campus priorities.

Using Canva in the Project

Canva will be the graphic design platform used in the Outreach Checklist Project. 

"Canva is a free graphic design platform that's great for making invitations, business cards, Instagram posts, and more. A drag and drop interface makes customizing thousands of templates simple and easy. Canva's wide array of features allow you to edit photos without extensive photo editing knowledge or experience." (Business Insider)

Canva allows for templates to be created, shared, and edited by others. This allows PALNI to create custom graphics for outreach materials which the individual libraries can edit with their logos, colors, URLs, and other information.

In each email/community post, a task will have a corresponding stock graphic/handout created as an editable template within Canva. The librarian will click the link, edit away, then download or share straight from Canva to their social media. 

Canva Tutorials

We will have onboarding for editing Canva templates before the launch. However, Canva offers in-depth tutorials to learn the basics: https://designschool.canva.com/tutorials/

Canva Pro

Important Note: It is NOT required to have a Canva Pro account to utilize the editable graphics in the Outreach Checklist project. However, the additional features are beneficial for individual library use.

 

Applying for Canva Pro Non-profit Program:

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Click the purple button and fill out the form. You will need proof of your 501(c)3 status via an IRS determination letter and/or a tax-exempt form.

*Note: I have personally talked to their sales and support staff to ensure all PALNI schools/libraries qualify for the Non-profit program (vs the Education program). The Education program is for K-12 ONLY. PALNI schools/libraries qualify for the non-profit program as long as they are registered as 501(c)3's despite being an educational organization. For-profit colleges and universities (those without the 501(c)3 status) do NOT qualify. 

Canva Pro Non-profit Program Features:

Additional features:

  • Brand Kit - Upload your school's and/or library's logo(s), select the brand's color palette and fonts for easy editing of PALNI stock graphics
  • MORE templates available for fast layout creation
  • 75+ million premium stock photos, videos, audio and graphics free-to-use
  • Save designs as templates for your team to use
  • 100GB of cloud storage
  • Schedule social media content to 7 platforms
  • Team of up to 10 people

What's NOT included:

  • SOME Premium elements - these still cost $1 per premium element for a single use. These premium elements are provided by outside sources with a royalty deal with Canva. You will know if you are using a paid premium element if there is a watermark across the graphic when placed on the artboard.