Looking for a catchy phrase

[Marie-Claire]

Like Sue, I used PSP for the same purposes as Sue, never scrapbooking either. But even though I worked a lot with PSP, I still have and learn a lot here on campus. It's also a really nice place because there is a contact through the forum and the webinars. It is indeed not easy to summarize the many reasons in one sentence.

[Cassel]

Following Sue's suggestion, I just posted a survey in the FB group HERE.

 

If you don't have FB and are still interested, here it is:

 

When you first came to the Scrapbook Campus, what were you looking for? (add options as needed)

How to do digital scrapbooking

How to use PaintShop Pro

Expand my existing knowledge of PSP

How to improve photos

And you can add other options too.

[Sharla]

I joined to learn more about digital scrapbooking just to do something different with PSP other than photo editing. What I’ve discovered is, that whilst scrapbooking is interesting, the real substance of the campus (for me) is learning how to use PSP. If I had known how much information was available on PSP via the great tutorials and masterclasses I would have got involved sooner. Ironically, the spotlight on scrapbooking is what put me off.

 

The campus offers a great deal for scrapbookers and non scrapbookers and that variety is wonderful but difficult for a single catchy phrase perhaps the campus itself needs a new name to reflect the diversity.

[Ann Seeber]

Sharla: I completely agree with you. The term Scrapbooking kind of put me off too because I wasn't into Genealogy for my family. I had actually turned that chore over to one of my daughters who is now using the Ancestry internet site to document our family history. Telling stories is more my speed but I find them awkward in a 3600 px square. Since becoming a member of this Campus I've learned so much about what PSP can do and, for me, that is the focus. The Google definition of scrapbooking says: Scrapbooking is a method of preserving, presenting and arranging personal and family history in the form of a book, box or card. Typical memorabilia include photographs, printed media, and artwork. Scrapbook albums are often decorated and frequently contain extensive journal entries or written descriptions. I've been using PSP for years to make ads for our movies, so scrapbooks don't really fit. (We own a movie theater).

[Marvin Fojtasek]

I joined to learn how to use PSP. My goal for learning PSP is to improve photos and create interesting content that can be incorporated into slideshows. I first learned about Carole when I viewed webinars on Corel.com. Subsequently, I learned about Scrapbook Campus. At first, I was skeptical about joining Scrapbook Campus because I thought that all the educational material would be geared toward digital scrapbooking. However, I was surprised and pleased to find how much of the content was about how to use the tools in PSP. I am impressed with the breadth and variety of topics that can be found in Scrapbook Campus. Reading and seeing the contributions of members is interesting and informative. Carole is an excellent instructor, and I am so glad that I found out about her and her website.

[Rene Marker]

Ann Seeber I somewhat agree with the google description but there is so much more to scrapbooking than what it says.

 

All those photos I had in magnetic page albums were no fun to look at because no one knew what they were about. And, these days most photos are kept on a person's phone where no one can see them. With scrapbooking, the focus is to tell the story behind the photos, and getting them off the phones/computers. My scrapbooking has taken on many different lanes in the 20+ years I've been doing it. Yes, I have scrapped family photos but I've also scrapped photos about my friends, my dogs, my vacations and just the beauty of the world around me. I'm doing a project right now just documenting the colors of fall for a period of 31 days. No people are in my photos at all, just the beauty of fall is showing through. I've also scrapped photos for family members with the photos they share on FB and I use their words for the journaling. They love the books since this is not something they are interested in doing.

 

I've researched genealogy in the past but oddly enough, that is not something that I've brought into my scrapbooking on a regular basis. I have one album that has that info in it. I've got over 70 albums completed.

 

As for the campus, yes, I am a scrapbooker. I don't need to learn how to do that but I did want to learn how to learn the program to do more things in my scrapbooking. I started with PSP in the mid 90's when it was still a JASC program (before Corel bought them out) and used it to mainly scan old photos but had taken some classes at a website called SmartPlanet that eventually was bought out by ZDNet. Sadly ZDNet cut out the classes after several years (they had so many other classes that I took as well). And, so many things had been added to PSP during the years that I didn't use or know how to use. So I turned to Scrapbook Campus since I was retired and had the time to spend on learning new things.

 

Carole I feel for you in having to come up with something. Right now your home page focuses on scrapbooking. If you want to attract all different kinds of PSP'ers, maybe the home page could be changed to reflect everything available that has been discussed in this thread.

[Cassel]

Although this whole discussion makes me doubt so much of my marketing so far, I love to read all those angles.

 

And yes, Rene, that is also what I feel, and I might change that in the New Year. I certainly don't want to leave the digital scrapbooking behind because it is still one interesting/different use of PSP, and still a hobby that some participants might discover, but I agree that the common denominator for 99% of the content, and the participants, is PSP first, scrapbooking second (if at all).

 

So, let's keep this thread going, even if it is not just about the "catchy phrase", keep sharing your experience, your expectations, your journey, or your discoveries about this site.

 

Thank you for sharing.

[Ann Seeber]

Rene: I, too, started with PSP when it was JASC and took classes from ZDNet, totally focused on creating a web presence for our business, the Warwick Drive-In Theater. I took web design and learned to do a bit of hand coding and then went for Dreamweaver, incorporating PSP for any images. As you said, eventually ZDNet ended the cheap classes (under $5.00 per month) and Dreamweaver became more complex and, honestly, beyond my understanding. I never used any of it for personal photos since I used a tiny digital camera that gave me prints that got lost in a drawer somewhere. ;-) (This, obviously, was before the cellphone era came along.) Eventually, we got an offer to have the website done professionally along with a cheaper newsletter blast and we went that route. Since I could add banners and edit it in other ways, I still needed to hone my skills, so to speak. I appreciate the Campus because it keeps me motivated to add to my PSP skills and meet great people here. Carole is a wonderful, patient, talented teacher and I'd never change!

[Julie Magerka]

When I first bought PSP in 2018 (I think), I was looking for a good photo-editing program to use on very old photos and newspaper images that I work with for articles I write. I didn't have a clue how to use it, so then started the web searches to find help. I eventually found SBC (and Carole) and the rest is history. I have learned so much, and I find I am creating more and more projects than I could have imagined myself doing. My main interests are family history (mine and others') and history of the small town where I grew up. The other stuff I'm able to do now is just for fun and to send to family and friends. This is a group of like-minded, clever, and creative folks who are so supportive. A good place to be, and to learn.

[Sue Thomas]

Personally I wouldn't change the name,  and why should Carole do that.  It's her  'baby' after all, so to speak.  If the campus was my creation, I would have sentimental value attached to the title, and  other emotional attachments to it. Plus the fact that it was her love for scrapbooking that sparked the birth of the Scrapbook Campus.  I would on the other  hand do exactly what Rene suggested, which  I feel  would suffice, as today the majority of people tend to  go by pictorial rather than  word publicity when looking for something in particular. In order to attract a wider audience, and that is to   change the home page to  include as much as possible, that suites everyone's  creative needs.  As I said in one of  my phrases  to cover a ' broad spectrum"

 

When I posted my phrases, they were meant to target all creative activities, and not specifically to scrapbooking.

 

I do a wide range of activities, all of which are covered in the campus tutorials.   Should  you decide to go down that route Carole, I would willing provide, wordart,  greeting cards,  quotes, photos, whatever, for you to  use.

[Susan Ewart]

Wow, I haven't check into this forum for a bit.  A lot to digest.

 

I like the name Scrapbook Campus.  I agree with so many of your thoughts, and Sue, absolutely, I agree.  This name is special to me as well.  No, I am not a scrapbooker, but I did work at many shows ("crops" they were called) for a retailer and have been a papermaker, bookbinder,paper artist in the past.  Even in my silversmithing and glass fusing days I marveled at the what great amount of the tools the scrapbook industry as brought to us.  So while, I am not a scrapbooker perse, I greatly appreciate the ones who are and are grateful for what they have brought to the craft world (all types of craft mediums).

 

I found the Scrapbook Campus because I was wanting to learn how to use PSP for photo editing only.  I was way too narrow minded and the Campus opened me up to a whole new world I never thought possible.  Learning through following a scrapbook layout style is fabulous because you work through techniques and build a finished product.  Just because I learned under the guise of scrapbooking doesn't mean I'm not creative enough to take those techniques into another style.  As an example.  I watch a lot of tutorials on portrait and fashion photography. I am not or never will be a people photographer, but,  Light is Light and what I learned there I can take to my studio, or outside and apply the same techniques.  Just like you can do with what you learned in the Campus.  BTW...look at your local flyers and newspapers these days, they are adding shadows that they they never did before...that is thanks to one of the biggest craft industries there is, scrapbooking.

 

I say, keep the name, you've worked years on that branding.  And use the phrases you've found here for marketing  going forward.  I have really enjoyed reading everyone's phrases especially Sharla and Suzy's.  Good job.  Why/when did Scrapbooking get such a bad name.

 

My name is Susan Ewart and I am a Digital Scrapbooker!

[Susan Ewart]

Carole, I did it again.  I posted, saw a miss-spelled word, edit and submit and it's gone.  My computer really hates me.  Sorry to keep having to get you to fish it out of the cyber pond.  thanks again.

[Susan Ewart]

I also meant to add.  Don't ever doubt your marketing thus far.  Think of it as growing and evolving, just like we all and everything else in life does.  Never doubt it.  The scope of your Scrapbook Campus website is far beyond any other "learning" website I have belonged to.  Your personal support for each and every one of us when we need it is unparalleled.  Look at where you started and look at you now.  You should be thinking, "Wow, I did this!"  and not be doubting, cause what you have made is nothing less than amazing.

[cindy harris]

OH MY Lanta,

 

What Corrie said, and what Bonnie said and  what Ann said  what Everyone's said Your all Awesome and so

 

wonderful.      YOUR ALL THE BEST

 

how bout I know you have some Pictures

 

best hobby come to Caroles for Instruction, So many Perks could name them a long time

 

in a Nutshell give it a try and see for yourself,  Try all for Free   or  get full memebership for 1 dollar,  Why because

 

its the Best, hobby, Campus, Store, everything You can find right here  Come You will see.

 

thats all I thought and I still need to talk to the kids they are allways so busy in sports, and music lessons

 

Thats another line I wanted to put in Be well rounded with Instruction behind You, youll never be alone.   All have the best ideas :)

 

 

[Susan Ewart]

Okay, Campus students (that's all of us).  Let's have a challenge!

 

Start with the Phrase:

 

Scrapbook Campus.....   (this cant change)

 

then add a tag line:

 

...learn various styles of digital layout and design  (go wild on this one!)

 

This one is not great, just an example.  Dont fix what's not broken, it's easy to tell someone to "rebrand" but it's really hard (and expensive) for a company that has being in business a long time to actually rebrand.  Why not try to build on what is good, and remember, the workshops and tutorials are scrapbook based, shouldn't that reflect in the name?

 

Any takers in this challenge?  I know how creative (and good with words) you all are, lets have some fun with this.

 

 

[Sue Thomas]

I still stand by what I said previously, to omit Scrapbook Campus and PSP from the catchy phrase. I also feel the catchy  phrase has to be short.

 

An open door to tuition (instruction) and inspiration.

 

A gateway to tuition (instruction) and inspiration.

[Susan Ewart]

We need to remember this isn't our company, with our biases and what we do with PSP.  We are being tasked like advertising execs.  We are working for Scrapbook Campus to come up with a slogan about the membership to entice someone to join.   Everyone knows what scrapbooking is, so I think it's important.  Not everyone knows the term "digital layout", "compositing", "pages" or whatever other terms these creations are called.  I never knew the terms before I started this, if I had known them I'd have found the campus years earlier.  I was looking up photo editing.  What I really wanted was what I found in the layouts in the Campus.

[Ann Seeber]

I just saw the term "tuition" used and my mind at first jumped to the amount of money paid for education. As in, my tuition for this semester is due soon. I looked the word up and see it also means teaching and education but that's not where my mind first went. Just a thought...

[Cassel]

I agree that rebranding is a big job and only needs to be done with absolutely necessary. Although it crossed my mind for about 2 minutes, no, I don't plan on rebranding. I just want to be able to speak to whoever I can help with this site and its content. And all those discussions are exactly what I need. I can get the feel of what you were looking for in the first place, and even comments stating that the word "scrapbooking" was putting you off in the first place is perfect: it means that even though the name might not change, the language might change in the pages and in the emails so that non-scrapbookers can also feel as welcome in the first place.

 

I still plan on having scrapbooking projects, but as you have seen in the past, things like calendars and greeting cards are also in the mix so it just gives me more ideas.

 

So, a big thank you!

[Julie Magerka]

To go with Susan Ewart's suggestion:

 

Scrapbook Campus......nourish your creative spirit with the power of PSP.

 

 

[Susan Ewart]

I love that Julie.

 

 

[Suzy]

“You own PSP, now learn how to harness its power through classes and instruction.”

 

 

 

I 100% could have written this paragraph by Sharla, not that it’s important, just that term Scrapbooking sort of turned me off, too, even though I was sort of scrapping at the time. (It was actually scrapping genealogy books, like my grandmother’s line. The genealogy scrap kits available for sale were all DULL and BROWN. I just thought I could make better looking stuff on my own.)

 

“SharlaParticipant

 

I joined to learn more about digital scrapbooking just to do something different with PSP other than photo editing. What I’ve discovered is, that whilst scrapbooking is interesting, the real substance of the campus (for me) is learning how to use PSP. If I had known how much information was available on PSP via the great tutorials and masterclasses I would have got involved sooner. Ironically, the spotlight on scrapbooking is what put me off.”

[Susan Ewart]

You could also just put bulleted words (horizontally) under your title that describe what is in the campus, or who the campus is for.

 

 

[cindy harris]

Susan thats a good idea

 

Can you make an example of it?