Alright! Here’s what I need for you to send, after you order your ad spots!
(Please scroll down for the rest of the FAQ)!

Thanks for joining us on our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide Adventure!

Please e-mail your images and info to: images [@] indienorth.com

Just a couple more things to do and we’ll be ready to rock!

• Make sure you include your name, and your business name in the email so I can link you up with your paypal receipt.
• If you purchase a Front Page spot, I will need a large, high quality image (min 430 x 300 pixels) that I can crop to make it look lovely on the FP.
• A standard ad is 135 x 135 pixels

Now…before you hit “send” on that e-mail, make sure you include the following information for each image you send:

1. Image File Name
2. Front Page or Standard (I can get this info from paypal, but it will be so much faster if you include it here too)
3. Your Category of Choice (again, I can get this info from paypal, but for the sake of my sanity, pleeeeease include it here too)
4. Your choice of wording and link for your ad: “Product Name” (ideal for higher priced or one of a kind items) or “Available At” (ideal for lower priced items, or for items that are similar, but are available in different choices of colour, scent or flavour).
5. The URL you’d like your image to link to. (If you chose “product name”, send a link directly to the product. If you chose “available at”, you can send a link to either your main website, or a shop category within the website).

Okay, that should do it!

Please e-mail your images and info to: images [@] indienorth.com

If you have issues with anything concerning the gift guide, please send them to giftguide [@] indienorth.com

Thanks everyone! Lets rock!

**********************************************

Hello my friends!  I’ve put together this FAQ to address some of the questions that people have sent since I accidentally released the guide info 12 hours early!  If you have any other questions feel free to leave them here as comments and I’ll answer them as we go!

When does the gift guide go live?

The gift guide will go live on November 1st, 2009, which will leave lots of time for the purchasing and shipping of goods.  It will stay up until after December 31 2009.  How long after depends on how much fun I have on New Years Eve.  Realistically, it will probably stay up until the week of Jan 4th 2010.

Why are you leaving it up so long?

1. it’s a lot of work to put together, and I’d like to sit back and admire it for a good while
2. After the initial rush of holiday shoppers, there will be a second wave of shoppers looking to treat themselves with money they received as gifts.  I’d like the gift guide to be available to them as well.

What is the deadline for submissions?

In order to guarantee your submission is in the gift guide when the guide goes live,  your info must be in my hot little hands by October 26th.  I’ll continue to accept submissions up until Dec 13th, if anyone wants to sneak in for the last minute shoppers out there!

What are the categories for the gift guide?

Well, I tried to figure out some fabulous and unique categories for the guide, but then I consulted my panel of expert shoppers, and they didn’t want unique, they wanted easy.  So, here’s what I’ve settled on…

1. She’ll Love:  Gifts for women of all ages
2. He’ll Love:  Gifts for men of all ages
3. Kiddos & Babes
4. Earth Friendly
5. One of a Kind
6. Stocking Stuffers
7. Stationary and Papergoods
8. For the Home
9. Under $25.00

On the cutting room floor:  I’m still waffling about these…If I get enough feedback I could add one or all of them back.  If you want ‘em, make sure you leave a comment…it’s the only way I’ll know if they’re wanted!

1. Splurge:  Gifts over $100
2. Teens
3. Pets

I also considered “Vintage” as a category, but I think that if you’re selling vintage products, they’ll fit easily into one of the above categories.

Okay, so what’s this gonna cost me?

I’ve set up two levels of pricing for this year’s guide.

1. Front Page Listing:  There will be one front page spot available for each category.  You’ll need to provide a large, high quality product photo, (minimum of 430 pixels wide and 300 pixels high), that I can crop to fit on both the front page and the top of the category post.  These will be handed out on a first come first serve basis.  The nice thing is, if you’re set on having a front page spot, most products will fit into more than one category.  $35.00 cdn.
2. Standard Listing:  A standard listing will consist of one 135 by 135 pixel product photo.  $5.00 cdn.

Both listings will also include the item’s price, plus your choice of wording and link.  The choices are:

1. “Product Name”, with a direct link to the product.  This is a perfect choice for higher priced and one of a kind items.
2. “Available at”, with a direct link to either your website, or a shop category within your website.  This is an ideal choice for inexpensive items, and for items which are similar in nature, but come in different scents, colours, flavours etc.

Will you swap out my listing for free if I sell an item listed in the guide?

No, I just can’t do it.  I’ve been waffling on this, but I think it would be a recipe for my own demise.  lol.  I think that if you choose the appropriate wording and link for your listing, you won’t have to swap them out.  If you do want to swap though, it will cost the same as a new listing.

Why the heck are the spots so inexpensive?

I’m already catching flak for this so I’m going to address it right here:

1. With a husband who’s gone back to college, and two kiddos who occasionally expect to be fed, I’m acutely aware of how important every dollar your  business has to spend is.  I want lots of and lots of fun gifts listed in the guide, and I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to choose between a listing  in the guide, and groceries for a week.  It’s inexpensive so everyone can play.
2. Shoppers using the guide are going to want to see lots of goodies with lots of variety in product, style etc.  The more goodies listed the better.  I’m keeping the listing cost low, so we can give shoppers lots of variety to choose from!

Can I have more than one listing?

Absolutely, but with two conditions:

1. You can only have one listing for each category, and
2. I ask that you feature a different product in each listing, just to keep the listings fresh, interesting and different!

So, when and where do I sign up?

The sign up form will go up on Friday October 9th, 2009.  There will be a link right in the right sidebar, directly underneath Rosy Und Posy’s ad.

So, I think that about covers it.  If you have any other questions, post ‘em here, and I’ll be happy to answer them!

Oh wait…I did receive one e-mail yesterday with a question that I should probably address as well…

“Why are you calling it a Holiday Gift Guide, when it’s obviously a Christmas Gift Guide?

Well, because I’m an “any excuse for a party” kinda gal.  I thought about calling it “The IndieNorth ChristmasHanukkahDwaliKwanzaaSolsticeYourFavouriteWinterCelebrationHere Gift Guide”, but it didn’t fit nicely into the title bar.

That’s it.  There are lots of fabulous reasons for celebrating and gift giving in the winter time.  I’m for anything that brightens up a cold Canadian winter.

So why are you using Christmas balls to represent the guide?

’cause they’re pretty, and I like ‘em. 

Thanks for sticking with me through this exceptionally long FAQ!  Again, if there’s anything you’d like to ask, just post a comment here.  Oh…and don’t forget to tell me if you’d like me to keep or cut the three categories listed above!

******October 30th: FINAL UPDATE, & FINAL CHANCE********

The Gift Guide Is coming along like wildfire!  SO…here’s you’re last chance to get in by opening day  (November 1st).

As long as I get your order and images by MIDNIGHT (ish…I get the time zone thing) I WILL be able to get your ads in the gift guide for launch day.

I had originally given myself a loooong lead time just in case things didn’t go together smoothly, but it looks like the Techno-fairies are cooperating.  I’ll be sure to leave them offerings of fancy cake and imported beer by a USB port to keep them placated, at least until Monday!

So…if you were still hoping to get into the guide for launch day, here’s your chance!

*******************************************

Okie Dokie Folkies!  The Holiday Gift Guide is Cruising right along, and it promises to be awesome!  I’m just posting a quick update to let everyone know where we stand.  Remember, I need your order and your images by October 26th in order to make sure your images and link will be in the Gift Guide on Launch Day!  (November 1st)

***By the way:  the printed advertising cards are in.  If you’d like to give some away to your customers, friends, family, dog etc., send your mailing addy to beth [@] indienorth.com,***

The Following Front Page Spots are still available (click to sign up):

1. Teens
2. Stocking Stuffers
3. Stationary and Paper
4. For the Home

The Following Categories have lots of space available (click to signup):

1. Pets: We have some items in here finally!  Hooray, our furry friends will be well taken care of this season!
2. He’ll Love:  Come on Folks, those men-folk need handmade fabulous-ness too!
3. Teens:  Looks like they’re getting coal this year!
4. Babes & Kiddos:  This actually surprises me, considering the beautiful kids’ stuff I see out there regularly. Remember people are always looking for special gifts for the kiddos!
5. Earth Friendly:  Filling up fast, but there’s still space available!
6. One of a Kind:  Lots of great stuff here, but there’s still room for more!
7. Papergoods and Stationary:  Is looking good so far
8. For the Home:  Is looking excellent
9. Over $100:  Still room here, if you wanna wow ‘em!

Annnd, the following categories are filled right up:

1. She’ll Love
2. Gifts under $25.00
3. Stocking Stuffers

Thanks so much folks!  This is turning out to be awesome!

P.S.  Please don’t forget:  I need orders and images and info in to me by October 26th.  That’s TODAY! days away!  <clicky>