August 26, 2020

4 Tricks for Using a LineSheet Template

OK, so you gave in and started using linesheet templates — life just got a whole lot easier. But there’s still some work to be done. Even templates require finessing to get them exactly where you want them to be. And when your business is on the line, speed is of the essence, but that doesn’t mean quality ceases to matter.

Turn your sell sheet templates into masterpieces with these four tricks to turn your blank linesheet template into orders galore.

Read: Why Do I Need LineSheets?

1. Pick Your Layout Strategically

Choosing a linesheet template over a total DIY design is already saving you about 75 percent of the time you would’ve spent toying with image positioning and trying to figure out how to use Photoshop. Use some of that time saved to look over your layout options and pick the one that is best suited for the task at hand. Keep these layout tips in mind:

If you want to focus on a single product such as a top seller or a new creation, try a 1×1 product layout that allows for an expanded product description and the inclusion of extra specs.
For a high-impact presentation that packs a ton of products onto one page, try a 5×3 product layout and share your entire collection at once.
To break a huge portfolio into more easily digestible pieces, put together multiple layouts and separate pages using dividers, then bring it all together with an eye-catching cover page.

From petite templates to sprawling layouts and almost every configuration in between, Linesheets offers customization and control at your fingertips.

Are your linesheet templates a little ‘blah’? Learn more about Linesheets — the tool that brings your sell sheets to life.

2. Import Existing Product Specs From Other Platforms

If you already have your e-commerce store up and running, you likely have your products stored on another platform. That means you’ve gone to the trouble of seeing to details like product descriptions, bulleted specs, images and so on to help make your catalog appealing to consumers. You need to include those same details on your Linesheets template, so let your existing work do double duty.

Go to your Linesheets workspace and you can select the platform currently hosting your online storefront, log in and select the products you want to copy into the app. All that’s left then is to set the wholesale price (what you charge buyers rather than the price you put up for direct-to-consumer sales) and click “Import.”

Linesheets currently imports products from the following major platforms:

Shopify
Big Commerce
Amazon
Etsy
Walmart
Wish
Woocommerce
Volusion
Squarespace
eBay
Wix
Weebly
Magento
Ecwid
Alibaba
Bolt
3DKart
Bigcartel
Pinnacle Cart
Newegg

Even if you don’t have an e-commerce store from which to import your product specs, you can still make your life easier by bulk uploading products via a spreadsheet. You’ll just go to your Linesheets workspace, click on “Products,” download the CSV template, add your data and upload the finished file. You’ll save yourself time avoiding the tedious task of entering products into the workspace one by one — especially since you’ve already done the work somewhere else.

3. Incorporate Branding

Sure, your linesheet is there to highlight your best and brightest products, but your products and brand go hand in hand. Having a sell sheet design prepped and ready for customization is half the battle, but even the most beautifully crafted PDFs look generic without unique flourishes.

Branding can be as simple as incorporating your logo or subtly using company colors to accent your text and images. Choose a layout that’s in line with the aesthetics of your website and other marketing collateral; cohesion across multiple platforms fosters a sense of continuity and solidifies your brand.

What do you think of when you see a pair of golden arches? Are there a pair of colors that instantly make you want to root for your favorite sports team? That’s the kind of recognition you’re looking for, and a few quick clicks can bring your linesheet template into more familiar territory.

Find Out: How to Make a LineSheet for Jewelry

4. Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose

We get it — sometimes you have to start from scratch. When a specialty client needs an individualized linesheet tailored to their current needs or a particular store is in need of a rush order, it’s okay to pull up a new linesheet template and whip up a custom PDF. But in most cases, you can make what’s “old” look new again. And did we mention it’s a lot easier?

If you’ve already perfected a linesheet for Retail Giant A that focuses on your new range of nature-inspired pendants and you get a call from Retail Giant B interested in the same collection, don’t start over — start with your prepped sheet, make changes as needed, then save and send.

Life is too short to take on unnecessary work, so design with intention and take the shortcuts that exist. We’ve made them just for you!

For more tips, tricks, and advice from the Linesheets experts, browse our other blogs.

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Photo credit: WAYHOME studio/Shutterstock.com