What does Inkd look for?

Creating templates that get accepted into the Inkd marketplace isn’t difficult. To help Inkd provide template products that qualify as great design, we simply look for any submission to showcase three core components:

1. Original style and layout which is versatile
2. Excellent use of typography and design concepts representing professional work
3. Thoughtful attention to detail to create a finished quality product

However, there are several tips that can not only make creating templates easier, but help your design catch our eye and a customers:

• Very generalized logos are a good idea, mainly to give Inkd visitors an idea of where there logo could be used, or help them relate to the industry. A good idea is to incorporate a graphic element to help with portray a subject more than just a typeface. Though many included logos will be replaced – good examples often lead to better reception.
• Photos or obvious placeholder areas where photos could be included can help communicate a specific message and showcase the versatility and usability of the layout.
• Original graphics are a terrific asset to any design. Illustrations, patterns, and well designed graphic treatments fitting modern design trends are elements that customers generally cannot create themselves, but which add a highly professional look and feel to their material.
• Create spaces for appropriate details fitting the form factor and expected use. Showcase unique layout of contact information, page numbers, event calendars. Stylish treatments of mundane elements such as address lines on a postcard can make all the difference. Highlight the usefulness of your design template by adding in the little things that make a difference.
• Basic information design is immediately apparent and an easy way to show off great design. Use specific heading, sub-heading, and body styles. Be creative with lists, separators, and layout elements to organize information.
• Keep the focus on generalized subject matter, though styled toward an industry. A customer may not realize that templates showcasing nail salons could work just as well for hair, so a beauty salon might be the best overall choice. Open a phone book and you’ll find lots of businesses that could use a re-design, but don’t limit your audience. We find that there is an ongoing significant need for any of the subjects listed to the right.

Other factors that impact sales

Initially, Inkd can only make your designs available for sale in the file format that originally submit to us for review. Designs contributed in both Adobe InDesign and Illustrator are most popular. Apple iWork pages are becoming popular as well. Adobe Photoshop files are well liked by some customers, but these must have all shapes as vectors to be accepted. QuarkXPress and CorelDraw have a smaller audience.

Designers who submit more than one file type can reasonably expect to sell more than those who only submit one file format. However, we realize that this is often not practical. Over time Inkd may even convert your designs into additional formats, and submitting one well designed template is better than submitting nothing at all!

Design Ideas

• Environmentally Friendly Businesses
• General Business Marketing
• Financial Planning
• Real Estate
• Religious, Educational and Non-Profit
• Computer Services & Consulting
• Child Care
• Pet Care
• Food and Beverage Menus
• Business Event Related
• Holidays or Seasonal
• Weddings or Special Occasion
• Services - Movers, Plumbers, etc.
• Environmentally friendly businesses
• General business marketing
• Financial planner and Wealth Management Services
• Church, educational and non-profit
• Computer Services & Consulting
• Holidays & Special Occasion