How do you organize your swipe files?

Dexx · 02-21-2011, 10:42 AM

Hey all,

We all know the importance of having swipe files to inspire ideas, and use what is proven in our marketing efforts.

The old school teachers from way back (such as Gary H) recommended keeping swipe file on 3x5 cards in a box etc.

Just wondering how many of you keep your swipe files organized?

Excel files? Various .txt files in a folder? etc.

What about when you see great magazine / direct mail formats?

~Dexx

Alan Petersen · 02-21-2011, 01:22 PM

I use Google Notebook...

http://www.google.com/notebook

It makes it easy clip ads and sort them out. I also save them as PDF's by folder. For example I have an Agora folder full of their stuff.

ChrisPJr · 02-21-2011, 03:47 PM

I use Evernote to organize my swipe file. These are just a few of the ways I make it work for me:

Clip websites from the internet with the browser plugin
Clip emails by forwarding to evernote email address
Take pictures of physical/printed materials with iPhone Evernote app

And with Evernote, it makes any text that appears in your notes searchable. This comes in handy if you swipe from print a lot like I do.

Pusateri · 02-21-2011, 06:04 PM

For hard copies I don't. There's stuff everywhere...but I can always find what I need.

I have used Evernote for a while to capture web stuff, but lately I've taken a shine to Diigo Web Highligher.

Danielle Lynn · 02-21-2011, 06:14 PM

I've been using something called Epim, so far it's working out well for me

Len Bailey · 02-22-2011, 12:38 PM

I have a couple of drawers in my file cabinet where I organize hardcopy swipes by niche (financial, health, etc.). If the piece was written by a big-name writer (Makepeace, Halbert, Ogilvy, etc.) I'll have it in its own folder within the niche.

I do pretty much the same thing with my electronic swipes, saving them as PDFs in a shared folder on my network.

It's a simple enough system, and makes it easy as pie to find the perfect inspiration for any project.

Hope this helps,

lconsult · 02-27-2011, 11:21 AM

I also use Google Notebook... supplemented, of course, with a lot of post-it notes before they make their way into the notebook!

02-21-2011, 10:42 AM	#1
Dexx Offline Consultant War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,900 Thanks: 612 Thanked 613 Times in 318 Posts Social Networking	How do you organize your swipe files? Hey all, We all know the importance of having swipe files to inspire ideas, and use what is proven in our marketing efforts. The old school teachers from way back (such as Gary H) recommended keeping swipe file on 3x5 cards in a box etc. Just wondering how many of you keep your swipe files organized? Excel files? Various .txt files in a folder? etc. What about when you see great magazine / direct mail formats? ~Dexx
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02-21-2011, 01:22 PM	#2
Alan Petersen Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 3,446 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 749 Thanked 835 Times in 520 Posts Social Networking	Re: How do you organize your swipe files? I use Google Notebook... http://www.google.com/notebook It makes it easy clip ads and sort them out. I also save them as PDF's by folder. For example I have an Agora folder full of their stuff.
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02-21-2011, 03:47 PM	#3
ChrisPJr Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: How do you organize your swipe files? I use Evernote to organize my swipe file. These are just a few of the ways I make it work for me: Clip websites from the internet with the browser plugin Clip emails by forwarding to evernote email address Take pictures of physical/printed materials with iPhone Evernote app And with Evernote, it makes any text that appears in your notes searchable. This comes in handy if you swipe from print a lot like I do.

02-21-2011, 06:04 PM	#4
Pusateri Words Rule the World War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South Texas Coast Posts: 342 Thanks: 314 Thanked 282 Times in 141 Posts	Re: How do you organize your swipe files? For hard copies I don't. There's stuff everywhere...but I can always find what I need. I have used Evernote for a while to capture web stuff, but lately I've taken a shine to Diigo Web Highligher.

02-21-2011, 06:14 PM	#5
Danielle Lynn Expert Word Weaver War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 479 Thanks: 222 Thanked 265 Times in 154 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How do you organize your swipe files? I've been using something called Epim, so far it's working out well for me
	The Clear Copywriter Get Emails that Train Your List to Click 'n Buy

02-22-2011, 12:38 PM	#6
Len Bailey Copywriter, Consultant War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 107 Blog Entries: 13 Thanks: 41 Thanked 71 Times in 37 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How do you organize your swipe files? I have a couple of drawers in my file cabinet where I organize hardcopy swipes by niche (financial, health, etc.). If the piece was written by a big-name writer (Makepeace, Halbert, Ogilvy, etc.) I'll have it in its own folder within the niche. I do pretty much the same thing with my electronic swipes, saving them as PDFs in a shared folder on my network. It's a simple enough system, and makes it easy as pie to find the perfect inspiration for any project. Hope this helps,
	Len Bailey Copywriter, Consultant http://twitter.com/LenBailey http://www.linkedin.com/in/lenbailey

02-27-2011, 11:21 AM	#7
lconsult Active Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 43 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: How do you organize your swipe files? I also use Google Notebook... supplemented, of course, with a lot of post-it notes before they make their way into the notebook!