How are we doing? That’s an important question for Calvendo, so we therefore listen carefully when experts scrutinise our calendar self-publishing platform. Since its launch in autumn 2012, there have been a number of reviews by photo communities, consumer guides checking products and services and users. What did they have to say? Let’s take a look at some tests and user experiences:

www.fotokalender.org, a resource for anyone interested in creating their own calendars, gives Calvendo the thumbs up, saying it’s “an opportunity for ambitious photographers to market their images as calendars that are sold via the book retail industry.” They like our online editor, noting that “it’s easy to use and offers many options”. Last but not least, their review highlights the following aspects as a bonus: No cost involved for users (hence no risk) plus comprehensive FAQs on the site and help provided by the jury who checks each submitted calendars before they’re released.

Online magazine maniax.cc reviewed Calvendo, too, tested our offer, and, in particular, positively commented on our jury (which we’re pretty chuffed about) and the fact that each calendar submitted undergoes a quality check by a human being, applying expertise, common sense and providing suggestions for approval. Also, there was a bit of unexpected positive surprise about the print quality since Calvendo calendars are printed digitally on-demand and some still think that digital printing can’t keep up with offset quality. However, “the print quality is surprisingly good and no different to offset printed calendars”.

Maniax.cc concludes its review by saying that Calvendo “offers artists an opportunity to produce and sell high-quality calendars without needing to invest any money”. We’re also inclined to mention the verdict of www.best-practice-business.de: Five stars out of five for Calvendo in their test, saying that it “sets new standards for calendar self-publishing” while stressing the potential the platform offers for private and corporate users to use Calvendo for testing content ideas and generating additional income.

Another site, testberichte.de, that tests and compares consumer services, assigned us a “very good”, and we get similarly good grades from our users (most importantly!) whom we surveyed this summer: Two thirds enjoy publishing with Calvendo and more than 70% recommend the platform to family and friends. And rest assured, we’ll continue to listen carefully to what our users have to say!