027: Produce Faster Proposals with these InDesign Scripts & Plug-Ins

Have you downloaded the new 2021 release of InDesign? Julie Shaffer, CPSM is here with us again to discuss more features of InDesign as well as Scripts, Extensions, and Plugins. Let us help you work more efficiently and make your proposal production easier and faster. Julie attended the virtual Adobe MAX Conference and she’s here to share with us some great InDesign updates that came out in October of 2020.

The Adobe MAX Conference sessions are available until October 2021. You can still attend some of our favorite sessions. As expected, Julie’s favorite sessions dive deep into InDesign. Here are a few of her favorites: InDesign Automation and Introduction to Scripts by Dave Clayton, a session on typography with Nigel French as well as one session about marrying Photoshop, illustrator, and InDesign by Art Vanderwiel. 

Want to know some of Julie’s favorite Scripts, Extensions, and Plugins? Here’s a list of her favorites and where to hear more:

• Julie’s favorite script, Place Multi-Page PDF (6:08)
• Julie’s favorite extension, NounProject (7:16)
• Julie’s favorite Plugin, in5 (9:26)

 A few other favorites you may want to learn about:

• WordsFlow (9:41)
• DocsFlow (10:31)
• Add Points (11:36)
• Sort Paragraphs (11:51)
• Break Frame (12:34
• Break Text Thread (12:40)
• Text Frame Gridify (13:07)
• TitleCase (13:35)
• Show Based On (13:55)
• Style List of Styles: (14:27)
• AddPoints: (16:35)
• Like Finds Like (17:15)
• FindColor (17:54)
• Share For Review (19:45)

Don’t forget to check out Julie’s 30-second overview of Share for Review at 20:39. Or check out episode 12 for a deep dive into how it’s a game-changer for your proposal reviews. The new 2021 InDesign is a new install. Julie offers some tips to make your install easier (19:16). She also gives us a peek into what she thinks the #1 skill every marketer should learn and master (25:10).

Want to know what my favorite InDesign feature is? Learn how I use Nested Styles (27:49).

Julie offers InDesign training and has put together a list of all her favorite InDesign Scripts, Plugins, and Extensions. Find out by signing up for her newsletter at https://www.shaffercreative.com/.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Shaffer Creative
• Julie's Previous Episode #12: https://www.marketerstakeflight.com/12
• Get Julie's Favorite InDesign Scripts & Plug-ins when you sign up for her newsletter: https://www.shaffercreative.com/
• Adobe Max 2020 Conference: https://www.adobe.com/max.html

Want more AEC marketing goodness?

• New to proposals? Download my FREE “RFPs for Beginners – The Ultimate Proposal Management Checklist.”
• Stop planning, start creating with my FREE “Ultimate AEC Content Marketing Starter Kit.”
• Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn and Instagram.
• Collaborate with other AEC Marketers in our Facebook Group.
• Purchase bite-sized, on-demand templates and training at the Marketers Place.
• Enroll in online training: The Proposal Pro or Content Marketing Clarity.