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Post-it® Brand Two easy changes to improve your team today

Whiteboards can promote creativity, collaboration and organization

There’s a reason little kids love to write and draw on the walls at home – it’s fun!


  • A big, blank space is so tempting - just waiting to be filled with colorful pictures and random scribbles. For adults, a whiteboard provides similar opportunities for creative expression. They’re the ideal medium for brainstorming new ideas, illustrating a challenging process, organizing thoughts and developing plans.

    Whiteboards and dry erase surfaces are equally useful in a classroom, office or at home, and finding the right one shouldn’t be difficult, especially when Post-it® Brand offers so many options. Read on to get the basics of choosing, using and caring for a whiteboard here, and finding the right surface for your needs.

    How to choose a whiteboard
    The type of surface you choose depends on how you’ll be using your whiteboard. In a corporate setting, you’ll probably need a larger, wall-mounted surface to allow for input from a group. Post-it® Dry Erase Surface is the perfect cost-saving solution, allowing you to transform your workspace in just minutes. Cover an entire wall for a fraction of what you’d have to invest in a wall-size whiteboard. Post-it® Dry Erase Surface applies quickly and easily, so your group can get to work in just minutes.

    There’s no need to buy new whiteboard equipment just because of a stained surface. Use Post-it® Dry Erase Surface products to give old whiteboards and chalkboards a facelift, reducing waste in your office or classroom, and giving colleagues and students a fun new way to express themselves.

    How to use a whiteboard
    In most offices, there’s at least one person known for their great whiteboarding skills. They write legibly, can illustrate a thought by drawing a picture, and are good at summing up a group conversation into succinct bullet points.

    Anyone can learn to use a whiteboard well. Practice these steps to gain skill:
     

    1. Organize your surface. Here are a couple of examples:
      1. Presentation - Divide your surface into sections - introduction, body, conclusion
      2. Problem solving - Divide your surface into problem statement, strategies for success, and desired outcome
      3. Marketing plan - Divide your surface into sections for goals, channels, audiences, promotion, timing and KPIs
    2. Write in block letters vs. flowery, cursive writing
    3. Use symbols and icons to illustrate ideas, vs. trying to be artful
    4. Erase as needed; when an idea has run its course or is no longer useful, erase it
    5. Create an area for random thoughts that don’t quite fit - yet. They may be useful later.

    You can find videos and tutorials online with all sorts of tips for more effective whiteboarding.

  • Practice your writing
  • Drawing Icons on Whiteboards
  • How to care for and maintain a whiteboard
    First, use only the markers recommended for the surface you choose. Dry erase markers are the safest choice if you’re unsure.

    Second, clean the surface as soon as you’re done working. The longer you leave marker ink on a whiteboard, the harder it will be to remove. Some colors may be more difficult to erase than others too, so you may want to test new colors and markers in a corner before using on the entire board.

    Third, use the right eraser or cleaner. The Post-it® Dry Erase Cloth is recommended for the most effective ink removal and cleaning. Some surfaces require a special eraser, others need a chemical solution to stay clean, while some clean up with just water, like Post-it® Flex Write Surface. Always clean your surface according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

    Finally, “ghosting” is the biggest complaint of whiteboard and dry erase board users – when, even after erasing - the surface of the board isn’t entirely clean. Cleaning your surface quickly, each time you use it, will prevent build up and keep the surface ghost-free longer. Post-it® Dry Erase Surfaces resist ghosting, and are also covered by a 3-year warranty*.

    Find the write whiteboard or dry erase surface for your needs
    Post-it® Dry Erase Surfaces and Flex Write Surface come in a variety of sizes, with accessories that help you do your best work. Find the right solution for your school, office or home here.

  • *Product will be free from defects in material and manufacture when used for indoor vertical applications only, for 3 years from purchase date. Not covered: normal wear and tear, or damage from accident, misuse, alteration or lack of reasonable care. 3M will, at 3M’s option, replace or repair product or refund purchase price upon receipt of proof of purchase. Warranty valid only for products sold in USA and gives you specific legal rights. You may have other rights which may vary from state to state. To obtain warranty service, contact 3M at 1-800-395-1223.
    Limitation of Liability: 3M will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from use of this product, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential, regardless of the legal theory asserted, including warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability. Some states and countries do not allow the exclusion of limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

    *Product will be free from defects in material and manufacture when used for indoor vertical applications only, for 3 years from purchase date. Not covered: normal wear and tear, or damage from accident, misuse, alteration or lack of reasonable care. 3M will, at 3M’s option, replace or repair product or refund purchase price upon receipt of proof of purchase. Warranty valid only for products sold in USA and gives you specific legal rights. You may have other rights which may vary from state to state. To obtain warranty service, contact 3M at 1-800-395-1223.
    Limitation of Liability: 3M will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from use of this product, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential, regardless of the legal theory asserted, including warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability. Some states and countries do not allow the exclusion of limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

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