Top Tips For Magazine Adverts

Understand Our Magazine Advertising Prices
Before booking your advertising space work out your monthly budget. Then take a look at our incredible advertising prices for the magazine you have chosen. Whilst we would encourage taking out a full page ad, so your business ad is prominent, it's your choice but to aid you we have made our half page ad better value than our quarter page ad and our full page ad better value than our half page ad. Choose whatever works for you on an ongoing basis, we recommend running your ad in at least three consecutive editions, to start your brand awareness jouney in your local community. We also recommend changing your ad each month to gain the attention of the reader.

Understand Our Magazines & Your Audience
We aim to have our free magazines delivered to many ABC1 homes and local businesses within each defined area. It's important to understand which audience your targeting, local residents or business to business. Your ad should form part of an ongoing brand awareness campaign, promoting your products, services and the ideals of both your business and our readership. Design your ad well, consider the size of the space you've booked, use only images in your ads where you own full copyright.

Ad Resolution & Size
Getting your ad size right is important, so we have provided a more comprehensive ad format guide here. All ads need to be high resolution, submitted in the required formats and at least 300 dots per inch. All image files need to be submitted or capable of being converted to printing standard CMYK but don't worry we're here every step of the way to help you!

Your Advertisement Should Include - Your Call To Action
Whether your advertisement is digital with your audience being online or in print with your intended audience local residents and businesses your ad should include a 'prompt' to encourage our readers to act. You should consider your slogans and text very carefully. Perhaps you should consider including a discount code in your ad, although careful thought needs to be given to its window - too short you may get little interaction, too long and it may not seem like an offer. Take time or if you need a little help contact us!

What Images Should I Use in My Advertisement
Not all advertisement need to use images, although you may wish to include your logo, which still needs to be print standard. If your design does include imagery, to for example demonstrate your work and your professionalism you should design your ad in such a way so that it stands out from other magazine content and that it does not appear to be either a standalone image or page content. Photographs often add gravitas to an ad but if you choose to use one, it must be an image over which you have full copyright or where you have purchased a license from the copyright holder that permits you to use it for publication in a printed and online magazine. You are required under our terms and conditions when submitting your ad, to indemnify Simply Belfast and its assocaited magazines, that this is the case. One great advantage in using stylish imagery is that your ad may be selected to be promoted from an inside page to that's edition's front cover - and that should be great for business!

How To Layout Your Advertisement
Make good use of the space available to you. Don't overload your ad, use a stylish blend of colours, pictures and text. Include a call to action and be clear on your message and what it is you are offering. If you need to limit your offer you may wish to include an *astrix next to the relevant offer and explain it at the bottom of your ad, although this is more appropriate in full page add, where you have the space.

Before Submitting Your Ad
Like with everything in life its important to ask others for their views. Before submitting your final copy for inclusion you can either ask us for our opinion or better still your friends, family or possibly even customers. Do they think its appealing, is the message and call to action right, is the logo and imagery suitable, would it invite them to visit your business or use your service if they needed it. From this ad, would they remember your brand? If they were to see your advert over 3 to 6 editions, would your name be the first to come to mind when they next need your service or product. Don't be tempted to seek out yes men or the approval of others the point of the exercise is to develope an effective advertisment to win more trade.

Final Checks Before Submitting Your Ad
Before submitting your final ad copy, take a few minutes to check that it is in the correct format, the correct size for the ad space your have booked, that image quality if of a high standard and that there are no spelling mistakes. We can help you tweak you ad if needed so contact us as soon as possible so that your deadlines can still be met. Once your ad is ready for submission send it through and remember to make your payment if you have not already done so. Remember, all accounts not paid by the copy deadline are considered late and add to the cost of producing our magazines. Please pay on time so our efforts can be forcused on providing you with the best offers!

Remember Your Legal Duty
You have a duty to ensure that your advertising is legal compliant, decent, honest and truthful. That it does not mislead or make false claims. That it does not break domestic or regional laws or breach advertising standards codes. For more information on this check out the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) website.