Qualified Remodeler Print Display Ads

DOWNLOAD :: 2012 Media Kit
DOWNLOAD :: 2013 Media Kit

Ad Specifications

Live Area Trim Size Bleed Size
Full Page
8.5" x 10.375"
9" x 10.875"
9.25" x 11.125"
Two-Page Spread
17.5" x 10.375"
18" x 10.875"
18.25" x 11.125"
1/2-Page Hor. Spread w/Bleed
17.5" x 4.875"
18" x 5.1875"
18.25" x 5.4375"
1/2-Page Hor.
w/Bleed
8.5" x 4.875"
9" x 5.1875"
9.25" x 5.4375"
1/3-Page Vertical
w/Bleed
2.3125" x 10"
2.5625" x 10.875"
2.8125" x 11.125"
2/3-Page Vertical
4.625" x 10"
-
-
1/2-Page Hor.
8.5" x 4.875"
-
-
1/2-Page Island
4.625" x 7.75"
-
-
1/2-Page Vertical
3.75" x 10"
-
-
1/4-Page Vertical
3.75" x 4.875"
-
-
1/3-Page Square
4.625" x 4.875"
-
-
1/3-Page Vertical
2.3125" x 10"
-
-

Send materials to:
Qualified Remodeler
Kathleen Weaver, Media Production Rep
1233 Janesville Avenue, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
800-547-7377 x1659
EmailKathleen.Weaver@Cygnus.com
FTP: (If files are larger than 10MB) http://webftp.cygnuspub.com

PDF is the preferred format for file submission.

2012 Advertising Rates
1X 3X 6X 12X
Spread
$24,996
$23,685
$21,844
$19,453
Full Page
12,973
11,933
11,372
10,107
2/3-Page
11,372
10,454
9,765
8,847
1/2-Page Island
10,332
9,503
8,847
8,038
1/2-Page
8,847
8,137
7,581
7,004
1/3-Page
7,119
6,547
6,321
5,739
1/4-Page
5,634
5,182
4,825
4,594
Literature Gallery
2,469
2,230
2,098
1,992

Premium positions
Inside front cover: $13,911; Inside back cover: $13,911;
Back Cover: $15,595

Literature galleries
Size of single unit is 2.4375" x 3.3125". Size of double unit is 5.125"; x 3.3125";. Text and logos should be .25" away from bottom of the ad.

Cygnus can make the ad. Send a 2-in. square (minimum) photo (300 dpi) and 45 words of copy to Kathleen.Weaver@Cygnus.com

Contact Nancy Campoli at (800) 547-7377 ext. 6127 for sales.

 

Contract and copy conditions

Advertisements are accepted upon the representation that the advertiser and its agency have the right to publish the content. Advertisers and agencies agree to indemnify, defend and save harmless the publisher from any and all liability for content of published advertisements whether in print or in electronic format. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement.

Qualified Remodeler Print Classified Ads

Classified Rates

1X 4X 6X 12X
1 Column Inch
$261
$243
$233
$221
2 Column Inches
522
488
465
443
3 Column Inches
783
732
698
664
4 Column Inches
1,045
977
932
886
5 Column Inches
1,306
1,220
1,164
1,106
6 Column Inches
1,567
1,464
1,396
1,329
7 Column Inches
1,827
1,709
1,629
1,550
8 Column Inches
2,090
1,953
1,862
1,772

Advertisements are available by the column inch. Advertisers can run ads 1 to 3 columns wide by 1 to 8 inches tall.

Column Widths: 1 column = 2.3125 in., 2 columns = 4.625 in.,
3 columns = 8.500 in.

To calculate total cost, multiply the number of columns wide your ad will be by the number of inches high to calculate total column inches. Then choose how many times you would like to run the advertisement and multiply the applicable rate by the total column inches.

Pre-payment is required on
classified advertising.

Send copy and payment to:
Cygnus/Qualified Remodeler
Nancy Campoli
2 University Plaza, Suite 310
Hackensack, NJ 07601

Classified Ad Regulations

Classified advertising may not be used for new products or services normally found in display advertising or extensive product or service descriptions (i.e. features, values, styles) that are the function of display ads. The publisher retains the right to reject, delete or re-word copy that does not meet the above regulations.

Digital Ads

Our powerful new web portal, ForResidentialPros.com serves as a comprehensive news and information resource for the residential design, build and remodel industry.

ForResidentialPros.com provides exposure to qualified decision makers and offers everything you need for a successful integrated marketing approach.

Our powerful partnership with the industry's leading print publications - Kitchen & Bath Design News, Qualified Remodeler, Residential Design + Build - allows ForResidentialPros.com to offer a premium level of value to advertisers.

Grab the web visitor's attention and get measurable results with one of our banner ads, including static, rich media (animated), point roll and more.

Leaderboard - 728 x 90 pixels
$1,950 / month or $75 CPM
Leaderboard ads offer a great deal of advertising space in one of the most prominent positions on a website.
Skyscraper - 160 x 600 pixels
$1,950 / month or $75 CPM
The skyscraper is a tall, narrow banner advertisement placed to the right of content on our web pages. A skyscraper is always visible above the fold and remains at least partly visible as the viewer scrolls down the page.

Rectangle - 300 x 250 pixels
$1,950 / month or $75 CPM
The rectangle is one of the favorite positions of many as it appears in a prime position on the website surrounded by content.

Button - 120 x 90 pixels
$475 / month or $18.25 CPM
The button may be the smallest ad on the page, but it can effectively deliver your brand and message in a big way. This is one of our most popular ads and is a great choice for those who want a digital presence with a smaller budget.
Wallpaper, Takeover, Welcome ads
$1,250 / week or $100 CPM
Stand apart from the rest! Using rich media solutions, your ad can move, expand, change and engage the viewer. ForResidentialPros.com offers state-of-the-art tracking and frequency settings that allow the advertiser to control who views the ad and how often. Viewers can interact with your ad and learn about your brand without leaving the page they're on.

Specifications
Materials Due
Please allow 3 business days to process/load simple image and GIF animated ads and 5-7 business days to process all other types of creative. Specialized rich media ads and email creative may require longer lead times.

All rich media ads are tested on a matrix of browsers and platforms before posting. This process requires a MINIMUM of five business days to test rich media for performance, stability and compatibility.
Files Requirements
  • ■ Media Accepted - GIF, JPEG, Animated GIF, Flash, Rich Media
  • ■ Leaderboard (728x90) - Max file size: 30K; Rich media max file size: 50K (On load: 30K)
  • ■ Skyscraper (160 x 600) - Max file size: 30K; Rich media max file size: 50K (On load: 30K)
  • ■ Rectangle (300 x 250) - Max file size: 30K; Rich media max file size: 50K (On load: 30K)
  • ■ Button (120 x 90) - Max file size: 10K; Rich media max mile size: 15K (On load: 10K)
  • ■ Any interaction with an ad MUST be user-initiated
  • ■ Ads with a white or transparent background must include a 1 pixel-wide border
  • ■ All banners must be sized at 72dpi resolution
  • ■ Flash ads need to have a clickTAG assigned within the creative

Contact 800.547.7377

Email & e-newsletters

Meet your prospects when and where they are making decisions. Email marketing campaigns are the most cost-effective way to reach new and existing customers. ForResidentialPros.com is “Can Spam” compliant and is abreast of all legislative changes to ensure optimized delivery, best practices and above all, an opt-in mail list of interested readers who have requested e-blasts from our advertising partners.
Choose from e-newsletter sponsorship, e-blast, Product Showcase or Print Plus Product Showcase to further promote your brand. Target different customer segments with personalized messages to enhance your ROI and increase your bottom line. Use email marketing to announce new products, sales, and discounts. Invite customers to conferences, trade shows and industry events. Offer news and information that drives performance or decisions.

Specifications

  • Only text, JPG and GIF images are allowed
  • Animated GIFs are discouraged as Microsoft Outlook 2007 does not support them
  • Flash, rich media, Image Maps and Javsacript are not available in email products
  • Links to PDF, Word documents or other non-traditional "web page" links within an e-mail MUST be clearly identified
  • Provide detailed linking instructions
E-newsletter sponsorships

The E-Newsletter Sponsorship ad is a 120x600 skyscraper positioned for prime viewing and interactivity. The E-Newsletter Sponsorship package does not stop there. An article with graphics is included in a text advertising space in the issue. Sponsorship is a great marketing tool for branding or launching a new product. Sponsorship can enable your business to demonstrate its leadership in the industry, provide a return on investment and verify ROI through our statistical reporting on performance.

Rates for our suite of residential e-newsletters

Product Innovations:
Brought to you by Kitchen & Bath Design News, showcases the latest kitchen and bath products in a broad range of categories, from appliances, cabinetry and countertops to decorative and functional hardware, faucetry, tubs and shower systems and more.
Leaderboard (468 x60) = $1,000/per edition
Skyscraper (120 x 600) = $1,000/per edition
Text ads = $350/per edition

Industry Spotlight: Hot New Products:
Brought to you by Kitchen & Bath Design News, showcases some of the newest product innovations for the kitchen and bath market today.
Leaderboard (468 x60) = $1,000/per edition
Skyscraper (120 x 600) = $1,000/per edition
Text ads = $350/per edition

Remodelers’ Briefing: 
Brought to you by Qualified Remodeler, tracks the latest news and events that are important to the industry.
Leaderboard (468 x60) = $1,500/per edition
Skyscraper (120 x 600) = $1,500/per edition
Text ads = $350/per edition

News Wire:
Brought to you by Residential Design + Build, delivers the latest news and events happening within the custom home market.
Leaderboard (468 x60) = $500/per edition
Skyscraper (120 x 600) = $500/per edition
Text ads = $350/per edition

Hazardous Material Management:
Brought to you by Qualified Remodeler and ForRenovationPros, delivers important news, rules and regulations pertaining to the safe management, containment and removal of hazardous materials including lead paint.

Leaderboard (468 x60) = $500/per edition
Skyscraper (120 x 600) = $500/per edition
Text ads = $350/per edition
Material Deadlines
  • All creative is due three business days prior to the sending of the newsletter.

Specifications

  • Media accepted: GIF, JPEG
  • Animated GIFs are discouraged as Microsoft Outlook 2007 does not support them
  • No rich media accepted
  • 120x600 max file size: 30K

For more information on ad specifications, please click here

E-blasts
Over 90,000 kitchen and bath professionals, residential architects and designers, residential builders and remodelers have requested that we e-mail them promotional e-mails (NO SPAM!) from advertisers like you. Target your niche market by residential category from one of our specific subscription lists: Kitchen & Bath Design News, Qualified Remodeler and Residential Design + Build.

Our reporting will tell you how many emails were sent, opened, clicked and forwarded. Mailing lists are updated daily! All content within the e-blast is dedicated to your message. This is a great way to announce a new product or service, conduct a contest, feature specially priced items or sell inventory quickly to a large, dedicated audience.
Rate: $350 cpm

Material deadlines
We must have all HTML and text creative for an e-Blast at least seven business days prior to the send date. This allows four days for upload and testing, two days for client approval and one day to upload the final approved version and schedule for delivery.

If we are designing the e-blast, please add three days to the above deadline.

We prefer to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.
Specifications

  • A pre-designed, HTML email message covering your company, product(s), service(s), or any other information you want your customers to see.
  • We can design your blast from a print advertisement, a PDF or from scratch.
  • A subject line that meets our approval must be provided. Subject lines should be enticing, more than ONE word, and NOT in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
  • Rich media is not accepted.
  • Animated GIFs are discouraged as Microsoft Outlook 2007 will not accept them.
  • Pre-designed blasts should be mindful of differences in email client compatibility.
  • A blast that is entirely a linked image it NOT recommended, as today's email platform blocks images. An HTML email should be a combination of text and images with a call-to-action within the text component.
  • If sending a pre-designed blast, a text version must be included.
  • Full image paths in the code must be used (ex: http://www.domain.com/images/graphic1.jpg).

E-Product Showcase
Stretch your budget with an E-Product Showcase! Our Product Showcase provides a cost-effective electronic advertising vehicle for professional advertisers. You pay only a portion of an e-blast price and maintain the high impact effectiveness that an e-blast delivers. A total of 6 to 8 advertisers, each with an individual product to promote, combine to complete the Product Showcase. Each advertiser submits one static graphic of their product, one company logo with url link and 40 - 60 words of copy. We design each advertiser's space and send a proof to the client for approval.
Rate: $935 per placement

Material deadlines

  • All material (product title, product description, product image, company logo and link) must be submitted at least seven days prior to the showcase send date.
  • Due to the strict timeline of the product showcase schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its placement in our delivery schedule.
Specifications
  • Title or name of your product (3-5 words)
  • Product image: Hi-res (we will resize it to fit your placement)
  • Company logo image: Hi-res (we will resize it to fit your placement)
  • Product description: 40 - 60 words describing your product. Can be in paragraph form or 4 - 6 bullet points
  • A link to your website or specific page on your site
Print Plus Product E-Showcase

This integrated, interactive opportunity pairs your print ad in a Cygnus publication with the E-Product Showcase described above.

Rate: $350 with purchase of a print ad
E-Newsletter Hot Product

Reaching the right prospect is easy using our E-Newsletter Hot Product text advertising. The ForResidentialPros.com family of e-newsletters is designed to deliver your message to the precisely targeted audience you need to meet and exceed your marketing goals. Because e-newsletters contain multiple articles, tips, updates and expert advice, your Hot Product will receive the advertising impact it deserves. Your product's graphic, headline and 40-60 word article are placed along with content that residential decision-makers read each month to keep their businesses on track.

Rate: $500 per e-newsletter

Media Center

Make your product or service a star performer! Showcase your product or service in action to thousands of buyers in the residential industry on ForResidentialPros.com. We offer multiple video opportunities, including placing your video on our Video Network or the Buyers' Guide product page or emailing a link to your video in a Video E-Showcase.

The Media Center's Video Network enables companies like yours to present videos 24/7 to resiendtial industry leaders. There's no better way to close a sale than to let your prospect see your product in action. Every professional with Internet access is able to see and listen to your company's sales, training or safety videos. It's easy to put your video up for buyers to view!

  1. Submit your video of 5 minutes or less in length. A complete technical specification sheet is available for your convenience.
  2. Select a category in the ForResidentialPros.com Video Network that identifies your product or service:
    • Advice, Opinions
    • Advice, Opinions
    • Interior
    • Exterior
    • Materials, Structural
    • Tools, Trucks
    • Energy, Efficiency, Green
    • Events
    • Misc. Products, Services
    • Outdoor Living
  3. Receive video network reporting for every day your video plays.

Rates Video Network

Buyers' Guide Product Page video:
3 months - $500
6 months - $800
12 months - $1,200
Video PROMO: $1,500 for 12 months of exposure
Your video is available on both the Video Network and Buyers' Guide Product Page for 12 months.
Video E-Showcase: $935
Send your video via email to your selected publication list
Print Plus Video E-Showcase: $350 with purchase of a print ad in a Cygnus Residential-Construction-Landscape Group publication
Created an integrated media program by combining your print ad with an emailed video.

Dedicated video channel: $12,000/year
Have your own video channel on the ForResidentialPros.com Buyer's guide to display all of your videos. They will also be posted on the portal's YouTube site. Unlimited video.

Material deadlines
Submitted electronically (AVI, MOV, WMV, MPEG, FLV): 5 business days before video live date
Submitted on DVD: 6 business days before video live date
All other media: 10 business days before video live date
Please include the video title, description and link. If this information is missing it could delay the live date of your video.

Specifications

  • Digital video preferred. Formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MPEG, FLV
  • Formats may be sent via CD, data DVD, or the Web
  • Other formats may be accepted (DVD, etc.), but additional conversion time will be needed
  • Aspect ratio: 4:3 preferred; 16:9 acceptable
  • Video size: At least 480x360 (in 4:3); video width can be no smaller than 480 pixels
  • Bit rate: At least an average of 400 kbps
  • Audio: At least 22050 Hz / 16bit Mono
Along with the video, include a 2-3 word title and 10-12 word description of the video. A link to your website (or specific page) also should be available.

QR Codes

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a specific barcode readable by a dedicated QR barcode reader or camera phone. When a customer scans your company's QR code with a cell phone, for instance, the customer can access information about a particular product, receive a discount or coupon or get directions to the nearest dealer.

QR codes can help you compete in today's highly mobile, fast-paced business environment. This is a sales and marketing tool that delivers the sales message you want your audience to see. You can break through the clutter and cost-effectively expand your presence in the marketplace. You reach your target audience with precise call-to-action messaging.

Here are two free QR code readers.

http://2d-code.co.uk/qr-code-readers/
http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software/
Rate for a custom QR code: $500

Terms and Conditions

Marketing Resource Center

Information on rates, mechanical specifications and more is available within the Marketing Resource Center at ForResidentialPros.com/Advertise or call your Cygnus integrated media consultant at 800-547-7377.

Covers and special position requests

Guaranteed position is available for an additional charge. Back cover (4) is an additional charge of 25%. Covers 2 and 3 are an additional charge of 20% of earned rate. All other guaranteed positions will incur a 15% surcharge. We will not be bound by conditions or terms appearing in ad order when such conditions conflict with our stated policies.

Inserts

Contact your Cygnus integrated media consultant for specifications.

Terms and commissions

Net 30 days. 15% of gross paid to recognized advertising agencies on space, color and position provided account is paid in full within 30 days of invoice date. Publisher reserves the right to hold the advertiser and/or its advertising agency jointly and separately responsible for such monies as are due and payable to the publisher. Publisher will not be bound by conditions, printed or otherwise, appearing in ad orders or copy instructions when such conditions conflict with Publisher's stated policies.

Protective clauses

Rates subject to change without notice. Advertiser and advertising agency assume liability for all content of advertisements printed and also assume responsibility for any claims made against the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising that it feels is not in keeping with publication standards, policies and practices.

Contract cancellation

Advertising canceled after closing date will be charged at earned rate to the advertiser with an additional fee of up to $500 for remake of the page. Publisher will not be bound by conditions, printed or otherwise, appearing in ad order or copy instructions when such conditions conflict with Publisher's stated policies. Advertisers that fail to achieve contracted number of insertions within the year will be short rated to the applicable frequency on rate card.

Material deadlines

Ad materials due three days after space close unless otherwise noted.

Call your Cygnus representative today at 800-547-7377 for your integrated marketing package using our five media platforms.

Technical Specifications

General requirements

Cygnus Business Media and its respective web portals support most industry-standard online advertising delivery mechanisms, including rich media (Flash, video, etc.)

While advertisers have creative liberty designing their ads, Cygnus reserves the right to decline any advertising; for example, ads mimicking "alert" windows or false computer message screens.

Ads should be clearly indicated and should not be designed to blend in with the site or mimic editorial fonts or colors.

Advanced frequency capping may require a third party.

Ads should not include form elements or other graphic symbols that mimic functionality that does not exist.

Cygnus Business Media reserves the right to ask for revisions or reject any advertising it deems, in its sole opinion, not in keeping with its standards. Opinions expressed within the message boards are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Cygnus Business Media.

Banner specifications

General materials guidelines

Animated GIFs should have at least two seconds between frames, maximum of six frames.

All banners must be sized at 72dpi resolution.

Cygnus Business Media reserves the right to reject advertising based on content, user impact, distraction factors and other situations as determined by the staff.

Ads with a white or transparent background must include a 1 pixel-wide border.

Banners may not "Flash" messages which overly distract the user.

All banners that are submitted to Cygnus Business Media via email must be uncompressed (not zipped).

ALT (mouse-over) text should be no greater than 10 words.

All banners and advertising, when clicked, should launch the linked site in a new browser window.

Banners must be designed so that interaction with the user only takes place if the user places the mouse within the advertisement area.

Advertisers may make banner or other creative changes or additions every two weeks, following the time guidelines below, although we prefer advertisers to send us multiple banners at one time and have them scheduled throughout your campaign.

Flash advertising and/or animated GIFs are not available for email newsletters or blasts. Banner ads that are meant to appear in e-newsletters must be static images.

Available types and maximum sizes

Below are the size limitations for GIF/JPG/Animated GIF banners. Separate requirements and information on rich media (Flash) banners are reviewed later in this document.

Ad Unit Dimensions Max File Size

Leaderboard 728x90 30K

Skyscraper (web) 160x600 30K

Skyscraper (e-newsletter) 120x600 30K

Rectangle 300x250 30K

Button/Tile 120x90 10K

Not all add units are available on all sites. Be sure to speak with your sales representative regarding specific positions on your targeted Cygnus site(s).

Deadlines for client-submitted materials

Please allow 5 business days to process/load simple image and GIF-animated ads and 5-7 business days to process all other types of creative. Specialized rich media ads and email creative may require longer lead times, see below.

Need banner creative and/or technical assistance?

Our talented Cygnus team can assist with the creative or technical aspects of creating an online ad. Contact your integrated media consultant for more information.

To get started, your marketing team and our creative team need to determine the best strategy and create a clear design plan for your banner advertising.

This includes:

  • Providing a URL or direct graphic image(s) to be included in your banner(s) including company logo, products and other related images.
  • A clear concept to include marketing slogans and the mission of your campaign to assist us in preparing your banners.

Materials may be submitted in Zip format to minimize file size. Avoid sending files zipped using stuff-it expander (common on Mac platform). While you may use the MAC platform to create graphics, we prefer graphics converted to EPS files. We may be able to open Quark files (commonly used for print ads), but some graphic elements critical to the design may be lost in conversion from MAC to PC. Converting to EPS file will solve this problem.

For campaigns where Cygnus is your creative source, please allow up to 8 business days for banner creation, approval and placement. This includes up to five business days for banner design from receipt of all needed materials and up to two days for client approval. Any adjustments to creative will require additional time to modify the design/product.

Please add two additional business days for additional banners to be created for your campaign.

Campaigns where creative follows multiple concepts and designs or more than 10 banners are needed will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Rich media

With some exceptions, we primarily follow Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) recommended rich media standards.

Please allow ample time for testing advertising products.

All rich media ads are tested on a matrix of browsers and platforms before posting. This process requires a MINIMUM of FIVE (5) business days to test rich media for performance, stability and compatibility.

General Requirements

We reserve the right to refuse any rich media that does not function properly in this testing environment.

We are not responsible for fixing code that does not function properly or causes other problems.

Creative must open a new browser window when clicking to another site.

Floating ads must include a prominently visible close button and may not run more than 15 seconds.

Advertising requiring the use of plug-ins like Flash and Shockwave must utilize "sniffer" code to detect if the user has the required plug-in and display an alternate image if the user does not have it. That alternate image (JPG/GIF) must be included when submitting materials.

Flash advertising is not available in email newsletters or blasts at this time.

Audio and video

Cygnus Business Media follows IAB and accepted industry guidelines for non-assumed broadband connections.

Any interaction with an ad MUST be user-initiated. For example, ads can only utilize audio or video on user click (or mouse-cursor over for at least 3 seconds). The only exception to the user initiation would be in content areas specifically designated as 'broadband' content, which is on a site-by-site basis.

Obvious "Play" and "Stop" buttons must be available.

"Volume" and "Replay" buttons are highly recommended.

Audio and video within general advertising placements may last no longer than 30 seconds.

The use of streaming video may allow a file size up to 80K.

Animation should last no longer than 15 seconds and loop a maximum of three times.

Ad Unit Dimensions Max Size on Load Total Size

Leaderboard 728x90 30K 50K

Skyscraper 160x600 30K 50K

Rectangle 300x250 30K 50K

Button 120x90 10K 15K

Important reminders:

Audio or video requires user-interaction via CLICK or minimum 3-second mouse over.

Rich media banners should stay within the size of their banner frame's size, (i.e. not pop-out of the dimensions of the banner itself), unless user-initiated.

Tracking Flash

Flash ads need to have a clickTAG assigned for within the creative.

The Flash File (.fla extension) must first be modified.

The clickTAG is the tracking code assigned by the ad-serving network to an individual ad. The clickTAG allows the network to register where the ad was displayed when it was clicked on. This click-through data is reported to the ad-serving server so you may determine the effectiveness of your campaign.

You must include .SWF File with click-through URLs, GIF/JPG provided as back-up. Flash Movies kept below 24 FPS, Target="_blank" is required in "basic actions" to ensure click-through opens a new window. ClickTAG code must be embedded in .SWF file:

on (release)

{

getURL (clickTAG, "_blank");

}

For more detailed information on implementing clickTAG ActionScript, visit Macromedia's Flash Tracking Kit.

Important Note: Not all browsers are Flash-capable; you must include a backup GIF/JPG with all Flash ads.

Use this URL for testing Flash files:

http://www.cygnusinteractive.com/artsheet/v2/flashtest/

Frequency capping

Frequency capping may be imposed on all ads that, without user initiation, obstruct content such as floating ads (free-form overlay/iLayer ads), user surveys, superstitials (pop-up ads) and interstitials (between page ads). Cookies are used to set frequency caps of once per user in any 24-hour period. Some types of rich media may require additional 'padding' between deliveries. This may be handled differently on different sites.

Floating ad/reminder ad combinations, whether landing in a standard in-banner ad placement or in another pre-designated location, may also have frequency capping applied. These types of ads must be coordinated so editorial and other advertising are not covered.

Need rich media designed for you?

Our skilled Cygnus team can assist with the creative or technical aspects of creating rich media, including custom-built advertising programs ranging from Flash banners to streaming video ads or other specialized advertising. Contact your integrated media consultant for more information.

Please allow a minimum of three business days from your initial request for us to provide you with an estimated timeline and cost for Cygnus to produce specialized creative.

For advertising that includes audio or video, we prefer access to the raw audio or video file delivered via DVD or CD, MPEG 2 or Window Media Video 9 formats at 500k or higher bit rates.

Text advertising

Text advertising consists of two versions: 1) headline only, and 2) headline and teaser. The version depends on the ad position. These ads appear on websites and some e-newsletters.

Examples:

Headline Only: Company X provides gear and stuff

Headline & teaser: Company X provides top-notch services

The leader in online purchasing, development and planning for the construction professional.

The maximum length of the headline portion of a text ad is 45 characters. A teaser, on most sites, must not exceed 75 characters. The combination of both lines MAY NOT EXCEED 100 characters. Capital letters are counted as TWO Characters.

Note: Individual sites may offer different options for text advertising, so it is important to check with your integrated media consultant. In most cases, Cygnus provides an overview impression count via page views in which the ad appears for a specific time period. Cygnus can track clicks from your text ad to your website via our advertising delivery platform. Again, this may vary on a site-by-site basis.

Ad technologies and cookies

Acceptable advertising technologies

Cygnus currently accepts the following advertising technologies or delivery methods. Each requires a five-business-day turnaround for testing and approval:

BlueStreak, Eyeblaster, Eyewonder, Flash, Doubleclick, HTML, Java/JavaScript, PointRoll, Viewpoint

Cygnus does not accept:

Comet Curser, Enliven, Superstital or Unicast.

For any additional advertising types not listed, please contact your sales representative. Flash advertising is not available in email newsletters or blasts at this time.

Cookies from third-party ad servers

All advertising served by a third-party agency (such as Doubleclick) using "cookie technology" must include a link to that agency's "privacy statement" page.

Ad banners that send a cookie to our subscribers and do not comply will be removed from the site immediately. We request that you limit the number of cookies to one per user.

Deadlines for third party-delivered ads

All versions of creative that will be served via a third party must be provided for testing and approval prior to appearing on the site. Please allow up to five business days for this testing in advance of your campaign start.

Email products

Cygnus Business Media must have all HTML and Text version creative for an email blast at least seven business days prior to it running. This allows four days for upload and testing, two days for client approval and one day to upload the final approved version and schedule for delivery.

Cygnus prefers to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.

Requirements for email products

Only text, JPG and GIF images are allowed.

Flash, rich media, Image Maps and Javsacript are not available for email products.

A subject line that meets our approval must be provided. Subject lines should be enticing, more than ONE word, and NOT in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. The subject line should not exceed 12 words or 150 characters. We can run the subject line through a "spam-checker tool" that points out any verbiage that will be picked up by spam filters.

Links to PDF, Word documents or other non-traditional "web page" links within an email MUST be clearly identified.

There MUST be a call to action above the first 400 pixels (height) of the email.

Text versions should be no more than 10K and may not include any image files.

A blast that is entirely a linked image it NOT recommended because today's email platform blocks images. An HTML email should be a combination of text and images with a call to action within the text component.

All email HTML must use a table-based layout, using CSS only to control typography and color.

There is a 600 pixels maximum width and up to 100K maximum file size (includes all images and html files).

Full-image paths in the code must be used (ex: http://www.domain.com/images/graphic1.jpg).

We will provide two versions for testing: text and HTML.

Please provide detailed linking instructions.

Need it designed?

Cygnus Business Media's team can design an effective and complete email blast for your company. For more information, contact your integrated media consultant.

To get started, your marketing team and our creative team need to determine the best strategy and create a clear design plan for your email advertising.

This includes:

  • Providing a URL or direct graphic image(s) to be included in your email blast(s) including company logo, products and other related images.
  • A clear concept that includes marketing slogans and the mission of your campaign to assist us in preparing your email blast.
  • URL(s) or direct graphic image(s) to be included in your email blast including company logo, products and other related images.
  • An FTP location for us to upload the files or send them on a DVD or CD-Rom. Email files should not be zipped.
  • Images should be a minimum of 72 DPI, but we prefer higher resolution or original .EPS or Photoshop/Illustrator files.

While reviewing our creative, please provide clear direction about what graphics and text should be linked and what URLs each should be directed to.

Deadlines

The first phase of the design of an email blast takes place between the client and sales representative to create a basic design concept. Please allow up to two weeks before your campaign runs for any Cygnus-created email blast.

Our design team must have at least five business days to work on the concept and develop the design and HTML and text versions. The team will then offer the advertiser up to two business days to review it. Following that, we allow up to two days of altering and adjusting the documents as needed before final testing and entering into our system the last day before the campaign is scheduled to start.

We prefer to have all creative ideas and related graphic and text AS FAR IN ADVANCE as possible.

Due to the strict timeline of the email blast schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and lateness of the materials.

Product Showcase blasts and products

Cygnus Business Media must have all materials - company logo, featured product image and links, and descriptive text (up to 40 words) - for a Product Showcase blast listing. These materials are to be submitted at least seven business days prior to it running.

Due to the strict schedule of the Product Showcase blasts, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and the lateness of the materials.

Cygnus Business Media prefers to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.

File Requirements

Product images for Product Showcase blasts, as well as product placements on sites with featured products, are 100x100 pixels, with a maximum file size of 7K.

Rich media and animated images are not accepted in most cases.

Company logos can be up to 100 pixels wide and 40 pixels high, with a maximum file size of 6K.

Cygnus Custom Marketing Services

Cygnus Business Media's design and technical team can easily assist your company/organization with designing banners, developing online marketing strategies and more.

Cygnus provides core advertising design as a value-added service to our clients; however, in some cases, we may direct you to third-parties for development of specialized online advertising.

Special requirements based on advertising type are outlined under each specific section above.

These guidelines

These guidelines have been created to ensure Cygnus is able to provide you with the best service and audience delivery in the B2B industry.

Advertising with a Cygnus property is a two-way relationship that requires us to work together to produce and deliver high quality advertising opportunities while ensuring our end-users (site visitors) are positively impacted by those messages.

Cygnus is not responsible for campaigns delayed, cancelled or otherwise impacted if any of the guidelines within this document are not followed.