How do I sell advertising space in my publication through MediaBids?

Top Questions:

Getting Started

1. What is a Publication Offer?
2. What size ad should a publication offer?
3. How will advertisers find my offers?
4. If I sell ad space on MediaBids, how does my publication get paid?

Your Offer Ticket

5. How do I create an offer?
6. Do I control the length of the offer I create?
7. What is the Offer Expiration Date?
8. How many offers can I create?
9. What is the difference between a one-time offer and a standing offer?
10. What does "Number of times this offer can be sold" mean?
11. Can I determine the types of advertising I will not accept?
12. Can I sell ads for multiple issues?
13. Will I have to offer advertisers a discount?
14. Does MediaBids allow a publication to set a date when ad space must be reserved?
15. Can I indicate on the offer ticket that we prefer camera-ready ads?
16. Will I be able to change the offer information after it becomes live?
17. Can I edit my offers?
18. When will advertisers begin to see my offers?

Maximizing Your Offers

19. How will advertisers find my offers?
20. Is there a way for me to increase the attention my offers receive?
21. Can I make my offers more noticeable?
22. If I choose to feature an offer, how will MediaBids bill me for it?
23. How long should my offer last?

Reviewing Offers

24. How do I monitor whether there are any buyers for my offers?
25. Can I edit an offer after I have submitted it?
26. How many offers can I create?

After an Offer is Purchased

27. How will I know if an offer has been purchased?
28. What happens if my Publication Offer wasn't sold?
29. How does the advertiser pay my publication?
30. How will I know the advertiser will pay in time to meet my deadlines?

Answers:

Getting Started

1. What is an Advertising Offer?
   An Advertising Offer is when a publication puts a specific-sized ad up for sale at a set price. There is no negotiation on any of the ad details, including the price.
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2. What size ad should a publication offer?
   MediaBids recommends creating several separate offers for your most commonly purchased sizes. There is no limit to the number of offers you can put up for sale.
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3. How will advertisers find my offers?
   Your offers will be shown as Offers of Interest to advertisers in your area or to those advertisers who have purchased ads before from your publication. Advertisers find offers by conducting searches. If your publication fits the criteria set by the advertiser, your offers will be included in the search results. Another great way to encourage advertisers to purchase ad space is to put a link on your publication's website, which will bring an advertiser directly to a page displaying all of your publication's offers. Your customers can purchase ads at any time, day or night. After the sale is complete, they can return to your publication's website. Think of it as your own online advertising department, with no added cost!
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4. If I sell ad space on MediaBids, how does my publication get paid?
   Advertisers pay MediaBids immediately when purchasing offers of space in your publication. After the check or credit card clears, MediaBids sends payment to your publication. MediaBids will deduct its commission and any optional charges you may have accrued during when initiating the offer. Your publication will be paid for the cost of the ad and any related production fees.
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Your Offer Ticket

5. How do I create an offer?
   Choose "Create Offer" from the row of links across the top of the MediaBids website.
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6. Do I control the length of the offer I create?
   Yes. Your offer can be very short, or can go on indefinitely with the specs described when you initiated the offer to multiple customers.
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7. What is the Offer Expiration Date?
   The expiration date is when the offer is no longer available. The offer automatically expires on the selected date or when the number of ads available has been sold. This offer may be canceled or edited at any time by clicking the "My Offers" link on the home page.
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8. How many offers can I create?
   There is no limit to the number of offers a publication can simultaneously offer. MediaBids recommends that, at a minimum, you create offers for your most standard ad sizes.
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9. What is the difference between a one-time offer and a standing offer?
   A one-time offer is used primarily to sell remnant space. For instance, if you have a half page in an upcoming issue you may want to create an offer. Because that is a specific space, it can only be sold once, to one advertiser.
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10. What does "Number of times this offer can be sold" mean?
    This is the number of times you are willing to sell this size ad to different advertisers.
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11. Can I determine the types of advertising I will not accept?
    You can list the types of advertising you will not accept when you fill out the offer ticket.
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12. Can I sell ads for multiple issues?
    You may sell several insertions of a single ad size. You determine the number of insertions you will sell when you create your offer.
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13. Will I have to offer advertisers a discount?
    You have complete control in determining how much an advertiser will pay for offers you create on MediaBids. You can stick to your rate card, or you can offer discounts to attract new customers. You will be able to indicate whether this space is being offered at a discounted rate when you initiate the offer.
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14. Does MediaBids allow a publication to set a date when ad space must be reserved?
    Yes, you can determine when the ad space should be reserved when you create a one-time offer.
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15. Can I indicate on the offer ticket that we prefer camera-ready ads?
    MediaBids allows you to select the design options when selling the advertising space. You can indicate that you will accept only a camera-ready ad, will design an ad for a fee or that ad design is included for free if the advertiser buys the ad space.
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16. Will I be able to change the offer information after it becomes live?
    You can change your offer information at any time.
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17. Can I edit my offers?
    You can change your offers at any time by visiting the "My Offers" section on the My Account page.
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18. When will advertisers begin to see my offers?
    After you hit "Submit" on the Offer Ticket page, advertisers will immediately be able to view and purchase your offer. You will be notified by email when a purchase occurs.
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Maximizing Your Offers

19. How will advertisers find my offers?
    Advertisers can search for your publication and its offers on MediaBids. You also may place a link on your publication's web site, which will take your visitors directly to all of your ad-space offers. Contact MediaBids (800-989-0406) if you would like to offer this functionality on your web site.
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20. Is there a way for me to increase the attention my offers receive?
    If your rates are competitive, you're likely to receive more interest from advertisers. Incentives, such as premier placement or multiple run dates, may also entice more advertisers. Also, linking from your publication's website to your publication's offer page is a great way to generate revenue from advertisers who are interested in your publication. To find out more, call us toll-free at 800-989-0406.
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21. Can I make my offers more noticeable?
    For a small fee you can feature your offer to make it more noticeable to advertisers conducting searches.
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22. If I choose to feature an offer, how will MediaBids bill me for it?
    The cost of featuring an offer will be deducted from the total price of the ad.
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23. How long should my offer last?
    Offer length should be tailored to the specific space you're selling. You can either offer short term, one-time deals, to fill up excess space in a specific issue, or you can initiate an ongoing offer, which will allow advertisers to buy your standard ad sizes on an ongoing basis.
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Reviewing Offers

24. How do I monitor whether there are any buyers for my offers?
    You can see who has purchased your ad space by visiting the "My Offers" page, from your home page or My Account page. You also will be notified by email when ad space is sold.
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25. Can I edit an offer after I have submitted it?
    An offer can be discontinued or edited at any time by a publication user by using the "My Offers" link on the home page.
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26. How many offers can I create?
    There is no limit to the number of offers a publication can simultaneously offer. MediaBids recommends that, at a minimum, you create offers for your most standard ad sizes.
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After an Offer is Purchased

27. How will I know if an offer has been purchased?
    You will be sent an email when an offer is purchased. You can also review purchases from your My Account page.
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28. What happens if my Publication Offer wasn't sold?
    You can modify or restart your offer by visiting the "My Offers" page from the home page or My Account page. Consider initiating a standing offer, so that you always have space available for sale on MediaBids.
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29. How does the advertiser pay my publication?
    The advertiser pays for the ad with MediaBids online payment process. After the payment clears, MediaBids will forward payment to your publication, minus MediaBids' commission.
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30. How will I know the advertiser will pay in time to meet my deadlines?
    When you created your offer you set the date that the ad space had to be reserved. This date is visible to advertisers who can only purchase prior to that date. If the reserve date expires without a sale then the ad space is not sold. You will be notified by e-mail if this happens.
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