What should a magazine ad look like?

Latest Articles

What should a magazine ad look like?
Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

Author

Message

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 07 6:37 pm Post subject: What should a magazine ad look like?
I've been offered a half page advert in Bushcraft & Survival Skills magazine in exchange for an article, but I don't know what a half page advert should ideally look like, I rarely see any magazines these days and I can't quite work out how much info I ought to try to fit in and what should/shouldnt be included.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 07 7:22 pm Post subject:
I'd say it has to be eye-catching. Especially important if there are lots of adverts around yous/in the magazine as a whole. Have you got a copy of the magazine to see what other adverts look like in it/how many there are?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 07 8:49 pm Post subject:

Fee wrote:

I'd say it has to be eye-catching. Especially important if there are lots of adverts around yous/in the magazine as a whole.

Have you got a copy of the magazine to see what other adverts look like in it/how many there are?

Thats my main problem, its not a magazine I've ever seen before so I don't know what is normal in it

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 07 8:53 pm Post subject:
Have you looked at their web site? If it's these people https://www.bushcraftmagazine.co.uk/ then their magazine is shown.

Helen_A

Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 1548
Location: MK, Bucks.

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 07 10:34 pm Post subject:

Well - it looks like its a magazine that goes in for the hi-visuals technique (i.e. photographs) rather than text based advertising. Start with the measurements and dpi requirements for the ad (will be on the rate sheet) and the format that they want the ad submitted in (as it can sometimes effect the colouring and what colour palette you may want to use). Decide on one or two key products that you think will sell in it, and use them as the mainstay of your advert. With a half A4 page then you could work that as 3 columns quite nicely in the proportions if across page width, or you could go for something a little less 'normal' and have a half page width full height (would still be a half page ad in most publications

and then you could list things which you have specifically for sale in reasonable quantity, and print a 'order coupon' across the bottom 1/4 of the column (think a lot of the ads in Country Kitchen, Knitting magazine and similar) if you do this then do a line on it with p&p stated, that seems to work quite well

Helen_A

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 7:38 am Post subject:

Good thinking Helen, I have an idea of how to do it now, bit of text about what we do overall then focus on maybe three different specific things, with prices and pretty pictures of them.

Just as well I'm home today, pulled my back earlier in the week (no idea how), tried to get up to go to work this morning after a lousy night and decided scrambling round after other people's kids just wasn't going to happen, so I'm alternating sitting against a hot water bottle with gentle wandering round trying to work out what needs loosening up, designing an ad sounds like an ideal project for the day

Might post advert progress here for some design input if people don't mind

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 7:42 am Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

Might post advert progress here for some design input if people don't mind

I think that's a must!

Just as a tip - try not to have too much text in the ad. It makes it messy and confusing. Why not have a flick through some mags and see what adverts you think 'work' and consider why that is? The KISS principle is always a good one to follow...

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 8:44 am Post subject:
I've got some Kitchen garden and country smallholding magazines floating about if you want to look. Or your local library will have loads of magazines to give you ideas and (just as important, I reckon) things not to do!

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 9:14 am Post subject:
Ok first go, first time I've ever attempted laying out a magazine ad so any nudges in the right direction would be good. Got to be done today, so I can't get out and look at other ads, will have to work with what we can muddle through here I think

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 9:43 am Post subject:

Mary-Jane wrote:

sally_in_wales wrote:

Might post advert progress here for some design input if people don't mind

I think that's a must!

And don't forget that you are writing an article too, so make them compliment one another. What can you leave out of the advert because you've been able to cover it in the article? I don't mean this in a direct, advertorial way, but if you've explained your interest in creating crafts for re-enactments in the article, you can put less in the ad. (that's just an example - you know what I mean!!)

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 9:50 am Post subject:
Their website keeps crashing on me so I can't get past the front page. My first thought is to wonder if "outdoors live in a bender" types are going to be bothered by soap. If it is appealing to the "post armageddon back to medeival times" type, emphasise the 'old world' woolen merchandise and wooden platters and bowls. And link your article mercilessly to your website.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 10:16 am Post subject:
The article is all about natural/traditional beauty products, which is why the soap is there as one of the recipes is a washball

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 11:54 am Post subject:
So, any more thoughts? Does my first go look ok, awful, whatever? Do I run with this or try something different?

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 11:57 am Post subject:
It looks lovely Sally - I'd be mightily pleased if I'd come up with that one

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 07 11:58 am Post subject:
I think it looks really good, although I'm disapointed not to see any pointy hats.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice	All times are GMT Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next
Page 1 of 4

View Latest Posts