Advertising Specifications

Updated March 15, 2012

These are the guidelines and specifications for web, email, and digital edition advertising.

If you have any questions regarding these specifications, contact our production department at 1-800-925-1110 or online@stmediagroup.com.

Important: All advertising materials for web and email are due no later than 5 business days before the campaign is scheduled to run.

Please Note: ST Media Group does not provide technical support.

• Graphic Ad Unit Specifications
• Web Banner Advertising
• Email Advertising
• Digital Edition Advertising

File Submission Procedures

Please upload all materials to our FTP server at upload.stmediagroup.com. Fill out the form and select “ST Online Department” from the first dropdown menu.

When submitting multiple files, please include them all in one compressed folder (ZIP).

If you experience problems submitting your materials, please email the production department at online@stmediagroup.com or contact your sales representative.

Deadlines

All ad materials are due no later than 5 business days before the ad is scheduled to go live. The materials must be uploaded to the server by the deadline to ensure timely deployment.

Pricing is based on timely receipt of ad materials. Failure to supply materials by the established deadline may result in the rescheduling or cancelling of the ad.

Graphic Ad Unit Specifications

*Because of the lack of support by some devices, Flash (SWF) files are discouraged. If providing Flash files, please follow the guidelines found below.

**Third party ad serving is accepted on all web graphic ad units. If third party ad serving code is submitted, please send materials no later than 7 business days before the ad is scheduled to run to allow for proper testing.

Flash Advertising

All Flash banners must adhere to the following requirements:

• Please use the clickTAG function in your Flash file. Please send the target URL separate from the file. Our ad server controls the target URLs, but the target frame should be "_blank" in the clickTAG.
• The action code for the clickTAG should be this:
  
  on (release) {
    if (_root.clickTAG.substr(0,5) == "http:") {
      getURL(_root.clickTAG, "_blank");
    }
  }
  
  If you need help adding the clickTAG to your Flash file, read the tutorial at www.flashclicktag.com. Please note: ST Media Group does not provide technical support.
• All SWF files must be accompanied by a static GIF that will serve as a backup image that will show if Flash is not supported. This file must be no larger than 30K.
• All files must be compatible with Flash 7 and above.
• Files must be Actionscript 1.0 or 2.0 compatible. We cannot accept Actionscript 3.0.

Animation

All web graphic ad units support animation. Animated GIFs are recommended. Please consider the following recommendations when submitting animated banners:

• Animation length should not exceed 15 seconds.
• Do not include more than 3 slides.
• Include a prominent call to action and keep it visible during the entire animation. The most effective call to action is a button.

Please Note: ST Media Group does not provide technical support. The client assumes all responsibility for an ad displaying properly.

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Web Banner Advertising

Ad Unit Types

• Leaderboard Banner (728x90)
• Wide Skyscraper (160x600)
• Medium Rectangle (300x250)
• Standard Banner (468x60)
• Sponsored Links

Run of Site Advertisements

Run-of-site graphic ads appear throughout the entire site, excluding sponsored channel pages.

Sponsored Links include a link and up to 250 characters of text. These appear at the bottom of each page.

Exclusive Channel Sponsorships

A channel sponsorship includes all available graphic ad units on every page within the selected channel.

The client may provide up to 5 different ad versions for each graphic ad unit.

Channel sponsorships also include one run-of-site Standard Banner (468x60). This will appear throughout the site, excluding sponsored channel pages.

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Email Advertising

E-Newsletters

E-Newsletters provide the opportunity to advertise alongside editorial content.

E-Newsletter ad units include:

• Standard Banner (468x60 px)
• Skyscraper (160x600 px)
• Product Ad (150x150 px image plus maximum 250 character description)

All E-Newsletter files must be static. Due to email client restrictions, no animated GIFs, Flash, HTML, Javascript, ActiveX, or other scripting is permitted. Third-party ad serving is accepted.

Email Announcements

Announcements are advertiser-specific custom HTML emails. Designed and developed by the client, these emails can feature any content the advertiser chooses.

The following must be included in submission materials for announcements:

• HTML and text versions of the message
• Subject line
• Email addresses for inquiries, approval, and final distribution

HTML Specifications

HTML files should adhere to the following specifications:

• HTML should be designed with plain text and supporting images. Avoid single image emails or image-dependent messages since many email clients have images blocked by default.
• Positioning should use tables, not CSS. This includes the “absolute position” attribute. CSS can be used for text formatting.
• All images must have an ALT tag coded into the <img> tag.
• HTML files must not contain any scripting (including ActiveX, Javascript, or Flash).
• Do not use animated GIFs or background images since many email clients do not support them.
• To ensure consistent display, HTML should be written with the simplest code possible.
• The email should be no more than 700 pixels wide.

Announcement Approval

Once all materials are received, the email will be created in the distribution system. A draft will be sent to the specified contact address for approval. Clients must respond within one business day of receiving the draft to ensure timely delivery.

Limitations

Because email software varies in code support, HTML emails will render differently in each program. Clients are responsible for coding and testing all HTML messages to ensure proper appearance prior to submission. ST Media Group cannot be held responsible for improper display of an HTML email.

Product Showcases

Product Showcases highlight several advertisers within one email. Each listing contains an image, text, and link. Advertiser logos also appear in the header and footer.

Please send the following for all Product Showcase ads:

• Logo (high resolution)
• Product image (150x150 px)
• Description (maximum 250 characters)
• Destination URL

Logo should be submitted as a high resolution JPG or a vector-based file (EPS). Logos will be resized to fit the email style and format.

Acceptable file formats for product images include JPG, GIF, and PNG. Animated GIFs are not permitted due to email client display limitations.

Digital Edition Advertising

File Specifications

The ad across from the cover should be a high resolution PDF. The toolbar button should be a static .jpg, .gif. or .png. The belly band, drop card, and leaderboard can be static or animated. Acceptable file formats are .jpg, .png, .gif, and .swf.

Please note: Any Flash files must be created using version 9 or 10 and Actionscript 3.

Ad across from cover — please refer to full page print specifications
Belly band — 5" x 8"
Drop card — 4" x 6"
Leaderboard — 728 x 54px
Toolbar buttons — 31px minimum height, 100px maximum width

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding these specifications, contact our production department at 1-800-925-1110 or online@stmediagroup.com.

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