The Ultimate Advertising Checklist

There’s a lot of work that goes into creating the perfect advertising campaign. From the copy to the images to the magazine or website your ad is placed in, reaching the end can be a complicated process.

But it doesn’t have to be, especially when you’re working with an agency. Working with an agency dramatically simplifies the advertising process, meaning there’s actually very little you have to do to achieve the ad of your dreams.

Working with H2O Media Inc. streamlines the process even further. We will create your ad for you, and make sure everything is exactly as it should be. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps, outlined in our Ultimate Advertising Checklist:

Images

The image is the most important part of your campaign. It’s the first thing that people will notice, and it’s therefore extremely important for your image to be high-quality, crisp, clear and eye-catching.

When designing your advertisement, we will do all ad creative for your proof/approvals. All you have to do is submit an image. It really is that simple. However, when choosing an image, make sure that it is a sharp, high-resolution image. We are unable to work with low-resolution images. We also ask that your image be 300 dpi and submitted in JPEG, TIFF, PDF or PNG format. 

The image is one of the most important pieces of your advertisement.

The image is one of the most important pieces of your advertisement.

If you wish, you may also submit your logo as an additional image. Please follow the same requirements for your logo image.

Image Checklist:

✓ high-resolution

✓ crisp, clean, good quality

✓ 300 dpi

✓ JPEG, TIFF, PDF or PNG format

Copy

Your image is what draws customers in. Your copy is what seals the sale. Make sure you use your words wisely in your advertisements.

When working with H2O, we ask that you keep your copy to a maximum of 20 words of body text. While this might not seem like a lot of space to get your message across, the copy restraints help to keep your message simple – which is one of the most important features of a good advertisement. Along with the copy, please submit any contact information (telephone number, website, etc) that you wish to include in your ad. Coupon codes are welcome in the copy, as well.

In addition to your body copy, we ask that you submit a three- to five-word headline describing your product or business. You can use your company logo as a headline instead, if preferred.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that your sales rep will be more than happy to help you if you struggle with creating a headline or copy.

Copy Checklist:

✓ 3-5 word headline

✓ 20 words of body copy

✓ contact information

✓ coupon/discount codes

✓ company logo

Technicalities

We like to keep our advertising process simple.

To help us keep things as uncomplicated as possible, we ask that you submit your advertising materials in one email to your sales rep with the name of your company and magazine issue in the subject line. Place your 20 words of copy in the body of the email. Attach your logo/image to the same email (make sure they’re attachments!). Indicate in this email if you would like a proof of your finished advertisement.

Please do not send your sales rep multiple emails with different components of the advertisement. We are able to create your ad much quicker and more efficiently when all the creative comes at the same time.

Lastly, please do not send your sales rep mock-ups of advertisements you have created yourself. We will do all the ad creative for you, free of extra charge. You need only submit the materials detailed above.

Final Checklist:

✓ Subject line with the name of your company and magazine issue

✓ 20 words of copy in body of email

✓ Image/logo as attachments

✓ Indicate if you would like a proof

✓ Do not send mock-ups

✓ Send all creative materials in one email

After the Ad

After you place an ad with H2O Media Inc., we will send you a proof of your finalized advertisement. The ad will then go to press. After that, we will send you both a digital and hard copy of your advertisement. Please make sure to update your sales rep with your current email and mailing address, in order to ensure you receive your copies.

Advertising might sound complicated, but that’s far from the truth. Follow this simple checklist, and you’ll be seeing your product in some of the nation’s most popular magazines in no time.