A Sandusky Bay Journal - For Thinking People

Our current distribution is approximately 13,000. Our paper is free to those who pick it up at our distribution points, and costs $30 per year for mail subsribers.

To whom is the Journal distributed?

We focus on three types of readers:

1. Those in our area, looking for goods, services and understanding (residents)

2. Those visiting the area, trying to find their way (tourists)

3. Those passing through from other parts of the country (national readers)

For residents and tourists, we distribute in local stores, coffee shops, motels and marinas.

Our national readers tend to pick up the paper on the Ohio Turnpike, and in the northern Ohio expressway Traveler Information Centers.

Who writes the paper?

Ruth Haag is the lead writer. She has a degree in Natural Resources, and she has published 12 books. She was a science museum educator at the University of Michigan for 6 years, and has been training business people to be better managers for 8 years. Bob Haag and Rachel Haag do most of the graphics, and contribute some articles.

We also consider qualified articles from guest writers as they are offered. We like our articles to delve deeper than a daily paper, so the writers have to really know their topics before we will accept the articles. We don't accept articles that basically say, "Come to my business." But what you know because of your business may be of interest.

Our articles are designed to educate, to provoke thinking, and to make a paper that the reader will keep around for a while, rather than throw out in one day. This allows us to point out to our advertisers that they are getting month-long exposure when they place an ad with us. It seems to be working.

Who reads A Sandusky Bay Journal?

The people who have called us, sent us e-mails, or just dropped in to talk have mostly been business owners, educators, government staffers, and those involved with issues such as downtown revitalization, the environment, and diversity.

How will I know that my ad reaches the people who I want to reach?

We want your ad to be seen. Tell us who you want to reach, and we will make every effort to your ad to be seen. Tell us who you want to reach, and we will make every effort to distribute the paper in locations where they are. In response to our advertisers' requests to date, we have added motels, marinas and the Cedar Point Employee Recreation Hall.

What do you charge for ads?

We charge $20 per column inch for a one month insertion (for national advertisers this is a net charge). A column in our paper is 1.84 inches wide, with spacing between columns of 0.2 inches. There are five columns on each page. Using that rate basis, a quarter page ad would cost $350 and a full page is $1450. This charge gives you monthly magazine-style exposure at small-town daily newspaper rates. We can accept ads in most computer formats, but we prefer .png and .jpeg.

The price of your ad includes:

1. Free artwork by us, if you want it.

2. Free ad consultation, to make your ad something that will be noticed.

3. A free locator map in the paper to show where to find your business, if needed.

Do you have any deals?

Yes. We provide some discounts for longer term commitments. Please call us to find out about them. .

Do you take ad inserts?

Yes. We can distribute your insert to all of our locations, or to select areas, as you choose. Inserts need to measure 8.5" by 11", and should be on 20# paper, either plain white or colored. We charge 5 cents an insert if you provide them to us, or 10 cents if you want us to provide the paper and the copying. To ensure a certain character, we review and approve insert designs.

Can you write an article about my business?

We accept press releases, and we put them on a page entitled, "Area News from Press Releases." We like to include a picture or a logo. The press release should be about something special that you are doing. We don't really want articles that say, "This business is open as normal." If you are planning a special event or a big change, that would be great to write about. These articles currently run 100-200 words in length, which we extract from your information.

How about if I advertise when I have more business?

We hear that a lot, and it confuses us. We know that you must watch your cash-flow, but shouldn't you be advertising when you don't have business, in order to bring it in? When you are really busy, you don't need to bring more people. We find when we visit businesses, that those who advertise frequently, and in different media, also seem to be the busiest with customers.

How do I pay you?

You can pay us when you order your ad. Or we can bill you, with terms of net 30. We also accept major credit cards.

How do I contact you?

E-mail: asanduskybay@aol.com

Telephone: 419-621-9329

Fax: 419-621-8669

Write to us at: 315 East Market Street, Sandusky OH 44870

Ruth and Bob Haag, Publishers

Rachel Haag, Graphic Arts