Yeah yeah, any excuse, lol.

Ha Ha-I thought u was going to blame the vodka;)

Actually prob age creeping up - now theres a good excuse.

Right,

my local rag are quoting £340+VAT for a 1/2 page prominent position (right hand page)

Does this sound reasonable?

(Circ is 31,000)

Hi ncf355

I'll try and get an email through to mine today for a quote although their circ is 91,000 so will prob be more. But at least some comparison.

For an half page it doesn't sound bad. But then I'm no expert!! What they saying for 1/4 page?

Is that late space or normal price?

Thats to go in next Friday's

Doidnt get a page for 1/4 I want it big!

How about having a letter (drafted and from CAG) published in our local papers?

Right,

 

my local rag are quoting £340+VAT for a 1/2 page prominent position (right hand page)

 

Does this sound reasonable?

 

(Circ is 31,000)

I guess that prices will vary widely depending on regions,circulation,and whether the copy will be in black and white or colour.

You should still haggle even with published rates.

As an individual non business advertiser you wont be able to claim the VAT back and on £340 this represents quite a lot.

They still have to charge it of course but could give you discount-theres nothing lost by asking.

Emailed my local paper Tuesday but haven't had an e back yet. Don't want to chase them until Monday when its deadline day.

Letters page idea sounds good - wouldn't we have to co-ordinate papers though - they would know what we are up to if one paper/sister paper got 5 letters the same.

Yes this is the danger.They are in business to print news but advertising is a good earner for them and they rely on it.

Would be better to submit a letter for insertion in the letters page before trying an AD -of course they arent stupid and will quickly twig.

The problem is that you have no way of knowing that your letter has been accepted(or will be included) in publication until you see it there.

A letter that is accepted will no doubt invite further letters,which on the back of that would support an ad with great timing.

At the end of the day,the issues are still in the media following the hand down and I cant see them rejecting letters short of having no space for some other local issues being given more prominence.

Its a case of using your head and sussing things out with your own newspaper.

As I said earlier-calling them on deadline day and asking for a deal is prob one of the best tacs that you can use.

Dont agree a price on the spot-say you will think about it and call them back

If they give you a price say that its a little over whats your budget-published rates are guidance and like all things in life can be negotiated.