Press

Promo Jumped 34% in 2010

More brands receiving promo to sweeten ad deals

March 28, 2011 – Offering promo pages to advertisers is becoming a major differentiator for magazines. Last year, promo ads in MPA member magazines jumped 34%, with a 9% increase in promo pages. As unpaid space, promo can sweeten existing partnerships or even attract new buyers. Given its widespread growth, however, it may go from being a bonus to a requirement.

25% more brands received promo in 2010 than in 2009. The boom extends across a variety of ad categories: the number of baby and children brands receiving promo more than doubled, from 18 brands in 2009 to 45 brands in 2010. Promo pages, labeled as advertisements, are in many cases formatted to resemble editorial content. Words like “perfect pieces,” “favorites,” and “essentials” tend to hover above the ads.

As more brands receive promo, more magazines are adopting the practice in order to remain competitive. 14 more MPA member magazines ran promo in 2010 than in 2009.

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