The Rate Card Introduction Basic calculations Frequency discounts Volume discounts Combination discounts Modular rates Contracts Ad agencies Market info Readership and Circ. Promotional messages Co-op information Color charges Electronic ads Deadlines Special sections Column widths Line screens Odd sizes Legal disclaimers Ad acceptance guidelines Billing and Credit The fastest way to increase sales! Participate in this award-winning, newspaper-specific ad sales course on-site or in a Webinar.  • Get past upfront stalls and objections without any pushing  • Make the account believe he really needs you  • Get better information from your prospect  • Develop quick ad strategies that work the very first time  • Eliminate size, frequency, content, cost and most other objections before they ever arise  • Get dramatic responses for all kinds of advertisers  • Never have to push an advertiser to run again click here

As you may recall from the start of this section, the rate card was originally simply a card with the rates on it, but over the years rate cards have expanded to provide more information and also protect the newspaper. I'd suggest you take a look at your rate card and read every word on it. It'll answer a lot of questions you might have. Here are a few things you'll probably find besides rates.

Your newspaper has all sorts of separate information about your newspaper's readers, its market and its coverage of that market, which is collected along with the rate card and put into a folder called a media kit. Some newspapers will print some of that same informative and promotional information about the newspaper right in the rate card in case that's the only thing the potential advertiser reads, such as circulation numbers and detailed readership information, along with a map of the area in which your newspaper circulates.

Next: Readership and Circulation