The 3/50 Project and ad campaign pricing

Lately, I’ve been hearing rumblings in the grapevine about media outlets using The 3/50 Project to sell ad space or time. While some are authorized, it appears a lot of the offers out there aren’t. Keep in mind, this is different from merchants approaching media outlets for ads or incorporating the Project into ads they’re planning to place…it’s about outlets using the Project as a vehicle to sell ads to merchants.

So that everyone’s on the same page, here’s what I tell media outlets regarding the practice:

Since The 3/50 Project was created to bring revenue toward small businesses—not invoice revenue from them—we don’t allow use of our brand or name to sell ads or media time unless it’s being done as part of an awareness campaign that adheres to the following guidelines:

1. Ad rates must be *extremely* reduced as compared to normal rates offered for the same space/options (ie, at least 30% off).

2. Participation cannot require future ads or multiple insertions

3. A copy of ad rates—both normal and the special being offered for the awareness campaign—plus all “rules” that apply to campaign, must be submitted to The 3/50 Project for approval prior to offering them to merchants or other potential advertisers.

4. If a businesses participates that does not qualify as “independent” (as defined on our website, The350Project.net), print and television ads must incorporate the text “Proud Supporter” while those that do fit the definition must incorporate “Independent Participant” in theirs. Text for those lines must use the same font and point size as the main body text used in the ad.

If an ad is for radio, the term “Proud Supporter” or “Independent Participant” must immediately follow the name of the business (ex: “Susan’s Hallmark, Proud Supporter of The 3/50 Project” or “Della’s Dry Cleaning, Independent Participant in The 3/50 Project”).

5. All ads must be submitted to The 3/50 Project for approval at the proof stage

6. The Terms of Use regarding our brand, art, etc. must be strictly adhered to, in keeping with our state and federal registered copyrights and trademarks

While these guidelines may seem restrictive, protection of The 3/50 Project brand and the independent, locally owned brick and mortar businesses that rely on it is of the utmost importance.

Please let me know if this is something you’d like to move forward on. Thanks!

If you’re a merchant who’s been approached by anyone wanting to charge for advertising using The 3/50 Project name, and what they offer strays at all from the above guidelines, please email me with the following info:

• The name of the media outlet
• The name and contact info for the person who is selling the ads (including email address and phone number…without those, I can’t do anything)
• A copy of everything you’ve been given (rate sheet, rules, details)
• Email the above items to me by clicking here (SUBJECT LINE: Ads using 3/50)

To media outlets who may already be using The 3/50 Project name to sell ads without pre-approval, please submit the required info immediately for permission, using the media link on the Contact page of our website. Otherwise, if this comes to light and there’s no approval on file, well….let’s just say those state and federal registrations have pretty big teeth.

Definitely don’t want anyone to get nipped around the ankles.