FAQ

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can we advertise with Central Coast Bride?
There are three ways to advertise with Central Coast Bride, our Magazine, our Website and our Bridal Shows. You will find detailed information on each of these options by clicking on the appropriate tab in the Advertiser Section of this website.

Magazine FAQ

How often is your magazine published?
We publish our Central Coast Bride Magazines once a year per area. We currently publish two magazines: the San Luis Obispo / Northern Santa Barbara County Edition and the Monterey/Santa Cruz Edition. The SLO / SB edition is published in September and the Monterey/Santa Cruz edition is published in October. You can find details about deadlines, pricing, etc. at the Advertising Options Tab of the Advertiser section of this website.

What is the Reservation Deadline for your magazine?
Reservation deadline for the SLO / SB edition is May 15th each year. For the Monterey / Santa Cruz edition it is May 31st each year.

When is my Ad artwork due and how do I submit it to you?
The Ad deadline for the SLO / SB edition is June 15th each year. For the Monterey / Santa Cruz edition it is August 15th each year. Ads may be mailed in on CD/DVD, emailed to Info@CentralCoastBride.com or uploaded to our FTP site.

What Magazine Ad sizes are available?
Magazine ads come in 1/4 page, 1/2 page and full page sizes. For ministers / officiants, we do offer a 1/8 page ad. Complete details of Ad sizes, prices and an Ad Insertion contract are available in the Advertising Options Tab of the Advertiser Section of this website.

What are the Dimensions for these Ads?
1/4 Page = 2.8" wide x 4.3" height
1/2 Page = 5.8" wide x 4.3" height (1/2 page horizontal ad)
1/2 Page = 2.8" wide x 8.8" tall (1/2 page vertical ad)
Full Page = 5.8" wide x 8.8" tall (safe area).  [cut edge is 6.5" x 9.5". If doing full bleed, please extend bleed 1/4 inch beyond cut edge. Safe area remains at 5.8 x 8.8 despite bleed size]

What format should my Ad artwork be in?
Adobe In Design, Illustrator or Photoshop, save ad as a flattened PDF or TIF file. 300 dpi or greater resolution. CMYK for color ads (not RGB) and Grayscale for black & white ads.

What is the FTP Site access information?
When dropping your ad into the FTP site, please send us an email requesting the Password and letting us know you are doing so. Place your ad in the folder for the current year. For the September or October magazine issues, use the folder named "CCB Ads 2010". Here is the access info:
   - Address: ftp.centralcoastbride.com
   - User: filedrop
   - Password: ccbdrop

How can I get some of my Photographs into your magazine?
All advertisers are welcome to submit photographs to us for inclusion in the magazines. Simply mail a DVD loaded with up to 50 of your best images to us. Be sure to write your business name on your DVD for proper credit. The deadline for submitting editorial images for the SLO / SB edition is June 15th each year. For the Monterey / Santa Cruz edition it is June 30th each year.

Website FAQ

What are the options for your website listings?
We currently have Standard, Silver and Gold Website Listings. Premium website options include Banner Ads and Featured Wedding Location or Service. Complete details for listing your business on our website, as well as a contract, is available in the Advertising Options Tab of our Advertiser Section of this website. Here are details about each Website Listing Type:

• Gold Listing - Gold Listings appear at the top of the page. They include everything from the Standard and Silver Listings (see below) plus they include an Online Brochure", which is a full second page of information about your company. This can include a large amount of text, 6 photographs and a video.
• Silver Listing - Silver Listings appear just below the Gold Listings. They include everything from the Standard Listing plus they include a Logo or other Image of your choosing, your email address, additional optional phone numbers, and text presenting information of your choosing about your company.
• Standard Listing - Standard Sistings appear just below the Silver Listsings. They include the Business Name, Address, Website address with link, Phone Number.

How often can I make changes to my website listing?
You can change the data in your website listing at any time and as often as you like. Use your user name and password to log in. There is a recovery system built in if you forget your password. However, if you forget your user name, you will have to contact us to fix that for you. Central Coast Bride staff can make updates to your listing for you if requested, however a charge of $50 would apply per each update.

What are the Specifications for your website Banner Ads?
                        Large Banner              Small Banner
Size                160 x 300 pixels           160 x 160 pixels
Resolution    72 dpi                             Same
Color              RGB                                Same
Format           gif or jpg                         Same

What are the Specifications for the Silver and Gold website listing logo?
Size                125 x 125 pixels
Resolution    72 dpi
Color              RGB
Format          gif or jpg

What are the Specifications for the 6 images we can upload on our Gold listing subpage?
Size               Up to 800 x 1,024 h pixels (Can be smaller, but would not less than 640 x 480)
Resolution   72 dpi
Color             RGB
Format          gif or jpg

What are the Specifications for the Featured Location or Featured Service on your Home Page?
Size                125 x 125 pixels
Resolution    72 dpi
Color              RGB
Format           gif or jpg

How do I upload a Video to my Gold listing subpage?
Post your video to a third party server (such as You Tube) and then paste the link into your subpage.

What are the Fields that are titled: Meta Title, Meta Keywords, Meta Description?
These Meta Data are used by Search Engines to find the most appropriate websites to display when a search is conducted. These Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools will help make your Website Ad on Central Coast Bride more findable for the Brides.  You should enter Meta Data into these three fields on your website listing.

How Do I enter my Meta Data?
Entering your Meta Data into your Website Ad on our website is very very easy! Simply:
1/ Log In to your online account with Central Coast Bride.
2/ Scroll down to the 3 Blank Meta Data Boxes (Meta Title, Meta Keywords, Meta Description)
3/ Enter your choice of words into these 3 blanks.
4/ Click "update listing" at the bottom of the page

Are there Guidelines for these Meta Data?
Yes. Here is a quick tutorial. You do NOT need to enter any type of html language...simply enter your text in the blanks provided on your listing. You will enter Meta Title, Meta Description and Meta Keywords. Below are some guidelines to help you in creating this information.
 

• Meta Title - 60 to 90 characters - Many search engines use the wording in a title tag as an important part of relevancy and therefore ranking. Your most important keywords should be in your Meta Title. Google only displays only 65 of these characters, so put the more important words first. Here is an example Meta Title: Wedding Coordination - your perfect wedding on the Central Coast.
• Meta Description - less than 250 characters - The Meta Description is an explanation or call to action. It should contain keywords and phrases, but should read like an introduction, rather than only a string of words. Your Description and Title Tag together should convince the searcher that you are providing exactly what they are looking for. Example: Visit Becky's Coordination Services today to learn how we can make your wedding picture perfect at affordable prices.
• Meta Keywords - less than 250 characters - These are the words and phrases that someone searching for your business would likely use. Put your most important ones first. Separate them by a comma. You do not need a space when using a comma. Do not use the same keyword twice.

What is One-Click?
This is an automatic Bride Referral system. Bride's send Central Coast Bride a request for referrals for specific types of wedding services (for example, DJs and Photographers) in a specific area (say Monterey County). Then our website sends an email to every DJ and Photographer with a Website Listing in Monterey County on our website. Respond to these referrals by cutting and pasting the Bride's email address into a new email and tell her about your great services.

Access the One Click Database anytime
You can check the recent referrals for your business type in your particular County from your account on our website. Simply log into your account (using your email address and password). Once in there, click on the tab named “One Click Database” and you can see a spreadsheet of Website Referrals. This is especially useful if your email program is rejecting our One Click email referrals for any reason.

Do I have to provide references in order to advertise?
While CentralCoastBride.com does not conduct a formal investigation of our advertisers to confirm years in business, references, business insurance, etc, we do review each wedding professional's work and may on occasion decline to provide advertising services to a business. CentralCoastBride.com reserves the right to decline print, internet or bridal show advertising to any business.

Bridal Show FAQ

When are your Bridal Shows and how can we participate?
Our Shows are held in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz at various times of the year. For complete details on locations, dates, pricing as well as to download a contract for our Bridal Shows, go to our Advertising Options tab of the Advertiser Section of this website.