Advertise

Welcome to the NEW Firehouse

2012 ushers in fresh, new bold design formats to maximize the engagement of our audience wherever, and whenever, they turn to us for information – in print, at events, online and on the go through our new mobile products.

It’s all part of our mission to deliver the same high-quality content that the fire service has loved for 36 years, while continuing to evolve to meet the challenges facing today’s firefighter.

With an exciting new look, redesigned website, expanded e-business opportunities, and innovative mobile platforms, Firehouse is positioned better than ever to serve the changing needs of our audience and marketing partners.

We will continue to innovate and invest in a growing range of integrated marketing solutions across award--winning platforms to help you target your message to more decision-makers, more often, and at more points in the purchasing process.

We believe our superior editorial content, improved design, mobile products, and authoritative writers all speak to the unique positioning and enhanced value of the NEW Firehouse.

Use the strength of Firehouse.com to promote your brand and products through an effective interactive program that delivers immediate ROI and measurable results.

Almost 500,000 fire-rescue professionals visit Firehouse.com each month. As the dominant portal for the fire service, the site covers daily news and features special reports from firefighters who are on-site at some of the country’s major disasters. Fire service professionals turn to Firehouse.com daily for breaking news, online training and education, sourcing new products and services, researching archived articles, and to participate in community forums.

Its in-depth editorial coverage and critical content has won the website numerous awards and recognition as the premier, go-to website in the fire service community.

Firehouse.com is a powerful online resource that helps marketers connect with more fire service professionals than any other website in the industry.

Banner Advertising

Rotating and fixed ads on home or interior pages increase exposure to influential customers. New and unique areas for 2012 offer powerful opportunities to sponsor targeted content.

Webcasts

Sponsorships are available to underwrite Firehouse.com’s web-based training by Fire & Rescue Experts. Sponsorship includes representation on the pre-promotion materials, during the webcast itself, and in the archived version which stays on Firehouse.com for a whole year. A complete turn-key program with highly qualified lead generation through registration capabilities.

Video Network

The Firehouse.com Video Network is a unique and effective way to market your products in action; demonstrate application in the field or announce a new product.

Product Showcase Blasts

Feature your latest product in a shared e-mail message that showcases up to six products. Ideal for announcing a new product or feature a specially priced item.

Online Buyer’s Guide

Premium and Enhanced Listings in the industry’s most comprehensive list of companies that serve this market enables buyers to find your company and products immediately.

Podcasts

Sponsor these online ‘radio’ programs which discuss current events, from the latest news to product developments.

Exclusive E-Mail Campaigns

Send a customized message directly to opt-in recipients who have asked to receive messages from our advertisers. Make new product announcements or invite customers to an event or trade show. Secure instant purchases and drive traffic to your website.

E-Newsletters

Your banner advertising on an e-Newsletter can have a link to your site and an e-mail link for subscribers to contact you directly.

This exciting program promotes and features your video on the Firehouse website, in our daily eNewsletter, in the Video Library, and on our social media pages. Push/Pull/SEO and social media in a single solution.

The daily newsletter is emailed to 100,000 subscribers, promotion on the homepage includes a thumbnail and headline that links to your exclusive video page.

Supply your MP4 video, up to 4 minutes in length.

Rates start at $2,500 for 1 week as the EXCLUSIVE FEATURED VIDEO. Includes 1 week of promotion in the newsletter and on the home page, and 6 months in the video library

Fixed text link on Firehouse.com's home page. Your link will be displayed nearly a million times a month.

Specifications

Title: 4-8 words that is the bold message of the campaign (Max 35 characters, including spaces, no ALL CAPS)

Teaser: 4-8 words that support the above message (Max 38 characters, including spaces, no ALL CAPS)

$1300/mo.

Hot products are featured on the homepage of Firehouse.com. Images must be received at least five business days before a campaign is scheduled to start for up to 10 product images. Please allow an additional business day for each additional 10 products.

Specifications:

•100 x 100 Image for each product to be featured. JPG or GIF only. No animation. Max. file size 8K per image. Must include ALT tag of up to 8 words.
•Product description and the URL(s) for the product(s).Fore Firehouse.com shopping affiliate partners, this URL should include your appropriate tracking URL when appropriate.
•Images must be received at least five business days before campaign is scheduled to start for up to 10 product images. Please allow an additional business day for each additional 10 products.

$885/mo.- 100K Impressions

All run of site banners are sold in 100,000 impression increments.

728x90

This ad appears at the top of all forums pages.

Technical Specs: Max file size is 30K for JPG or GIF images.

300x250

This ad appears on the homepage and on interior pages within articles.

Technical Specs: Max file size is 30K for JPG or GIF images. You can have animation.

Specify the url that you would like the ad to link to.

160x600

This banner appears below-the-fold on the home page.

Technical Specs: Max file size is 28K for JPG or GIF images.

Specify the url that you would like the ad to link to.

120x90

This banner appears on the right sides of our pages.

Technical Specs: Max file size of 15K for JPG or GIF images. Rich media is not accepted for this position

Specify the url that you would like the ad to link to.

Rich Media (flash) ad specs

With some exceptions, we primarily follow Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) recommended Rich Media standards.

Use of Rich Media requires that Cygnus Interactive have ample time to test Client-Submitted and Cygnus Created advertising products.

All rich media ads are tested on a matrix of browsers and platforms before posting. This process requires a MINIMUM of FIVE business days to test rich media for performance, stability & compatibility.

General Requirements of Rich Media ads

* We reserve the right to refuse any rich media that does not function properly in this testing environment.

* We are not responsible for fixing code that does not function properly or causes other problems.

* Creative must open a new browser window when clicking thru to another site.

* Floating ads (such as Eyeblaster) must include a prominently visible close button and may not run more than 15 seconds.

* Advertising requiring the use of plug-ins like Flash and Shockwave must utilize "sniffer" code to detect if the user has the required plug-in and display an alternate image if the user does not have it. That alternate image (JPG/GIF) must also be included when submitting materials.

* Flash advertising is not available in e-mail newsletters or blasts at this time.

Select the State(s) where you want your ads to appear. Banners will be served to visitors whose IP addresses originate in your targeted State(s).

Ad size: 300x250

Pricing: $500 for 10,000 impressions

The new Topic areas on Firehouse.com provide advertisers with an opportunity to target visitors with interest in specific segments of the fire service. Sponsors will receive a 300x100 logo paired with a 300x250 banner which both appear together above-the-fold on every page of the section.

Sponsorable Topics

•Career and Education
•Emergency Vehicles & Operations
•Fire Prevention & Investigation
•Firefighter Safety – SOLD OUT
•Funding & Grants
•Health & Wellness
•Industry Wire
•Leadership & Command
•Politics & Law
•Rescue/Special Ops
•Strategy & Tactics
•Technology & Communications
•Training
•Wildland

PREMIUM VENDOR - $1500/mo.

Includes logo and two dedicated product slots on main shop section page

Up to 5 product images can be rotated in each product slot

Additional subcategories can be added for $200/mo. each

FEATURED VENDOR - $750/mo.

Includes logo and 1 dedicated product slot

Up to 5 product images can be rotated in a product slot

Additional sub-categories can be added for $200/mo. each

Banners in the Shopping section should follow the same requirements outlined in the banner section based on the file size or closest equivalent.

Radio@Firehouse.com

Sponsorhip Package Includes:

•Fixed banner on individual episodes player

•Thirty second sponsor message during shows scheduled breaks

*You can create your own custom podcast. The podcast will feature your own specialized content.

Rich media solution utilizing Eyeblasters state of the art tracking and frequency settings that allows the advertiser to control who views the advertisement as well as how many times it is viewed by an individual.

Sponsorship Package Includes:

Sponsor's name and tagline in pre-webcast (for initial run) reminder e-mails to registrants and follow-up thank you e-mail after their participation (up to one 60-word paragraph).

Logo and tagline, linked to sponsor's site, on the landing page of the individual presentation.

Logo and link on the sign up page of the individual presenation.

Logo included in frame of the presentation.

Sponsor will receive up to two power point slides (one before, one in the middle or at the end) of the presentation thanking them for sponsoring with marketing message. Content must be approved by Firehouse.com

Sponsor will get verbal audio thank you at least twice during the presentation.

Registration information shared with sponsor(s).

Entire webcast, including sponsor logos and links, will be archived on Firehouse.com for one year. Renewals renegotiated 60 days prior to anniversary.

*You can create your own custom webcast. The webcast will feature your own specialized content.

Training Sponsor - $8,900

Training Co-Sponsor - $4,500

Custom - $10,000 & up

Exclusive Custom Blast

All of the content within the Firehouse.com blast is dedicated to your message. This is a great way to announce a new product or service, conduct a survey or contest, feature specially priced items, or simply get your message out to a large dedicated audience.

Blast is delivered to 100,000+ opt-in subscribers who have asked to receive promotional messages from our advertisers. This is not SPAM. Mailing lists are updated daily to ensure you get the newest leads.

ADVERTISER SUPPLIED CREATIVE

Firehouse.com must have all HTML and Text version creative for a FirehouseBlast at least seven business days prior to it running. This will allow for four days for upload and testing, two days for client approval and one day to upload the final approved version and schedule for delivery.

A subject line that meets our approval must be provided.

Due to the strict timeline of the FirehouseBlast schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and amount of time the materials are provided late.

Firehouse.com prefers to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.

The advertiser should be no wider than 600 pixels and include an HTML version with a file size not exceeding 60K total including all text and graphics, as well as a plain text version. No rich media is permitted. Only text, JPG and GIF images are allowed. Text versions should be no more than 10K and may not include any image files. Blast materials should also include a subject line no more than 25 words or 255 characters. We can also run the subject line through a "Spam-Checker Tool" that points out any verbiage that will be picked up by spam filters.

The HTML ad text versions should include all LINKED text and graphics. Please include full paths for all links and images. (For example, "http://firehouse.com" not "index.html" and http://yoursite.com/images/xyz.jpg -- not "/images/xyz.jpg")

FIREHOUSE.COM DESIGNED CREATIVE

Firehouse.com's team can design an effective and complete FirehouseBlast for your company. This service is provided as an added value to your FirehouseBlast insertion order.

In addition to the above description of the FirehouseBlast document, the following applies to those designed by our team:
RE-CREATION NEEDS

Before we can create your FirehouseBlast, you will need to work with your marketing team and ours to determine the best strategy and a clear, concise design plan for your banner(s). This should include providing:

* URL(s) or direct graphic image(s) to be included in your FirehouseBlast including company logo, products and other related images.

* Advertisers should also provide our design team with a clear concept to include marketing slogans and the mission of your campaign to more rapidly assist us in preparing your FirehouseBlast.

* " Materials may be submitted in Zip format to minimize file size. Clients should avoid sending files zipped using stuff-it expander (common on Mac platform). While some clients may use MAC platform to create their graphics, we prefer those graphics being converted to .eps files. We may be able to open quark files (commonly used for print ads), but some graphic elements critical to the design maybe lost in conversion from MAC to PC. Converting to .eps file will solve this problem.

While reviewing our creative, you must give clear direction as to what graphics and text should be linked, and what URLs each should be directed to.

DEADLINES

The first phase of the design of a FirehouseBlast will take place between the client and sales representative to create a basic design concept.

Please allow up to two weeks before your campaign runs for any Firehouse.com-created FirehouseBlast.

Firehouse.com's design team must have at least five business days to work on the concept and develop the design and HTML and Text versions. The team will then offer the advertiser up to two business days to review it. Following that, we allow up to two days of altering and adjusting the documents as needed before final testing and entering into our system the last day before the campaign is scheduled to start.

Ideally, we prefer to have all creative ideas and related graphic and text AS FAR IN ADVANCE as possible.

Due to the strict timeline of the FirehouseBlast schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and amount of time the materials are provided late.

Exclusive Custom Blast - $5,999

Everyday, Firehouse.com sends out a newsletter to over 65,000 readers who ask us to mail them. You will be well represented as a sponsor. Unlike others, we DO NOT SPAM! Mailing lists updated daily.

As a newsletter sponsor, your ad will appear in one of four slots on the e-mail. In addition, you receive a 75 word "sponsor message" in the body of the e-mail. The slots are sold on an annual, monthly, or weekly basis. Please check with your Regional Sales Manager for availability.

Sponsorship Ad Specifications

* Banners must be GIF or JPG (no Rich Media), and follow the general site guidelines of size and animation.

* Banners and 75 word "sponsor message" must be received four days before the campaign is to run.

iPad App Sponsorship

• Align your brand with innovation and take a leadership position in the market.
• Target a potential new audience with fresh messaging in a highly engaging format.
• Unique content and presentation each edition, each month, and on demand.

Exclusive Advertising of Firehouse Tablet App - $1,500 per ad

Abbreviated job listing which links to a full job description is featured on the front page of Firehouse.com "Job Central" section. Full job description can be accessed by all of Firehouse.com's half million monthly visitors.

Online Buyer’s Guide Premium and Enhanced Listings in the industry’s most comprehensive list of companies that serve this market enables buyers to find your company and products immediately.

The Firehouse.com Product Showcase Blast is an E-mail message that is delivered to over 100,000+ opt-in subscribers who have asked to receive promotional messages from our advertisers. This is not SPAM. Mailing Lists Updated Daily to ensure you get the newest leads.

This is a great way to announce a new product or service, feature specially priced items, or simply get your name and products out to a large, dedicated audience.

Requirements: Send us up to 75 words of text (up to a maximum of 10 lines), product and logo graphics -- and we'll create a listing in one of the ten available product positions. We ensure delivery of your message by creating a text-only version of the e-mail for audience members who can't view html graphics. These materials are submitted at least seven business days prior to it running.

Due to the strict timeline of the Product Showcase Blasts schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and amount of time the materials are provided late.

Cygnus Business Media prefers to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.

250 x 250 Product Images. Rich Media and Animated Images are not accepted in most cases. Company logos can be up to 250 pixels wide, and 75 pixels high, with a maximum file size of 6K.

$950/slot

We'll create an attractive custom-designed survey for you. Are you interested in researching a particular market segment? Do you need market specific information? Are you not really sure if Firehouse.com is a fit for your marketing campaign? Give us a try!

We can easily develop a questionnaire or a poll that can be responded to via a website presence or via email delivery.

Either way you will achieve immediate results. More importantly, you have valuable data in your hands. We'll put together a form to find out what potential customers really want from your products or services. We'll compile the results and send it to you by email.

Creation Charges starting at $1,200. (Must be purchased with an advertising unit).

TECH SPECS

Cygnus Business Media reserve the right to ask for revisions or reject any advertising it deems, in its sole opinion, not in keeping with its standards. Opinions expressed within the message boards are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Cygnus Business Media.

BANNER SPECIFICATIONS

What We Accept

We will accept ads in GIF, JPEG, animated GIF and Flash (SWF) formats. Other formats must be tested and approved on a case-by-case basis. Formats that require the user to download plug-ins other than Macromedia Flash will most likely be rejected.

General Requirements

* Each frame of an animated gif must display for at least 2 seconds.

* All banners should have a hard 1-pixel border.

* All banners must be sized at 72dpi resolution.

* Cygnus Business Media reserves the right to reject advertising based on content, user impact, distraction factors and other situations as determined by the staff.

* Banners may not "Flash" messages that may overly distract the user.

* All banners that are submitted to Cygnus Business Media via e-mail must be uncompressed (not zipped).

* ALT (Mouseover) text should be no greater than 10 words.

* Advertisers must understand that all banners, when clicked, will launch the linked site in a new browser window.

* Banners must be designed so that interaction with the user only takes place if the user places the mouse within the advertisement area.

* Advertisers may make banner or other creative changes or additions every two weeks, following the time guidelines below, although we prefer advertisers to send us multiple banners at one time and have them scheduled any way you would like throughout your campaign.

* Flash banners must be IE 7+ compliant as well as published out as flash version 6.0, 7.0 or 8.0.

Banner Ad Units

Size Requirements

300x250 Max File - 30K

300x100 Max File - 15K

160x50 Max File - 11K

728x90 Max File - 26K

120x120 Max File - 8K

120x400 Max File - 12K

218x40 Max File - 12K

100x100 Max File - 6K

*Rich Media not available for newsletter ads

Rich Media (flash) ad specs

With some exceptions, we primarily follow Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) recommended Rich Media standards.

Use of Rich Media requires that Cygnus Interactive have ample time to test Client-Submitted and Cygnus Created advertising products.

All rich media ads are tested on a matrix of browsers and platforms before posting. This process requires a MINIMUM of FIVE business days to test rich media for performance, stability & compatibility.

General Requirements of Rich Media ads

* We reserve the right to refuse any rich media that does not function properly in this testing environment.

* We are not responsible for fixing code that does not function properly or causes other problems.

* Creative must open a new browser window when clicking thru to another site.

* Floating ads (such as Eyeblaster) must include a prominently visible close button and may not run more than 15 seconds.

* Advertising requiring the use of plug-ins like Flash and Shockwave must utilize "sniffer" code to detect if the user has the required plug-in and display an alternate image if the user does not have it. That alternate image (JPG/GIF) must also be included when submitting materials.

* Flash advertising is not available in e-mail newsletters or blasts at this time.

BANNER INSERTION & DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

If Advertiser Provides Banners

Note: If the creative is anything other than an animated gif or jpg (for example: Flash), the creative must be received one week (five business days) ahead of flight date to allow for proper quality assurance testing. Please notify us at time of insertion order signing or ten business days prior to the launch of the campaign if you are planning to use Rich Media.

Deadlines

* Creative for a run of site campaign must be received three business days before the start of that campaign. Creative must include list of URLs that each banner will be directed to as well as ALT tags for each banner.

* Creative for a section sponsorship or fixed position location must be received four business days before the start of that campaign. Creative must include list of URLs that each banner will be directed to as well as ALT tags for each banner.

* Receiving creative outside of these boundaries will result in the campaign starting one business day later for each day late the creative is up to three business days. The campaign will extended for the same number of days. Creative later than three days will need to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

* Creative received late for section and other fixed position section sponsorships, which may be date sensitive, will have to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, another campaign may be booked to start immediately following your campaign and additional days cannot be added to the initial campaign.

If We Design the Banners For You

Cygnus Business Media's design team can easily assist your company/organization with designing banners, developing online marketing strategies and more.

Fees

* Banner Design Cost - Any Size (gif/jpg) $145 each or 9 banners for $750

* Banner Design Cost - Flash $210+ each

* Scanning Images or Altering $32 each

Changes, additional time spent working with client to develop banner design or landing page layout AFTER THREE (3) REVISIONS, will be billed at $75/hour.

Pre-Design Needs

Before we can create your banner, you will need to work with your marketing team and ours to determine the best strategy and a clear, concise design plan for your banner(s). This should include:

* Providing a URL or direct graphic image(s) to be included in your banner(s) including company logo, products and other related images.

* A clear concept to include marketing slogans and the mission of your campaign to more rapidly assist us in preparing your banners.

* Materials may be submitted in Zip format to minimize file size. Clients should avoid sending files zipped using stuff-it expander (common on Mac platform). While some clients may use MAC platform to create their graphics, we prefer those graphics being converted to .eps files. We may be able to open quark files (commonly used for print ads), but some graphic elements critical to the design maybe lost in conversion from MAC to PC. Converting to .eps file will solve this problem.

Deadlines

For five or fewer banners, of any size, please allow up to seven business days before your campaign begins for banner creation and approval. This will include five business days to allow for banner design, creation and client approval, followed by two days to enter the campaign into the system.

Add two additional business days for additional five banners to be created for your campaign.

Campaigns where creatives follow multiple concepts and designs, or more than 10 banners, will be handled on a case by case basis.

Need It Faster?

Cygnus Business Media recognizes the need for quick turnaround for time-sensitive campaigns and aims to meet all deadlines and exceed client expectations. Based on the availability of our staff, if you require our creative assistance, we may be able to provide a quicker turnaround as well as begin your campaign immediately. However, this availability is not guaranteed and depends on timing and scheduling. If your campaign requires immediate launching with your order and/or you need creative assistance, a premium charge may be imposed from $150-$200 for immediate turnaround of an order. The cost would vary based on date of delivery of the creative for the campaign and same-day launch in the ad-serving system for a client campaign. Please advise your sales representative of any special needs when you place your insertion order and if you require creative assistance as creative costs are additional to rush charges. We aim to exceed your expectations and thank you for choosing Cygnus Business Media.

Text Link Ads - Home Page Sponsored Links

* Must Provide URL at least three business days prior to campaign starting.

* Available currently only on the Home Page as 'Featured Industry Links.'

* Text is limited to 20 characters and spaces. All capitals not permitted except if part of actual company or product name.

RICH MEDIA SUPPORT

What We Accept

We will accept ads in most formats, including HTML and Flash. Other Rich Media formats must be discussed and tested on a case-by-case basis.

When submitting a rich media banner, a conventional GIF or JPEG banner must also be submitted, within the size and file requirements as a normal comparable size banner. This alternative will be served to visitors who cannot view rich media.

Tracking Standard Flash Banners

The top layer within the Flash banner will be the layer that communicates with the sniffer code associated with each banner. The layer will only contain a transparent button in which a "Get URL" action is assigned to it (for Flash pop-up windows, see special instructions). Instead of inserting the actual destination URL, it must be assigned the expression 'clicktag'. The 'clicktag' expression is referred to within the sniffer code, where the WDIG tracking script and resolving URL are encoded. The action script which must be used with the ad's button layer is:

NEW clicktag code:
on(release){if (clickTAG.substr(0,5)=="http:") {getURL(clickTAG, "_blank");}}

Please note: The action script for the button layer in your Flash file should look exactly as it is above. Do not insert your URL where the "http:" is above. This revised action script simply checks to make sure that "http:" is contained within the URL we pass into it.

This is updated action script is based on security measures recommended by Macromedia. According to Macromedia, "The ActionScript...is verifying that the clickTAG URL begins with "http:". This is an important security measure. If you do not take this precaution, a malicious HTML page could source your SWF and pass a clickTAG URL that begins with "javascript:" or another scripting pseudo-protocol. If your ActionScript code were to call getURL with a maliciously crafted JavaScript URL, it would be possible for the site serving the malicious HTML page to obtain the contents of your HTTP cookies or perform other actions on your site's behalf."

Final Files Required

All advertisers wishing to use Flash creatives must supply the WDIG Advertising Account Manager with all of the following before the three day testing period can begin:

* Flash SWF (version 6 or less)

* Default GIF

* Click-through URLs

* Alternate Text

Tracking Flash Instructions

To assign a clickTAG for your advertisement:

* The Flash File (.fla extension) must first be modified.

* The clickTAG is the tracking code assigned by the ad serving network to an individual ad. The clickTAG allows the network to register where the ad was displayed when it was clicked on. This click through data is reported to the ad serving servers so advertisers may determine the effectiveness of their campaign.

* The code below will allow ad serving networks to dynamically assign a clickTAG to their ad.

Flash MX/Flash 6 ONLY Accepted

In this example, a getURL action is being assigned to a button that will navigate the browser to [clickTAG]. The getURL(clickTAG) statement appends the variable data passed in via the OBJECT EMBED tag and navigates the browser to that location. It is the tracking code assigned by the ad serving network, which allows them to register a user's click on that advertisement.

The expression box must be checked for the clickTAG variable to work properly.

In order to have a new browser window open when clicking on the banner, choose "_blank" by the window option in the action window.

NEWSDAY SPONSORSHIPS

* 468x60 banners must be GIF or JPG (no RichMedia), and follow the general site guidelines of size and animation.

* Banners must be received four days before the campaign is to run.

* The sponsorship includes a headline and teaser text below the banner near the top of the NewsDay mailing of no more than 60 characters.

* The sponsorship includes a promotional headline and message near the middle of the NewsDay mailing not to exceed 75 words or 400 characters total (including spaces).

SHOP@FIREHOUSE.COM SPECIFICATIONS

General Notes

The number of products featured in any Shop@Firehouse campaign is negotiated in the insertion order, but can only be changed or rotated once a month after the campaign launches without further charges. However, multiple products can be scheduled at time of insertion order to run in various periods.

The minimum insertion time for campaigns to be served in our various shopping sections is five business days. The following additional guidelines apply for specific campaigns.

Banners in the Shopping section should follow the same requirements outlined in the banner section based on the file size or closest equivalent.

Featured Shops

WHAT IS IT?

Featured Shops are available on the front page of our shopping section and on the category front pages. They are boxes at the center of the page right below the category name that include a (up to) 240x35 company logo, a 100x100 image of a specific product, up to 50 words or 300 characters describing the product, and a text link to order the product and a text link to the parent web site if desired. A pull down menu linking to up to 15 other products or categories on the parent company's Web site may also be included.

DEADLINES & REQUIREMENTS

Assuming all information is provided by the Advertiser, all materials must be received five business days before the start of a campaign:

* A 100x100 image with a one-pixel border (no border for images with a white background) of each product to be featured. JPG or GIF only. No animation. Max file size of 8K per image. Must include ALT tag of up to 8 words.

* A 240x35 company logo in GIF or JPG format. No animation. Up to 8K. Must include ALT tag up to 8 words.

* A 50 word (up to 300 character) text description of the product, as well as a text link wording for the product and company. The product name may include up to 6 words.

* The URL(s) for the products, company and drop down menu.

If the materials are not provided, please allow two business days (above the five) for the creation of your company logo and/or up to ten product images. More than 10 product images must be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Firehouse.com charges a one-time sizing and migration fee $25 per product if they are not provided sized properly, or we need to pull them from a web site URL (which must be given to us).

Hot Product Picks

WHAT IS IT

Hot Product Picks are 100x100 images of specific products from an advertiser that rotate in one or more of the following locations:

* Firehouse.com Home Page and Some Interior Pages

* Shop@Firehouse Main Page or Category Page(s)

DEADLINES & REQUIREMENTS

* A 100x100 image with a one-pixel border (no border for images with a white background) of each product to be featured. JPG or GIF only. No animation. Max file size of 8K per image. Must include ALT tag of up to 8 words.

* The URL(s) for the product(s). For Firehouse.com shopping affiliate partners, this URL should include your appropriate tracking URL when appropriate.

* Images must be received at least five business days before a campaign is scheduled to start for up to 10 product images. Please allow an additional business day for each additional 10 products.

Firehouse.com charges a one-time sizing and migration fee $25 per product if they are not provided or not sized properly. If they are not provided at all, we must have the ability to pull them from a web site URL (which must be given to us). Please allow two business days for every 20 products in addition to the normal five business day turnaround time for this service.

Marketplace Vendor Directory Icon

WHAT IS IT?

Your company's Marketplace Vendor Directory icon appears within the main Shop@Firehouse page, the category pages and the vendor directory where appropriate based on the Insertion Order. These 100x32 images (including a one-pixel border) should not exceed 4K. Firehouse.com creates these buttons free of charge for all shopping partners who sign up for our package offerings. For non-package advertisers, they can be created for a fee of $30. As with all Shop@Firehouse packages, turnaround of five business days is required.

E-MAIL BLASTS

General Requirements

* Advertiser Supplied Creative

Cygnus Business Media must have all HTML and Text version creative for a E-Mail Blast at least seven business days prior to it running. This will allow for four days for upload and testing, two days for client approval and one day to upload the final approved version and schedule for delivery.

A subject line that meets our approval must be provided.

Due to the strict timeline of the E-Mail Blast schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and amount of time the materials are provided late.

Cygnus Business Media prefers to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.

Only text, JPG and GIF images are allowed. Text versions should be no more than 10K and may not include any image files. Blast materials should also include a subject line no more than 25 words or 255 characters. We can also run the subject line through a "Spam-Checker Tool" that points out any verbiage that will be picked up by spam filters.

All email HTML must be table-based layouts; using CSS only to control typography and color. There is a 600 pixels maximum width and up to 60K maximum file size (includes all images and html files). Due to the medium and Omail restrictions; no Flash, JavaScript, Java or image maps can be used. Full image paths in the code must be used (ex: http://www.domain.com/images/graphic1.jpg).

* 600 pixels maximum width

* up to 60K maximum file size (includes all images and html files)

* We will provide 2 versions for testing: 1 text, 1 HTML. We need from you a text version and a coded HTML version (unless we are designing).

* Request must include Text Subject line

* Document detailing linking instructions

* No Flash, Javascript, Java or image maps

Cygnus Business Media Designed Creative

Cygnus Business Media's team can design an effective and complete E-mail Blast for your company. This service is provided as an added value to your E-mail Blast insertion order.

In addition to the above description of the E-mail Blast document, the following applies to those designed by our team:

Pre-Creation Needs

Before we can create your E-mail Blast, you will need to work with your marketing team and ours to determine the best strategy and a clear, concise design plan for your banner(s). This should include providing:

* URL(s) or direct graphic image(s) to be included in your E-mail Blast including company logo, products and other related images.

* Advertisers should also provide our design team with a clear concept to include marketing slogans and the mission of your campaign to more rapidly assist us in preparing your E-mail Blast.

* Materials may be submitted in Zip format to minimize file size. Clients should avoid sending files zipped using stuff-it expander (common on Mac platform). While some clients may use MAC platform to create their graphics, we prefer those graphics being converted to .eps files. We may be able to open quark files (commonly used for print ads), but some graphic elements critical to the design maybe lost in conversion from MAC to PC. Converting to .eps file will solve this problem.

While reviewing our creative, you must give clear direction as to what graphics and text should be linked, and what URLs each should be directed to.

Deadlines

The first phase of the design of a E-mail Blast will take place between the client and sales representative to create a basic design concept.

Please allow up to two weeks before your campaign runs for any Cygnus Business Media-created E-mail Blast.

Cygnus Business Media's design team must have at least five business days to work on the concept and develop the design and HTML and Text versions. The team will then offer the advertiser up to two business days to review it. Following that, we allow up to two days of altering and adjusting the documents as needed before final testing and entering into our system the last day before the campaign is scheduled to start.

Ideally, we prefer to have all creative ideas and related graphic and text AS FAR IN ADVANCE as possible.

Due to the strict timeline of the E-mail Blast schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and amount of time the materials are provided late.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE BLAST

Advertiser Supplied Creative

General Requirements

* Product Image up to 200 pixels wide by 120 pixels high

* Up to 75 words of copy

* Logo image 80px high and as wide as 200px for a landscape type logo.

* Maximum 10 lines of copy (including spaces)

Due to the strict timeline of the Product Showcase Blasts schedule, if you do not supply your creative within these deadlines we cannot guarantee its place in our delivery schedule. You may be charged a late fee of up to $500 or your campaign may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances and amount of time the materials are provided late.

Cygnus Business Media prefers to have all creative as soon as possible following the signing of an insertion order.