2015 Media Kit Advertising Media Kit 2015

About Columbus Underground Improving Your Traditional Marketing Efforts A Focus On The Future Through Online Advertising Columbus Underground serves millions of readers Online advertising is best for local businesses in driving throughout Columbus and Central Ohio. We speak to engagement with your web-based communication strategies the young, educated and affluent urban core of our city, (website, social media, etc.). Online engagement is crucial connecting readers with our hyper-local, independently to building awareness of your brand, product, and service. owned community-focused media brand. Advertising online provides an immediate click-thru call to action and the flexibility to custom-cater marketing messages Since our founding in 2001, Columbus Underground to time of day or day of the week. has been a reliable resource for online advertisers. Our forward-thinking, user-based, editorial-style news platform grants readers 24/7 access from any How We Work for Small Businesses electronic device. Columbus Underground provides an opportunity for small businesses to engage directly with their audiences, their fans and their potential customers. Our advertising platform was custom created to cater specifically to the needs of our local small business community and provide an affordable, flexible, and accountable service for delivering your message to a targeted Columbus market.

How We Work for Larger Organizations Our advertising options have expanded to offer opportunties for larger organizations looking to connect to our unique, local audience. We can provide amplified rotation rates for a more saturated marketing presence, customized messages to help associate your brand with our audience, and other customized marketing opportunities.

Credibility and Customer Testimonials

“When I advertise with Columbus Underground, I know I’m getting the best value for my investment by reaching engaged customers within my demographic. Compared to print, the cost and return on investment is like night and day — in a good way.” 94% of Columbus - Jim Jackson, State of Devotion Underground readers consider our news “I am thrilled with my advertising relationship with Columbus Underground. It has articles to be more introduced Shadowbox Live to an audience we weren’t reaching through our other credible or equal in advertising efforts.” credibility to those - Julie Klein, Marketing Director of Shadowbox Live produced by other local news outlets. “The deadlines and creation of our ads could not be any easier or better for us. For reaching this target audience, it is also a great value.” - Kamal Boulos, Owner of The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro

“The working relationship with Columbus Underground is easily the best we’ve had in decades and may be the strongest attribute of the site. If you have an idea, they can make it happen. And if you don’t have an idea, they can come up with a good one. I cannot recommend them enough.” - Jeffrey Zettler, Vice President of Zettler Hardware and Goodale Pro Hardware Reader Demographics 2015

Demographics Overview Quick Demographic Breakdowns The readership of Columbus Underground can easily be described as young, educated, affluent, open-minded, 79% of our readers fall between the ages of 22 and 45 diverse, tech-savvy, engaged, connected, well-informed, (Generations X & Y). opinionated and honest. The latest demographic survey of 51% of our readers fall between the ages of 25 and 36 our readers was conducted in 2013 and provides a more (Young Professionals). in-depth look at who our readers are, where they live, Gender split is 48% male to 51% female. where they work, where they spend their time and money, 71% of our readers make more than $50,000 per year in and more. household income. 55% of our readers make more than $70,000 per year in household income. 31% of our readers make more than $100,000 per year in household income. 54% of our readers are either married or in a committed

18-24 7.30% relationship. 25-36 50.87% 46% of our readers classify themselves as being single. 37-48 27.35% 83% of our readers have 4-year college degrees or higher. 49-64 13.00% 31% of our readers have master’s degrees or higher. 65+ 1.49% 68% of our readers have pets (34% dogs, 31% cats, 3% fish), 32% do not. 58% of our readers own homes or condos, 42% of our readers rent or lease. + 71%

$70k+ 55%

$100k+ 31%

The overall visitor traffic on Columbus Underground in 2014 was up over 30% compared to +30% +7% traffic in 2013. Additionally, the Assoc. 4% total number of pageviews grew by BA/BS 51% over 7% from 2013 to 2014. Masters 24% 2014 Growth from Doc/Prof 7% 2013-2014

Where our Readers LIVE Where our Readers WORK Where our Readers PLAY 15.89% Clintonville (Beechwold) 30.08% Downtown + Arena 48.48% Short North 15.22% Short North (Victorian, Italian, Harrison) 13.13% University District 19.70% Downtown + Arena + GS 10.95% German Village (Brewery / Schumacher / Merion) 6.26% Dublin 9.42% German Village + Brewery 7.74% Grandview Heights (5xNW, Marble) 6.11% Short North + IV + VV + HW 7.90% Grandview + 5xNW 6.54% Downtown (Arena, Discovery) 4.89% Grandview Heights 7.36% Clintonville 5.07% University District (Weinland, Dennison, Old North) 4.73% German Village + Brewery + Merion 2.38% Olde Towne East 4.81% Olde Towne East (KLD, Woodland, Franklin Park) 3.51% Westerville 2.16% University District + Old North 4.27% Upper Arlington 3.36% Polaris + Lewis Center + Powell 0.97% Easton 4.27% Dublin (NW Cols) 3.36% Easton 0.87% Worthington 3.60% Worthington 3.36% Worthington 0.76% Polaris 3.47% West Side (Hilltop, Westgate, Highland West) 3.21% Clintonville 2.80% Hilliard 2.90% Upper Arlington 2.80% Gahanna / Blacklick 2.75% Bexley + Whitehall 2.40% Bexley 2.60% Gahanna 2.00% East Side (Berwick / Eastmoor) 2.60% Olde Towne East + KLD 2.00% South Side (Old Oaks / Ganther) 2.14% Hilliard AdditionalAdditional Demographic Analytic Information Information More information is available to advertisers 1.87% Westerville 1.83% New Albany More information is available to advertisers based on specific industries and sectors. Contact 1.22% Reynoldsburg based on specific industries and sectors. Contact 1.87% Lewis Center / Polaris / Olentangy / Powell [email protected] for more 1.34% Northland 1.07% Hilltop / West Side [email protected] or to schedule a presentation. for more 0.76% Franklinton 1.07% Reynoldsburg / Pickerington / Pataskala infoWhat or to ourschedule analytics a presentation. can tell you Analytics 2015 about our daily visitors, visitor habits, website traffic, and our readership

Overview of Analytics Why do people visit Site Traffic Statistics Columbus Underground? Columbus Underground “To find new places to dine, shop or Total Annual Visits: 5,409,395 (+30%) make other purchases” Unique Annual Visitors: 2,495,444 (+30%) “To find local events” Total Annual Pageviews: 12,038,967 (+7%) “To read local news” “To read reviews and opinions” “To read special features”

+30% +30% +7% Used CU to find a place to live

Used CU for industry research

Used CU to find a job Used CU to meet new friends Used CU to help relocate to Central Ohio

AVERAGE VISITORS PER DAY: 14,820 AVERAGE PAGES PER DAY: 32,983 Users, Communities and Messageboard AVERAGE TIME SPENT PER VISIT: 2 MINUTES 15 SECONDS AVERAGE PAGEVIEWS PER VISIT: 2.23 Columbus Underground is a community- oriented resource and enjoys the active participation of members to provide input, All statistics based on information gathered Jan 1, 2014 - feedback, story ideas, commentary and open, Dec 31, 2014 utilizing Google Analytics. honest discussion. Columbus Underground has over 620,000 messages and comments posted by those users.

27,700+ 74,400+ 51,100+ 25,300+ SUBSCRIBERS FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS

Email Newsletters Twitter Followers Facebook Fan Page Instagram Followers Our two weekly email Columbus Underground has The official Columbus Columbus Underground has newsletters are delivered long embraced Twitter as Underground Facebook quickly become one of the every Monday and Thursday. a component of our news Fan Page has over 51,100 most popular local Instagram Our growing distribution delivery system and to followers (as of July 2015) accounts to follow for photos list currently contains over engage our readers in two- who read our news updates, and updates with over 25,300 27,700 subscribers (as of way communication. Each event listings, photos, videos, followers (as of July 2015). July 2015). Our weekly email day, the @ColsUnderground and other content. We also Our Instagram posts include a readers are interested in twitter account sends out feature Facebook “like” variety of photo-centric news current events, news updates updates to over 74,400 buttons on all of our articles updates to accompany our and other special promotions. followers (as of July 2015). for easy content sharing. articles.

Additional Analytic Information More information is available to advertisers based on specific industries and sectors. Contact [email protected] for more info or to schedule a presentation. Rate Sheet 2015

Advertising Rates Overview Our advertising rate structure was created with small businesses in mind. We offer scalable pricing that can fit any budget. Every banner that appears in any placement on Columbus Underground is guaranteed a minimum of 10,000 views (impressions) per month, and all banners are optimized for mobile/tablet display.

CU Website Advertising Artwork Dimensions and Information Price Structure: Super Leaderboard Banner Super Leaderboard Banner Super Leaderboard - $350 per month • Dimensions: 1170 pixels wide by 145 pixels tall Upper Square - $200 per month • Most prominent placement across the top of all Upper Full - $175 per month website pages Half Page - $150 per month Lower Full - $125 per month Upper Square Banner Lower Square - $75 per month • Dimensions: 300 pixels wide by 250 pixels tall • Placement in upper half of sidebar column across Upper Square Banner (Pricing receives 1% discount per month up to all website pages 12 months for multi-month signed contracts) Upper Full Banner

• Dimensions: 468 pixels wide by 60 pixels tall Upper Full Banner • Placement in midway content column across all CU Email Newsletter website pages Advertising Price Structure: Lower Full Banner

Half CU Weekly (Mon) Standard Size Half Page Banner Page Banner Banner - $50 per week • Dimensions: 300 pixels wide by 600 pixels tall CU Weekly (Mon) Double Size • Placement at midway to lower half of sidebar Banner - $100 per week column across all website pages Mega Weekend (Thur) Standard Size Banner - $125 per week Lower Full Banner

Lower Lower Lower Mega Weekend (Thur) Double Size • Dimensions: 468 pixels wide by 60 pixels tall Square Square Square Banner 1 Banner 2 Banner 3 Banner - $250 per week • Placement in lower half of content column across Mega Weekend (Thur) Triple Size all website pages Banner - $375 per week Lower Square Banners (Pricing receives 1% discount per month up to • Dimensions: 300 pixels wide by 250 pixels tall 12 months for multi-month signed contracts) • Placement rotates through the three squares at bottom of page across all website pages.

Sponsored Tweets CU Weekly Email Banners Featured Events $150 per message • Standard Banner: 120 pixels wide by 160 pixels $250 per week Similar to advertising in our email tall Columbus Underground blasts, we offer advertisers the ability • Double Banner: 120 pixels wide by 320 pixels tall offers a robust event to schedule sponsored tweets in our • Placement in sidebar of newsletter, all banners calendar utilized Columbus Underground twitter stream. displayed (no rotation) by thousands of You write the message, include a link readers. We offer the to your own twitter account or a direct Mega Weekend Email Banners opportunity to feature link to your website, and you also get • Standard Banner: 556 pixels wide by 80 pixels your event more to choose the time and date to send tall prominently on our your tweet to our large, ever-growing • Double Banner: 556 pixels wide by 160 pixels tall home page as well, list of followers. • Triple Banner: 556 pixels wide by 320 pixels tall which averages over • Placement in body of newsletter, all banners 35,000 readers per displayed (no rotation) week. 2015 Editorial Features Calendar

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER Explore Best Bites: Architecture/ Columbus Tacos Design Week July 6 - 12, 2015 August 20, 2015 September 21-27

Advertising Deadline: Jul 3 Advertising Deadline: Aug 13 Advertising Deadline: Sept 15

OCTOBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Tech/Startup Metropreneur Home Cooking Week Event Week October 26 - Nov 1 October 29, 2015 Nov 16 - 22, 2015

Advertising Deadline: Oct 20 Advertising Deadline: Oct 1 Advertising Deadline: Nov 2

DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY Holiday Health & Best Bites: Shopping Wellness Week Sweet Treats Guide Jan 4-10, 2016 Feb 9, 2016 Nov 20 - Dec 18 Advertising Deadline: Nov 12 Advertising Deadline: Dec 29 Advertising Deadline: Feb 3

MARCH APRIL MAY New Columbus Best Bites: Urban Living Chefs Burgers Tour Mid-March 2016 TBD Mid-April 2016 TBD Mid-May 2016 TBD

Advertising Deadline: Mar 4 Advertising Deadline: Apr 4 Advertising Deadline: May 2

* All Featured Week Titles and Dates Subject to Change