HSB ADVERTISING POLICY

In February, 2002, the Home School Building began charging nominally for advertisements that appear in the three HSB Connections media options. A number of area home educators may wonder why we would charge any advertising fees at all. As you view the advertising and rate chart listed below, please consider the following:

• There are a myriad of legitimate expenses the Home School Building incurs from making this information so readily available through the Connections media. Charging a minimal advertising fee is a reasonable way to assist the Home School Building while getting the desired information to area home educators.

• Many of the businesses and nonprofit organizations who publish advertisements in our HSB Connections media are charging fees for home educators to participate in their programs or purchase their goods and services. The end result is revenue generated for their organization as they benefit from access to a wide base of home educators. While the HSB encourages entrepreneurship, we feel that the conduit (in this case-HSB media) should be reimbursed for the service we provide these businesses and organizations.

• While revenue from bookstore sales and facility rentals help to offset our operating costs, they in no way cover all the expenses generated from a ministry of this size and magnitude of outreach. As a nonprofit organization, we rely heavily on donation monies and volunteer service to maintain this vital ministry. The Home School Building is committed to operating as a fiscally sound organization.

The Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers of the Home School Building are committed to…

-Serving home based educators by providing a cost effective meeting place for their use…
-Providing a networking hub through which home based educators may be brought together…
-Facilitating programs /services to meet the educational/enrichment needs of home educating families…
-Offering exceptional, competitively priced products and outstanding service to all who enter our onsite Bookstore…

If you have any questions concerning this policy, please feel free to contact the HSB Media Coordinator:

Home School Building
(HSB, Inc.)
5625 Burlingame Ave. SW
Wyoming, MI 49509

616/532-9422 x 107

Connections@HomeSchoolBuilding.org

Home School Building Connections

Advertising Program

Four "price classifications" based on the type of advertiser.

1. Homeschool Family 
   Individuals not seeking ongoing income from the proposed advertisement. Items priced under $1000 are charged $7 in the Homeschool Family category. Items priced over $1000 are charged $18 in the Part-time Business category. Items priced over $10,000 are charged $29 in the Full-time Business Category. All "free" events, “Wanted” ads & general home school information is posted at no charge in all media, (i.e. field trips, "curriculum wanted".) NO ADS FOR “FREE” PETS OR ANIMALS ACCEPTED.

2. Homeschool Organization 
   Local organizations that exist in order to provide services exclusively to homeschool families. (i.e. homeschool support groups and homeschool programs for academic tutoring, sports, music, drama, etc.) All announcements of achievement or recognition of homeschool students or homeschool organizations are encouraged and published for free. AA free "General Information" listing is given all local homeschool organizations on the website year round.

3. Part-time Business / Non-Profit Organization
   A part-time business venture operated to provide "supplemental" household income through the proposed advertisement. (i.e. academic tutors, piano and instrument instruction, Usborne Books, etc.) or a non-profit organization (i.e. Master Arts Theatre, Cornerstone Univ., KDL, Binder Park Zoo, etc.)    All "Free" events and classes will be published at no charge at the discretion of the editor and as space is available.

4. Full-time Business
   A full-time business venture (home school or otherwise) that provides primary income for a family or corporation through generated profits from the proposed advertisement. (i.e. Michigan Athletic Club, Crusader Martial Arts, Horizon Complex, Tarry Hall Roller Rink, doctor/dentist, etc.).All "Help Wanted" ads will be published at no charge at the discretion of the editor and as space is available.

Billing

• Invoices are sent via email, in one to two business days.

• If advertiser does not have email access, please include a street address in the Comments box.

• Ads will be published after payment is received.

• Payments by check are preferred. Please, include the invoice number on memo line of check.

• The payment DEADLINE to be included in the print newsletter is the 15th of the preceding month

Announcements of "Free" and "Wanted" items or services will be published in all media at no charge at the discretion of the editor and as space is available. 

Three Advertising Media – Web, Email and Print

Text Ad in All Three Media

• Total monthly audience is approximately 5000 homeschooling families, primarily in west Michigan.

• All advertisements are published after payment is received.

• Basic Text Ad, all three media (web, email, print), text only, 200 words maximum.

• Extended Text Ad, all three media (web, email, print), text only, 200-500 words maximum

Website

• The official website of the Home School Building linking west Michigan home educators with the goods, services, & activities to maximize their home school program.

• This website is being visited on average 7,000 times each month.

• Advertising option, SPONSOR BANNER

  • Prices are in addition to Basic Advertising Package

  • One of three, posted on the home page and 3 main pages for one calendar month, pre-designed.

  • 3 Slots Available, in 3 Groups of main pages

    • Group A: Home School Building, Classes, Extra-curricular,

    • Group B: Classified Ads, Calendar, Parent’s Support,

    • Group C: High School @ Home, Support Groups, Home School Links (What's new)

  • Banners are pre-designed, 250 x 75 pixels, either .gif or .jpg format. 25KB maximum file size.

  • Banners custom designed by arrangement. Additional design fee: $15 per banner.

E-mail Newsletter

• The email communication tool of the Home School Building is published 4 times each week. It is formatted from advertisements and announcements posted to the website since the previous edition.

• The E-Mail version of Connections currently is sent to over 1,600 West Michigan homes.

• Advertising option, SPONSOR BANNER

  • Price is in addition to Basic Text Ad

  • Sponsor Banner, one of three, once per week, either on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday editions, for one calendar month.

  • Banners are pre-designed, 250 x 75 pixels, either .gif or .jpg format. 25KB maximum file size.

  • Custom designed by arrangement. Additional design fee: $15 for banner.

Print Newsletter

• The printed version of Connections, this monthly publication has been in production since October 2000. As of 2009, each issue has approximately 36 pages.

• As of 2009, each issue is mailed to approximately 200 home schooling households.

• Advertising options, BORDERED ADS

  • Prices are in addition to Basic Text Ad.

  • Pre-designed ads in .jpg, .gif or Pdf format.

  • Ad sizes are measured at outside border of design.

  • FULL PAGE ads, 7 1/2" w X 9 3/8" h

  • HALF PAGE ads, 7 1/2 w X 4 5/8" h OR 3 5/8" w X 9 3/8" h  OR 4 5/8 " w X 7 1/2" h

  • QUARTER PAGE ads, 3 5/8" w X 4 5/8" h OR 1 7/8" X 9 3/8" h

  • EIGHTH PAGE Ads, 3 5/8" w X 2 1/4" h (business card)

  • Custom design by arrangement. Additional design fee: $10 for eighth or quarter page, $15 for half page, $20 for full page

• Print Deadline

  • Advertising contract must be PAID by the 15^th of the preceding month in order to be published in the next month’s print newsletter.

    
    

Discounts for Multiple Months

• Discount for Contract paid in advance.

• The discount is based on the months of the Basic Text Ad.

• Additional advertising options may be select months of the Basic Text Ad.

• The entire ad contract is discounted at the rate of the Basic Text Ad.

• 25% off - 1 full year (paid in advance)

• 20% off - 6-11 months (paid in advance)

• 15% off - 3-5 months (paid in advance)

• Special Pricing Discounts are given on the initial advertising package. Discounts will not be backdated or given after the fact.

Advertising Rates

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Home School Building Connections is a ministry of the Home School Building (HSB). The purpose is connecting homeschoolers in West Michigan with the support, information, activities, and events to help them meet their home education goals. While HSB believes that the announcements published on the Connections website, email and print versions may be of value to home educators, the publishing of such announcements does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by HSB, its staff or management. It is the responsibility of individual parents to determine the appropriateness of each listing for their homeschool family. The Home School Building Connections media are for the exclusive use of the homeschool community and are provided for information only. HSB reserves the right to restrict and/or limit the publishing of any announcements.