HSB ADVERTISING POLICY

In February, 2002 the Home School Building began charging for advertisements that appear in the three HSB Connections media. The advertising program and rate chart is listed below.

A number of area home educators may wonder why we would charge any advertisement fees at all. First, there are legitimate expenses that Home School Building incurs from making the information available. The Home School Building is committed to operating as a fiscally sound organization.

Second, we do not charge "normal" facility rental fees to home school groups, since this would deter many groups from using the building at all.  Thus, other forms of revenue must be found to help underwrite the operation of the facility.  While the Home School Bookstore will ultimately provide 80% of our operational budget, it does not now, nor will it ever meet "all" the needs.  Charging a minimal advertising fee is a reasonable way to assist the Home School Building while still getting the desired information to area home educators.

Third, many of the businesses and non-profit organizations who publish advertisements in our HSB Connections media are charging a fee for home educators to participate in their program or to purchase their goods and services.  Their goal is income for their organization and they benefit from home educators' business.  While HSB encourages entrepreneurship, we feel that the conduit (in this case the HSB media) should be reimbursed for the service we provide these businesses and organizations.

In conclusion, everyone must realize that the goal of the HSB Connections media will always be to provide a forum for home school families to receive their information free of charge.  The only exception to this policy is the HSB Connections monthly printed newsletter.  The obvious printing and mailing cost forces us to at least "suggest" a subscription donation.  Also realize that the tiered fee structure we are using provides for more of the cost to be covered by those who potentially will earn the most income from the advertisements. And families who are simply looking for curriculum, or trying to locate home school related goods or services are charged nothing at all. In fact, almost half of the notices, those for free items, events, activities and services, are published free of charge.

The Home School Building commits itself to the following goals:  (1) Serve home based educators by providing a quality facility for their use; (2) provide a networking hub through which home based educators, and those who wish to contact them will be brought together; (3) provide programming and services to meet the education, instruction, and spiritual needs of home educated students, parents, and families.

If you have any questions or comments concerning this policy, please feel free to contact the Home School Building Media Coordinator.

Home School Building
5625 Burlingame Ave. SW
Wyoming, MI 49509

616-532-9422

Connections@HomeSchoolBuilding.org

Updated 3/1/07

Home School Building Connections

Advertising Program

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

1. Homeschool Family 
   Not seeking primary or supplemental income from the proposed advertisement. "For sale" items under $1000. Items over $1000 are charged in the Family Business category. (Homes listed for sale "by owner" will be charged in the Family Business category. Homes listed with a realtor will be charged in the Commercial category.) All "free" events & general home school information is posted at no charge in all media, (i.e. field trips, "curriculum wanted".) NO FREE PET OR ANIMAL ADS 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. A free "General Information" listing is given all local homeschool organizations on the website year round.

3. Family 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.

4. Commercial 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, Gymco Sports, Craig's Cruisers, Kregel Publications, doctor/dentist, etc.). All "Help Wanted" ads will be published at no charge.

Billing

• Invoices are sent via email, usually within 48 hours.

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

• Ads will be posted after payment is received or special payment arrangements are made.

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

Announcements of "Free" and "Wanted" items or services will be published in all media at no charge. 

Updated 3/1/07

Three Advertising Media

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

• All advertisements are published when payment is received.

• Basic Adverting Package, all three media, text only, 200 words maximum.

• Extended Advertising Package, all three media, 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 options, prices are in addition to Basic Advertising Package

  • Sponsor Banner, one of three, posted on all main pages for one calendar month, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

  • Web page on website, pre-designed. This is an online version of single page flyer or brochure, Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

E-mail

• The email communication tool of the Home School Building is published 3 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 1,300 West Michigan homes.

• Advertising option, price is in addition to Basic Advertising Package

  • Sponsor Banner, one of three, on Monday editions for one calendar month, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

  • Sponsor Banner, one of three, on Thursday editions for one calendar month, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

• The Wednesday edition is called the "HSB Classifieds." All of the classifieds ads for Tutors, services, "for sale", "for rent", free items and Wanted listings are published in this edition. The sponsor banners of this edition are reserved for use by HSB.

Newsletter

• The printed version of Connections, this monthly publication has been in production since October 2000. As of 2007, each issue is 28-32 pages.

• As of 2007, mailed to almost 800 home schooling households.

• Advertising options, prices are in addition to Basic Advertising Package

  • Full Page ads, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

  • Half page ads, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

  • Quarter page ads, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

  • Eighth Page Ads, pre-designed. Custom designed by for an additional charge by arrangement.

• Print Deadline

  • Advertising contract must be PAID by the 15^th of the preceding month.

  • Payment must be received by the deadline for advertisements to be published unless special payment arrangements are made with the Media Coordinator.

Revised 3/1/07

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.