Booking Ad Slots
This guide walks you through the complete process of booking an ad slot in a newsletter, from selecting a date to completing payment.
Two Ways to Book
There are two main paths to booking a newsletter ad:
Booking from an Ad Slot
When you browse newsletters and book directly from an ad slot:
You select the specific ad slot and date
You provide creative assets during booking
Standard pricing applies (or bid pricing if from an accepted bid)
Booking from a Campaign
When a newsletter applies to your campaign and you approve:
The booking is created from the application
Campaign creative (if provided) is used
The newsletter may have proposed their own rate
Less manual setup required on your end
This guide focuses primarily on the ad slot booking flow. Campaign bookings follow a similar process but with some information pre-filled from your campaign.
Overview of the Booking Process
Booking an ad slot involves four main steps:
Contact Details — Provide your business information
Schedule — Select your preferred date
Creative Assets — Upload your ad content
Payment — Complete your purchase
Starting a Booking
From a Newsletter Page
Navigate to Browse Newsletters
Click on a newsletter to view its profile
Find the ad slot you want
Click Book Now
From an Accepted Bid
If you submitted a bid that was accepted:
Go to My Bids
Find your accepted bid
Click Complete Booking
You'll have 48 hours to complete this process
Step 1: Contact Details
Business Information
Provide your business details:
Contact Name
Your name
Jane Smith
Company Name
Your business name
Acme Inc.
Company Website
Your website URL
https://acme.com
Company Description
Brief description of your business
B2B software for small businesses
Location
City, State, Country
San Francisco, CA, US
Business Logo
Upload your business logo:
Used for your ad if the format includes a logo
Recommended size varies by ad format
Accepted formats: JPG, PNG
Why This Matters
Newsletter owners see this information:
It helps them understand your business
It may appear in the ad placement
Complete information builds trust
Step 2: Select a Date
Viewing Available Dates
The calendar shows:
Available dates — Selectable, matches newsletter's publishing days
Unavailable dates — Already booked or non-publishing days
Today's date — Highlighted for reference
Choosing Your Date
Review the calendar
Click on an available date
The date is selected for your booking
Considerations
When selecting a date:
Lead time
Book at least a few days out to prepare creative
Campaign timing
Align with product launches, promotions
Day of week
Consider when your audience is most active
Publishing Days
Newsletters only publish on certain days. The calendar only shows dates when:
The newsletter publishes
No existing booking conflicts
Step 3: Creative Assets
What You'll Provide
Depending on the ad format, you'll need to provide:
Title/Headline
Your ad headline
Keep it compelling and clear
Check the character limit
Image
Upload your ad image:
Dimensions
Match the specified size (e.g., 600x300)
Format
JPG, PNG, or GIF as specified
File size
Keep reasonable for email
Quality
Clear, professional appearance
Tips for great images:
Use high contrast for email viewing
Include your logo subtly
Make the image self-explanatory
Copy (Body Text)
Write your ad copy:
Length
Stay within character limits
Tone
Match the newsletter's style
Value
Focus on benefits to the reader
Clarity
One clear message
Example structure:
Hook — Grab attention
Value — What's in it for them
Proof — Why trust you
CTA — What to do next
CTA (Call-to-Action)
Configure your call-to-action:
CTA Text
Button text
"Try Free for 14 Days"
CTA URL
Landing page link
https://acme.com/trial
CTA best practices:
Use action verbs (Get, Try, Start, Learn)
Keep it short (2-5 words)
Match the landing page to the promise
Use UTM parameters for tracking
Campaign Goals (Optional)
Describe what you hope to achieve:
Helps the newsletter owner understand your goals
May influence how they present your ad
Previewing Your Ad
After entering your creative:
Review the preview on the right side
Check how your ad will appear
Make adjustments as needed
Ensure all elements look correct
Step 4: Payment
Reviewing Your Order
Before payment, confirm:
Newsletter
Correct publication
Ad Slot
Right format and placement
Date
Your selected date
Price
Expected amount
Entering Payment Information
Provide your payment details:
Enter credit/debit card number
Add expiration date and CVC
Enter billing address if required
Completing Payment
Review the total amount
Click Complete Booking or Pay Now
Wait for payment processing
You'll see a confirmation when successful
Payment Security
Payments are processed securely through Stripe
Card details are never stored on adly.news
You'll receive an email receipt
After Booking
Confirmation
After successful payment:
You'll see a booking confirmation page
An email confirmation is sent
The booking appears in My Bookings
What Happens Next
Newsletter owner notified — They receive your booking details
Creative reviewed — They prepare to include your ad
Ad published — Your ad goes out on the scheduled date
Booking completed — The booking is automatically marked complete after the scheduled date
Communicating with Newsletter Owner
After booking, you can message the newsletter owner:
Go to Messages
Find the conversation
Discuss any questions or changes
Modifying a Booking
Before Publication
If you need changes:
Contact the newsletter owner via messaging
Discuss the needed changes
Work together on a solution
Changes That May Be Possible
Updated creative assets
Minor copy adjustments
Image replacements
Changes That May Not Be Possible
Date changes (depends on availability)
Cancellations (check cancellation policy)
Format changes after booking
Tips for Successful Bookings
Prepare Creative in Advance
Have assets ready before booking
Match dimensions to specifications
Proofread all copy
Book Ahead
Give yourself time to prepare
Allows for any needed revisions
Better date availability
Track Your Campaigns
Use UTM parameters in CTA URLs
Monitor your landing page analytics
Measure results by newsletter
Provide Complete Information
Fill in all required fields
Be thorough in descriptions
Professional presentation builds trust
Common Questions
What if my image is the wrong size?
Resize your image before uploading. Most image editors can crop or resize to match the specifications.
Can I book the same newsletter multiple times?
Yes, you can book multiple dates. Each booking is separate.
What happens if I don't complete a booking from an accepted bid?
If you don't complete within 48 hours, the bid expires and the date becomes available again.
Can I use the same creative for different newsletters?
You can, but consider customizing for each audience. Tailored creative often performs better.
How do I know when my ad was published?
The booking is automatically marked complete after the scheduled publication date. You'll receive a notification.
Next Steps
Track your bookings in Managing Bookings
Communicate with newsletter owners via Messages
View scheduled bookings in your Calendar
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