Market-Ready Content Kit: Q & A
Q & A from the Market-Ready Content Kit open office hour calls held on CL Connect every Thursday at 10 am CST and 3 p.m. CST 7/16/2026 - 8/6/2026
Updated 07/24/2026
Market-Ready Content Kit: Q & A's during the open office hours
Q: Is national content not required anymore?
A: No, national content is not required, except for the November issue (which is the annual Giving Campaign).
Q: Can customization be done on any of the pages (e.g., using a flex page for the last page)?
A: No, none of the pages can be customized. You cannot use a flex page for the last page; you can only use the provided last-page localization options or one of the companion pages as designed.
Q: How far in advance will editors be able to see the content kits?
A: October is already wrapped up (featuring a pizza oven article and a bourbon article) to allow editors to see topics in advance and decide what fits their local area/readership best.
Q: Will the byline give credit to the photographer and writer for the companion page?
A: Yes, there will be a byline there so that they will get credit.
Q: Is the companion page going to look like a natural part of the main article?
A: It will look like it's part of it and be right next to it, but it is the editor's job to make sure the introduction ties it to the main article content (for localization).
Q: If you want an article at 3 pages, do you select 3 pages or 4 pages (since 3 pages show in the companion page)?
A: Select it for however many pages you want it to run, regardless of whether there is a companion page or not.
If you don't want the companion page, select 3 pages and put in production notes not to run a companion page.
If you do want the companion page with a 2-page article + 1-page companion page, they will know based on content and your layout selection.
Q: Can you use companion market kits from a previous month (e.g., September) for a future issue (e.g., October)?
A: Yes, if you didn't use them in September, you can access and use them in October or December—just ensure the content makes sense timing-wise for the season. They will remain available.
Q: Can we use only 1 content kit per magazine?
A: Yes, you don't have to use both; using just 1 is fine, or you can use both if you want.
Q: Can we localize Evergreen content in this same way?
A: No. Evergreen content is pulled from magazines in the field, so City Lifestyle does not touch or alter another editor's original work. This feature is specifically for the newly created market-ready kits.
Q: Can we use photos from these content kits for the magazine cover?
A: Yes. You would just describe which image you want (e.g., "Page 1, image on the left") in the cover production note, just like with national or evergreen content.
Q: How do you handle photo credits if you have multiple photographer photos provided for the organization page?
A: You have two options to work around character limits:
Add individual photographer names directly under each photo caption.
Add a general "Photo credits to..." at the end of the article listing all names.
Q: Can we use these layouts as inspiration for custom content, and can we customize the actual market-ready kits?
A: Inspiration: Yes, you can ask designers to use a market-ready layout as inspiration for custom content in production notes.
Customization: No, the market-ready kits themselves cannot be customized. The text cannot change, and you cannot mix and match flex layouts. They run exactly as provided.
Q: Can my editor go through ARC to watch the video without being in CL Connect?
A: Currently, the video is only available in CL Connect because completing the video/quiz tracks who has completed the required training. However, step-by-step written instructions are available in ARC training documents.
Q: Do you have a localized example already made so we can see how it looks?
A: No, there isn't a localized example completed yet. The September issue will be the first trial for everyone.
Q: Will the local photographer's photo quality match the kit's photo quality on the companion page?
A: Every photographer is different, so it will look slightly different, and that's okay. The companion page has its own title and byline to act as its own accentuating piece (similar to a standalone sidebar page), and matching color schemes will help it flow smoothly.
Q: If you choose a 3-page option, is only Page 3 customizable?
A: Yes. If you select 3 total pages with localization, it will consist of 2 pages of provided content + Page 3 as your local customizable page.
If you want 3 pages of provided content plus a localized page, you must select 4 pages (the maximum length).
Q: Do we still have the national "Share the Lifestyle" / podcast pages?
A: August is the last month for required podcast/national content. Moving forward after August, podcast national content is no longer required or created. The new market-ready kits (and Evergreen) remain available as optional filler options (except for the required annual Giving Campaign in November).
Q: Am I understanding correctly that the last localized page acts like a full-page sidebar (e.g., pairing a national craftsman story on purses with a local artisan spotlight on custom bags)?
A: Yes, exactly. It helps marry provided/evergreen content with local ties so editors can localize the material.
Q: What happens if I choose not to localize the last page of a layout option?
A: The last page becomes a standard provided filler page (like regular Evergreen content).
If you select 3 pages, it runs as 3 provided pages; just note "No localized content on the last page" in the production notes so it automatically fills. Either way, you will not have a blank page.
Q: When each month will the market kits for that month populate in ARC? (e.g., if September is closed and an editor is already building October)
A: October shoots and content are already finished, and the production team is currently designing them. The goal is to have upcoming kits loaded well in advance.
Note on availability: Unused past kits (e.g., September) will remain accessible in the dropdown for future issues (like October, December, or January) as long as they haven't been used yet. The host will check with the dev team regarding exact ARC settings for viewing future months ahead of the deadline.
Q: Can we switch out the layout design of the last (companion) page if we don't love it?
A: Yes. You can choose from the standalone companion page templates created for the kits and request to swap out the last page. You must specify this swap clearly in the production notes so the designer knows.
Q: Are these market kits mandatory to use?
A: No, they are completely optional and designed as a helpful tool/resource for editors when managing tight deadlines or page bumps.
Q: You can include the market content kits in an issue without localizing them, correct?
A: Correct. If you select 3 pages (or 4 pages) but choose not to localize the last page, it operates just like standard Evergreen content where stock content is automatically filled.
Q: Do we have to write production notes if we decide not to localize the content kit page, or is it automatic?
A: It is automatic because stock content will be filled if nothing is submitted, but writing a production note is always helpful so the designer isn't left guessing.
Q: Where do we go in ARC to add the new market content kits? Is it separate from national content?
A: Yes, it is separate from national content.
Go to your Issues tab in ARC and click Add.
Leave the option set to Use Recipe.
In the recipe dropdown menu, select the desired content kit (e.g., Purses 1).
Fill out the title, web category, and select your page count (up to 4 pages).
Q: If I want a 3-page layout where 2 pages are the kit content and the 3rd page is local content, do I just put that in the production notes?
A: Yes. Automatically, the last page becomes your localized page based on the page count you select (e.g., Page 3 for a 3-page selection). If you want a different text layout or photo structure for that local page, you can reference and request a template swap using the Companion Pages.
Q: Where can we find the companion pages in ARC?
A: Fastest route: Click the question mark icon in the top-right corner, select AI Answers, and type in "companion pages" or "companion page layouts".
Standard route: Click Training & Docs > Editorial and search for them there.
Q: Can we run 4 pages without localized content?
A: Yes, that is a possibility where the full 4 pages act as provided/filler content without the local companion page.