How to Create an On-Demand Ad in the Customer Portal

Client Email Example

Hi [Client Name],

We’re excited to introduce On-Demand Ads, a new feature that gives you more control over your ad design—right at your fingertips!

If your agreement includes Creative Ad Design, you can now create and manage professional print ads directly through the Customer Portal. The next time you log in, you’ll see a brief walkthrough introducing the new feature and showing you how to get started.

Additional Tools

If you don't see the Create an On-Demand Ad option, please reach out to us to verify that your agreement includes Creative Ad Design.

We're excited to see what you create! If you have any questions, we're always happy to help.

Best,

[Publisher Name/Team]

Steps

Click for Video Tutorial

Log in to the Customer Portal at citylifestylehq.com.
Click "Ads" in the left-hand navigation menu.
- Your next deadline displays at the top of the page. The upcoming insertion is listed first under "Ads by Issue."
Click the "+" on the insertion you're submitting a design for.
Select "Create an On-Demand Ad" from the four production options.
Choose the ad's goal: General Brand Awareness, Highlight a Product or Promotion, List All of Our Services, or Other.
Select a design template that matches the goal. Use "clear filter" (bottom left) to browse more options by Style, Text, Photos, Misc. Features, or Marketing Goal.
- Note: The form times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Fill in Ad Copy fields as applicable to the selected template: Headline, Tagline, Short Paragraph, Email, Instagram, Website, etc.
- Note: These change based on the template selected.
Click "Next Step."
Upload images and logos.
Click "Review" to preview the draft.

To revise an earlier section at any point, click that step number in the top navigation bar.

In the review screen, make any final adjustments:
- Replace uploads or drag a new image into a placement area.
- Search and drag in a stock photo if no custom image is available.
- Edit text, fonts, colors, and layout directly; use the Layers panel on the right to select/delete individual elements.
- Reference guidance on images, layers, typos, and final checks before submitting.
Click "Save" to store changes.
Click "Submit," then confirm by clicking "Submit" again in the popup.
Click "Close" to exit.

Our design team reviews within ~3 business days. Any necessary revisions are routed back to you for revision before the ad publishes in its assigned issue.

FAQ

Can I manage images and assets in the tool?

Yes. You can upload multiple images, which will populate the ad preview once generated. You can also drag and drop images into specific slots, adjust logo placement, and modify colors. Additionally, you can toggle layers to reveal or hide images and edit text elements. (Reminder: 300 DPI is recommended for all images.)

How does Adobe Stock licensing work?

Watermarks appear on Adobe Stock images during the initial phase. These are automatically removed during the licensing phase after the ad is submitted.

Why do I need to click "Save"?

Saving preserves your progress. If you exit the tool without saving, any progress made during that specific session will be lost. The system does, however, preserve existing drafts for future completion. You cannot submit the ad before you save your work.

What happens if I’m inactive?

The on-demand ad form has a 15-minute inactivity timeout. However, as long as you are actively editing within the ad maker tool, your session will remain active.

What do the different on-demand ad statuses mean?

Adobe License Pending: The system is processing the ad and removing watermarks.
Render Pending: The system is creating the high-quality print version.
Ad Submitted: The ad has been submitted for review.

Can I edit an ad after submitting it?

Yes, if internal teams request changes, the ad will revert to a draft state. You can then make edits, save, and re-submit. Note that re-submitting will restart the "Adobe license pending" phase, which typically takes about 5 minutes.

Are there restrictions on resetting an ad?

Yes. An ad cannot be reset once the creative deadline has passed and the ad is locked.

Before the deadline, clients can reset an ad from the main ad selection page:

Click Need More Options? Click Here! below the On-Demand Ads section.
Confirm that you want to reset the ad.

Resetting the ad will unlock the other submission options so you can start over.

Your Publisher can also reset the ad from their Ads List by opening the draft and clicking Reset Ad in the upper-right corner.