How to Submit a Realty Report Ad Design in the Customer Portal

The Realty Report provides a professional, branded way to showcase recent property sales in your area, with two parts: a table for your MLS data (featuring 10 to 25 listings) and a customizable ⅓ page ad below. City Lifestyle manages the layout and design of the Realty Table to ensure brand consistency, while you provide the MLS data.

City Lifestyle designers are responsible for creating the Realty Report, and Creative Design Services are required for all Realty Reports.
All information must be submitted to the ARC system by the publication's Creative Design Request deadline.
You can submit a print-ready design for the ad at the bottom of the Realty Report, or our team can create one using a standard template.
The information for the ⅓ page ad portion must also be submitted through the Creative Design Request at the same time as the MLS data, by the Creative Design Request deadline.

Only Realty Reports designed by the City Lifestyle team are featured in the publication’s Table of Contents, offering added visibility. Only one Realty Report is allotted in the magazine per issue. Designs created by the client are not considered a realty report and must be in the agreement as a regular ad.

Log in to your Customer Portal via https://citylifestylehq.com using your credentials.
On the left-side menu, click the Ads Tab.
On the Ads main page, find the correct month you will be submitting an ad for, and click on the gray plus sign symbol.
Under “Ad Options”, design services will be under the “Let Us Create Your Ad” section found on the right. Click “Select” under “Let Us Create Your Ad”.
Field 1: Select Your Ad Style
1. Skip this field as it is unavailable for the Realty Report ad since the ⅓ page ad is standardized for the Realty Report Insertion.
Field 2: Ad Copy
1. If you’re providing a print-ready ⅓ page ad to be placed below the Realty Report, skip to Field #3.
2. If you want the design team to create the ⅓ page ad placed below the Realty Report, enter the text that will go into your ⅓ page ad.
  1. “What do you want your ad to say to your readers?” is required, and you will need to enter all of the specific text you want within your ad. You can provide your list of services, product descriptions, a powerful headline, testimonials, or anything that you believe is important for the reader to know.
  2. “Do you have any special services or promotions you want to highlight?” is not required, but you can add any key offers or promotions you want prominently featured, such as sales or unique services. This is optional but recommended.
  3. Please note that Designers will apply all text listed in the copy fields to this ad. All notes should be entered in the remaining fields.
Field 3: Add Images, Files, or Your Ad Inspiration
1. Upload all of the client-provided files you want in your ad in this field. This includes but is not limited to: logos, high-resolution images such as main images or headshots, and QR Codes.
2. In this field, you can also upload any inspirational images you would like the design team to reference as a helpful tool for the design team to see what you envision for your ad. It is important to note that the designer will not be able to use elements or pull copy from inspiration images, but only use them as a visual guide to understand your intentions for the ad.
  1. Note: AI inspiration may be submitted to convey the intended look & feel for the ad; however, all assets such as icons, images, logos, copy, and QR codes must be submitted as separate files or typed into the creative request.
3. Next to each file, there will be a section to label the file with a small note for reference, though detailed descriptions should be added in the “Final Designer Notes” field.
  1. Note: The field next to uploaded images and files does have a character limit and will cut off if too much text is entered.
4. You will have access to Adobe Stock inventory for images as well.
  1. Search for an image using a related description of what you’re looking for.
  2. Click on the image you want to use in your ad.
  3. Copy the file number.
  4. Paste the file number in the customer portal design request in the prompted box.
Field 4: Business Details
1. This section pulls your contact details directly from your account profile. It includes your main contact details, website, phone number, address, and additional contact information such as your social media handles.
2. You can fill in any areas that are blank or need editing. Details changed here will not update what we have on file for you, so be sure to inform your publisher of any updates needed so it can be pre-filled correctly next time.
Field 5: Customization Notes
1. Type any notes to the designer to ensure that your ad reflects your vision, highlights your key messages, and meets your expectations. Clear and detailed notes help the designer understand your preferences, avoid miscommunication, and deliver an ad that aligns with your goals.
2. Best Practices for Providing Designer Notes:
  1. Be Specific: Clearly describe what is wanted. Vague comments like “make it pop” or “make it high-quality” can be interpreted in different ways. Instead, say something like, “Please use bold colors for the headline to make it stand out.”
  2. Organize Notes by Sections: If your ad has multiple sections (headline, body text, images), break notes into categories. This helps the designer follow each element without missing details.
  3. Use Bullet Points or Numbered Lists: This makes it easier for the designer to follow the notes and check them off as they complete the requests.
  4. Design Services include designer access to Adobe & Google fonts. If the brand font is not available through those, the designer will attempt to match the font and will need the font file provided.
Field 6: Realty Report Data
1. Upload the MLS data in the proper CSV format by clicking “Add a CSV”. The data must be listed as:
  1. Neighborhood, List Price, Sold Price, %Sold/List, DOM, Bedrooms, and Baths.
  2. Click “Click here” to download a CSV template available for you to edit and upload if needed.
  3. Do not add any rows or columns, as the table is not customizable.
Once each section is completed, click on the green “Submit” button.