Managing Custom Content

If you cannot find a layout that fits your needs, you can also use your available custom content pages. Custom content is creating your own layout that better fits your article rather than the layouts provided to you. The amount of custom content available to you is limited. Let's go over how to use your custom content for each issue.

Past Layout Guides can be used for inspiration for Custom Content. You can find those here:

2023 Layout Guide

2024 Layout Guide

Check Your Allotted Custom Pages

1. Go to the Editorial tab in ARC.
2. Navigate to the Issues tab.
3. When adding a new article and selecting custom content, the system displays your total custom page allotment.
4. Or use the Custom Content Page Guide below.

Add Custom Content

1. Under the Issues tab, click Add.
2. Select Custom Content.
   1. Once custom content is selected, you cannot switch back to a provided layout without deleting the entry and starting over.
3. Specify the number of custom pages you wish to use for the article.
   1. You don’t have to use all custom pages at once. For example, if you have 6 pages, you can allocate 4 pages to one article and 2 pages to another. Although, custom content cannot be mixed with non-custom content. An article must either use all custom pages or adhere to a provided 2025 layout.
4. Click Add.
5. Fill out the required fields in the Assignment Tab.
6. Click Add to save the article.

Select Layout

After adding the article, you will select your custom content layout by:

1. Clicking Add Inspiration to browse and select a layout that matches your needs.
2. Going to the Past Issues tab and browse previous layouts from other magazines.
   1. To use a layout from another magazine, add a Production Note in the article’s content tab with the magazine’s name, issue month/year, and page number for the designer to identify. ARC does not auto-calculate word counts for these layouts, so you will need to do this manually.
3. Let the designer build a custom layout without pre-selection.
   1. In the Production Notes let them know any wishes you may have for the layout but to design it based on what you provide

Important Notes: 

• Custom layouts cannot be adjusted during proofing rounds. Be clear about your preferences to avoid unsatisfactory designs.
• Custom content is meant to be used when you have special circumstances where an existing layout isn’t suitable for your word count and photography. It follows the same rules for deadlines and edits as non-custom content. 
• Custom content articles can accommodate up to 300 words/page and all images should be 300 DPI.

Custom Content Page Guidelines

Custom Content for Advertisers

Guidelines for Managing Advertiser-Linked Editorials

Advertisers play a vital role in supporting our publications and the teams that produce them. At the same time, it's essential to maintain the integrity of our publication and ensure it is not perceived as advertorial. Below are key points and tips to help you navigate editorial requests from advertisers effectively:

1. Value Advertisers: Advertisers are critical to the success of our publications, providing financial support for our content and teams.
2. Preserve Editorial Integrity: Avoid turning the publication into an advertorial magazine by carefully managing the balance of advertiser-linked editorial content.

Tips for Managing Advertiser Editorial Requests

1. Suitable Columns for Advertiser Editorials

Some sections of the magazine naturally lend themselves to advertiser participation, including:

• Locally Owned
• Hot Spot
• Open House
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Financial Buzz
• Renovate & Refine

Depending on ad size and contract length, advertisers may qualify for these advice-style columns as part of their exposure.

2. Limit Advertiser-Linked Editorials

• For a 60-page magazine, avoid including more than three (3) advertiser-linked articles per issue.
• For smaller magazines (36–44 pages), limit this to two (2) per issue.
• Action Tip: Maintain open communication with your ad sales team and Publisher to prevent overbooking.

3. Review New Contracts Monthly

• At the start of each month, review all new contracts to identify advertiser commitments for editorial inclusion.
• Use a spreadsheet to track:
  • Company Name
  • Publication
  • Commitment (e.g., “1 editorial within first 6 months,” or “Hot Spot October 2012”)
  • Contract Terms (e.g., “June 2012 – Nov 2013”)
  • Contact Name, Phone, and Email

4. Obtain Publisher Approval

• Before Promising Editorial Space:

  Account managers must get approval from the Publisher or Local EC/Editor before including editorial commitments in agreements.

• Editorial space is limited, and themes are often planned 3–6 months in advance.

Best Practice: Avoid defining specific themes for editorial commitments. Allow the Local EC/Editor to choose the best-fit theme after consulting with the client.

5. Update the Editorial Tracker Regularly

• Maintain one master spreadsheet for all advertiser-linked editorial commitments.
• Create separate worksheets for each month’s closing (e.g., April 2020, May 2020, etc.).
• Send the updated tracker to the Local EC/Editor within a few days after closing.