Launch Layouts and Concepts


Launch Issue 1 - 25 Pages of Content

Anchor Content

Pages: 6 total (1 page each)

  • Cover
  • Lifestyle Letter from Editor + Masthead
  • Table of Contents
  • City Scene
  • Business Monthly
  • Events

Local Content - Choose Your Layouts

Your launch issue features set article topics designed to maximize your community impact (19 pages total). Please select the layout and department assignments for the 3 customizable articles below.

Note: Departments cannot be repeated within the same issue. You will choose 2 distinct departments across Articles 1 and 2.

  • Article 1 (4 Pages):
    • Layout: Editor Select
    • Department: Choose one from the list below:
      • Home + Design
      • Local Spotlight
      • Food + Drinks
  • Article 2 (3 Pages):
    • Layout: [ Insert Layout Option A / B / C / Dropdown ]
    • Department: Choose one remaining department (cannot match Article 1):
      • Home + Design
      • Local Spotlight
      • Food + Drinks
  • Article 3 (1 Page):
    • Layout: Editor Select
    • Department: Select best fit
    • Publisher Favorite things around town 
  • Article 4: Select any Evergreen Article ( must be 4 Pages)
  • Article 5: Market-Ready Content Kit (Select any, must be 4 Pages)
  • Article 6: Market-Ready Content Kit (Select any, must be 3 Pages)

Note: Only one client feature will run in the first issue. Do not guarantee or commit to a specific issue month for any client feature; always work from a target month in an “upcoming issue” with flexibility. 


Layout Selection 

All layouts will be accessible to you. Please make sure you have saved the 2027 layout guide when reviewing and selecting layouts for each article.

Content Ideas for Issues 

Monthly Editorial Content Ideas



Cover

1 Page

DESCRIPTION: 

The cover is the first thing a reader sees when looking at the magazine. When choosing a cover image, ask yourself these two questions as you evaluate your cover photo: 

1. Does it say “luxury?” 

3. Will it resonate with readers?


HELPFUL TIPS & REGULATIONS:

• For the first issue, it does not need to be connected to one of the articles. 

• Consider negative space and make sure your subject won’t be covered up by the title or address label.

• When choosing a person (or people) for the cover: the image should be stylish, artistic, or charming; consider diversity of age, gender, and skin color - show a variety of members of your community!

• Form a “Cover Committee” or a group of several trusted “advisors” you can send cover options to each month and get feedback/have them vote on their favorite!


Word Count: 

MAIN TEASER: 0-5 WORDS 

SECONDARY TEASERS: 0-10 WORDS


Photography Guide (1 Photo):

8.5" x 11.125" (2550px x 3338px)


Lifestyle Letter + Masthead

1 Page


DESCRIPTION: 

Lifestyle Letter: Your most powerful page of the magazine! Make a personal connection with the reader.

Masthead: The masthead lists the magazine’s staff and contact info, establishing credibility for who’s responsible for the publication.


HELPFUL TIPS & REGULATIONS:

• The letter should be written by the publisher for the first issue.

• The Lifestyle Letter should preview the content in the magazine.

• Use our Lifestyle Letter templates in ARC as a jumping-off point, but add in your own unique voice!

• Include a professional headshot.

• Sign off in style with a PNG of your signature.

Please provide a high-quality signature on a white background for the design team to cut out. Your signature only needs to be provided once.


Title: 0-10 words

Body Copy: 100-400 words


Photography Guide (1 photo):

2” x 2” (circle)


Table of Contents

1 Page

DESCRIPTION: 

This section gives navigation information for anchor and local content and provides cover image information.


HELPFUL TIPS & REGULATIONS:

• Select your major stories to be featured in the 2-3 photo slots.

• Include a blurb about your

cover photo and photographer information.


Specifications:

Featured Article Title: 0-10 words

Featured Article Description: 3-15 words

Cover Photo Photographer Name: 0-15 words

Cover Photo Description: 0-35 words



Photography Guide: The photos are selected from the articles chosen to be featured.


City Scene

1 Page

DESCRIPTION: 

A place for residents to see their "neighbors" (and potentially themselves!) in the magazine. City Scene is a section in our magazine that highlights local past events with photos, captions, and photo credits. It celebrates community moments and helps connect residents to the vibrant lifestyle of their city.


HELPFUL TIPS & REGULATIONS:

• Source these photos from MULTIPLE different events around town (NOT just one single event) 

• Get a variety of images and

event types: Art openings, industry events, performances, concerts, sports and outdoors, awards shows or competitions, races, more!

• The layout is designed to facilitate a smaller image size.

• Be sure to request permission from the owner to print in the magazine, with a tag/credit to their account.


Specifications:

Word Count for Photo Caption: 0-15 words


Photography Guide: All images must be at a minimum size of 2.5" x 2" inches


The images will vary in size depending on where they are placed. You are requesting to obtain a photo agreement, providing you with the rights to use the original image.


Business Monthly

1 Page

DESCRIPTION: 

Business Monthly is a tool for the publisher to offer extra exposure for their existing clients. They can also use it as a "warm lead" to talk to business owners that they want as advertising partners by offering them a Business Monthly. Business Monthly should be used to highlight city announcements, business updates, and community news. 


HELPFUL TIPS:

• Whether used as leverage to

highlight advertising partners or local businesses, highlight happenings readers may find relevant or interesting!

• Choose the photo based on the

focus of the story. Keep in mind these are small, so zoomed-in photos translate best!

• A City Lifestyle QR code can be added as long as the account has been added to ARC


Specifications:

Title: 1-10 words

Entry Copy: Maximum of 75 words



Photography Guide (1 per entry): All photos are cropped to 2.25" x 2" inches


Events

1 Page

DESCRIPTION: 

Highlight events upcoming in your local community throughout the month the issue is released.


HELPFUL TIPS & REGULATIONS:

• Festivals, art exhibits, concerts, carnivals or parades, restaurant week, film festivals, races and triathlons, food competitions, antique or collectors events, major venues, and where to find them

• Events must follow content policy guidelines

• Events can be entered in any order in ARC, and will be systematically rearranged for print in chronological order.



REQUIREMENTS: 

Specifications (per entry):

Title: 1-10 words

Date is required

Location: 1-10 words

Description: Maximum of 60 words


Local Content

4 Pages
RECIPE: Editor Select 

Department Selection (4-Page Feature)

Select one department below for this article.

  • Home + Design
  • Local Spotlight
  • Food + Drinks

Rule: Each department can only be used once per issue. Whichever department you select here cannot be used for your second local article

Local Content

3 Pages
RECIPE: Editor Select

Department Selection (3-Page Feature)

Select one department below for this article.

  • Home + Design
  • Local Spotlight
  • Food + Drinks

Rule: Each department can only be used once per issue. Whichever department you select here cannot be used for your other local article

Local Content

1 Page
RECIPE: Editor Select

Publisher Feature (1 Page)

This feature introduces you to the community on a personal level—as a neighbor, not just the publisher. Share your favorite things, such as go-to local restaurants, everyday essentials, or beloved travel spots.

  • Layout: Choose a 1-page layout (Roundup design recommended)

Evergreen Content 

Pages: 4 pages

Select any four-page evergreen article from the library. 

Market-Ready Content Kit

Pages: 4 pages

Select your preferred 4-page kit option (all copy and images are provided). 

Market-Ready Content Kit

Pages: 3 pages

Select your preferred 3-page kit option (all copy and images are provided). 



Launch Issues 2-4 

Editorial Pages should take up approximately half of your publication, with ad pages making up the remaining pages. Include enough added content to fill your publication, leaving between 0.5-1 pages left available for the pagination process.

Anchor Content

Pages: 6 total (1 page each)

  • Cover
  • Lifestyle Letter from Editor + Masthead
  • Table of Contents
  • City Scene
  • Business Monthly
  • Events

Optional Additions

  • Evergreen Content
  • Market-Ready Content Kits
  • City List 
  • Custom Content 

Local Content - Choose Your Layouts

During months 2 through 4, you’ll have the exciting opportunity to infuse your local flavor into each issue! Unleash your creativity by crafting content that resonates with your community and showcases your city’s unique perspective.

Aim for an editorial makeup of approximately 50% Local Community and 50% Local Advertisers.

The 3 Core Department Requirements

Each issue must include exactly three articles designated to cover our three mandatory departments (one department per article; do not duplicate departments within an issue):

  • Home + Design
  • Local Spotlight
  • Food + Drinks

Any additional articles in the issue can be assigned to any departmental category.


Layout Selection 

All layouts will be accessible to you once more. Please make sure you have saved the 2027 layout guide when reviewing and selecting layouts for each issue's articles.


For more ideas:  Monthly Editorial Content Ideas


Optional Additions

City List

1 Page

DESCRIPTION: 

The City List is the Publisher’s choice selection of the top local businesses by industry. This section is designed as a tool to support prospecting and sales conversations with potential clients.


HELPFUL TIPS:

Note: Additional categories need to be approved to be added; they cannot be noted under the production notes. Only the categories under the dropdown are available unless added by the corporate team. It is best to reach out to National Support a minimum of 3 days before your editorial deadline closes for additional category approval requests.


Custom Content

Launch Custom: 3 Pages

DESCRIPTION: 

If you cannot find a layout that fits your needs, you can use your available custom content pages to customize a layout to fit your content. The amount of custom content available to you is limited.


HELPFUL TIPS & REGULATIONS:

•The amount of custom content pages you are allotted can be found in the Custom Content Page Guidelines section of the Managing Custom Content Training Guide

• Launch issues are allotted 3 total pages throughout the publication. 

Note: If you want to customize any single page in a recipe layout, the entire article will need to be entered as custom content, and the entire article will be considered custom content. Custom content can be split between multiple articles, but cannot exceed the total amount of custom pages listed on the content page guidelines.

• It is best practice to use past layouts for inspiration on custom layouts. You should note in the production notes of the article which article you would like to use for custom inspiration, with the magazine name, month and year, and page number(s) so the designer can reference it easily. 

• All custom content must fit within City Lifestyle’s overall brand style, so not all requests will be completed exactly as requested if the request is deemed not to fit our style. The designer will adjust and make the design fit as closely as possible to what has been requested. 

• Custom layouts cannot be adjusted during review rounds.


Specifications:

Maximum 300 words per page


Photography Guide:

Images should be 300 DPI

Issue 2

Anchor Content (1 Page each):

  • Cover
  • Lifestyle Letter from Editor + Masthead
  • Table of Contents
  • City Scene
  • Business Monthly
  • Events

Local Content:

  • Home + Design Department: Home Feature – 4 Pages
  • Local Spotlight Department: Local Person Feature – 3 Pages
  • Food + Drinks Department: Local Roundup – 1 Page
  • Advertiser Feature: 4 Pages
  • Local Roundup - 1 Page
  • Market-Ready Content Kit - 2 Pages

(Note: The three core departments can be mapped to whichever page lengths suit your story lineup.)

Issue 3

Anchor Content (1 Page each):

  • Cover
  • Lifestyle Letter from Editor + Masthead
  • Table of Contents
  • City Scene
  • Business Monthly
  • Events

Local Content:

  • Home + Design Department: Home Feature – 4 Pages
  • Local Spotlight Department: Local Person Feature – 3 Pages
  • Food + Drinks Department: Local Roundup – 3 Pages
  • Fashion Profile - 2 Pages

Market-Ready Content Kit - 2 Pages

Issue 4

Anchor Content (1 Page each):

  • Cover
  • Lifestyle Letter from Editor + Masthead
  • Table of Contents
  • City Scene
  • Business Monthly
  • Events

Local Content:

  • Home + Design Department: Home Feature – 4 Pages
  • Local Spotlight Department: Local Person Feature – 2 Pages
  • Food + Drinks Department: Local Roundup – 4 Pages
  • Ask the Expert - 2 Pages

Market-Ready Content Kit - 2 Pages

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