Questions and Answers About Cleveland Park Listserv Ads
How much does an advertisement cost?
Business and property ads are $50 each. You can also purchase a package of four advertisements for the cost of three ($150). Larger packages with greater discounts are also available. We also offer a discount (half-price) rate to nonprofits and to non-business advertisers of $25 each, or four for the price of three for $75. There are large-package choices for the nonprofit/non-business poster, too. Contact us at moderator @ cleveland-park.com for the full range of options.
How do I send in an advertisement?
If you are a listserv member, just post your message to the listserv as your ordinarily would. The simplest way is to send your ad in by email to the posting address, [email protected]. If you are not a listserv member, it's easy to join; just let us know what email address you want to use to post your ads and we will sign you up. Posting an ad is as easy as sending an email. You just email your ad to the posting address,[email protected], and it will go out to our very large listserv audience. (Check our homepage at https://groups.io/g/clevelandpark and you will see the current number of subscribers under "Group Information." If you don't want to join a large and very busy listserv to post your own ads, that's fine, too -- we can post your ad for you. Just send the ad copy to moderator @ cleveland-park.com.
How quickly will my advertisement appear?
Usually your ad appears within an hour or two after paying for and posting your message. Sometimes it can take as long as six hours for an advertisement to appear (assuming your advertisement was sent in during normal business hours). If you want your advertisement to be posted on a particular day or need it posted ASAP, please email the list moderators at moderator @ cleveland-park dot com or include that information when you purchase your advertisement. You can also call us at 202-742-6873.
I'm having trouble paying using your online system, but I need to run my ad soon. What can I do?
Just let us know that you want your ad to run ASAP and we'll post now and handle the payment afterward. If you like, we can use our PayPal invoicing system to email a bill that you can pay by credit card or by check. Or we can take a credit card payment over the phone - just call our business voicemail at 202-742-6873 and leave a message and we'll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Why should I advertise on the Cleveland Park Listserv when I can post a free message on other listservs?
The Cleveland Park Listserv is the largest community email list in the US; it's more than three times the size of the next largest listserv in DC. Its readership and its reach is much more comparable to a small-town newspaper than the typical neighborhood listserv. The CP Listserv is the only listserv that is professionally edited and free of all shilling, trolling, spamming and flame-wars. We run regular features, such as our popular "Get Out" weekly events column, as well as informative public service announcements and notices from Metro, the MPD, and city agencies. Ads on the listserv, unlike ads on most websites and in print publications, go straight into our readers' inboxes. Ads are not pushed off into a "classified" section, as they are in most newspapers, and they are not off to the side, or in annoying "pop-ups" they way they are on most websites. Our readers tell us they actually like to get the information about neighborhood services and sales that they find on the Cleveland Park Listserv -- and our sponsors tell us they get the best results from advertising on the CP Listserv. That's why most of our advertisers keep coming back.
I'm still not certain that this is a good way to reach potential customers. Who is on an email list these days? Haven't people moved on to Twitter and Instagram and other social media?
If they are, they're still sticking with the CP Listserv, all the same! And we continue to grow by 20-25 new members a week. People stick with us, and they spread the word about us, because it's such a simple, useful way to get information and talk about the things that matter to them. Here are some statistics about our readers that you should know:
The Cleveland Park Listserv readership is concentrated in zip codes 20008 and 20016, two of the highest income and most educated demographics in the United States. We also have significant number of readers in 20015, 2007, and 2009, plus a fair number in the close-in suburbs. Here are some of the advantages of advertising on the Cleveland Park Listserv, which you can't find in combination anywhere else:
If I purchase the 4 ads for the price of three package, within what time frame do I have to place these ads?
You can place your ads whenever you want to use them. Prepaid ads never expire on the Cleveland Park Listserv. Of course, if it's been more than a year since you advertised last, we may need a little reminder about your advertising account. If your company name or contact information has changed since you last advertised, please be sure to update us.
Are there any discounts for buying more than a "4 for the price of 3" package of ads?
Yes, we offer larger discount advertising packages for sponsors who want to advertise once a month, twice a month, or once a week. Whatever your budget, we can work with you to maximize your ability to communicate with our readers. Give us a call at 202-742-6873 or drop us an email to moderator @ cleveland-park dot com.
What if my advertising message has typos, formatting mistakes, or other problems?
We will correct any minor spelling, grammatical, formatting or typographical mistakes for you. If there are any substantive problems with your advertisement, we will contact you before putting it through. We will always work with you to make sure your ad is just the way you wanted it,
Do you have any tips for writing an effective ad?
We've learned it's best to keep the tone of your advertisement as un-ad like as possible. That is, write it as if you were talking to your neighbors, rather than drumming up customers. Be sure not to use ALL UPPERCASE since in email etiquette this is regarded as shouting. Also, as exciting as something may be, it's best to avoid multiple exclamation marks!!! (Some people set their spam filters to screen out messages with too many exclamations marks.) Ads written in a friendly, even neighborly style, tend to get the best results.
How long can my ad be?
Brevity is usually best, but your advertisement can be up to 750 words. We strongly recommend keeping your ad under 500 words. Since you are not paying by the word, you don't need to abbreviate anything or try to cram a lot of information into a small space (as you would in a newspaper ad). But keep in mind that some readers will be reading on a smartphone with a small screen, and they may not like to scroll down too many times. We can advise you on how long is too long....or whether you should add more information to an ad that doesn't say quite enough.
What is the best day of the week/time of day to advertise?
The great thing about advertising on an email list is that people read the messages when they're in the mood for them, at their own pace, at a convenient time. So you can relax, knowing that when a reader sits down to read his or her listserv email, that reader will be ready to see messages about what's going on in the neighborhood, including what our listserv sponsors have to offer in in the way of services, classes, products, events, and other things. If you are advertising an event (for example, an Open House or a show), it's always advisable to get the information out at least 2-3 days ahead of time, to give readers time to plan to attend. If it's something that calls for a fair amount of advance planning (for example, joining an organized tour group), then by all means take that into account. But based on our years' experience with ads on the listserv, we have come to the conclusion that in terms of readership interest, there's no particular day or the week and time of day placement that works better than any other, in terms of reader response.
You forgot to thank me in your monthly thank you to advertisers.
If we made a mistake, please let us know and we'll fix that and make amends as quickly as possible.
How long does my ad stay on the Listserv?
Once your ad has been sent out as an email to all our subscribers, it remains in place on our website at [email protected] as a permanent part of our searchable archive. So, if you are a locksmith, and you have posted ads, any time any list member goes to the "Messages" or "Conversations" link on the Cleveland Park Listserv and types in the search term "locksmith," your ad will appear in the results.
Do you have a question that hasn't been answered here?
Give us a call at 202-742-6873 or drop us a note at moderator @ cleveland-park.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. If your question is one we get more than a couple of times, we will add it to this FAQ, too!
Click here to go back to main advertising page.
Business and property ads are $50 each. You can also purchase a package of four advertisements for the cost of three ($150). Larger packages with greater discounts are also available. We also offer a discount (half-price) rate to nonprofits and to non-business advertisers of $25 each, or four for the price of three for $75. There are large-package choices for the nonprofit/non-business poster, too. Contact us at moderator @ cleveland-park.com for the full range of options.
How do I send in an advertisement?
If you are a listserv member, just post your message to the listserv as your ordinarily would. The simplest way is to send your ad in by email to the posting address, [email protected]. If you are not a listserv member, it's easy to join; just let us know what email address you want to use to post your ads and we will sign you up. Posting an ad is as easy as sending an email. You just email your ad to the posting address,[email protected], and it will go out to our very large listserv audience. (Check our homepage at https://groups.io/g/clevelandpark and you will see the current number of subscribers under "Group Information." If you don't want to join a large and very busy listserv to post your own ads, that's fine, too -- we can post your ad for you. Just send the ad copy to moderator @ cleveland-park.com.
How quickly will my advertisement appear?
Usually your ad appears within an hour or two after paying for and posting your message. Sometimes it can take as long as six hours for an advertisement to appear (assuming your advertisement was sent in during normal business hours). If you want your advertisement to be posted on a particular day or need it posted ASAP, please email the list moderators at moderator @ cleveland-park dot com or include that information when you purchase your advertisement. You can also call us at 202-742-6873.
I'm having trouble paying using your online system, but I need to run my ad soon. What can I do?
Just let us know that you want your ad to run ASAP and we'll post now and handle the payment afterward. If you like, we can use our PayPal invoicing system to email a bill that you can pay by credit card or by check. Or we can take a credit card payment over the phone - just call our business voicemail at 202-742-6873 and leave a message and we'll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Why should I advertise on the Cleveland Park Listserv when I can post a free message on other listservs?
The Cleveland Park Listserv is the largest community email list in the US; it's more than three times the size of the next largest listserv in DC. Its readership and its reach is much more comparable to a small-town newspaper than the typical neighborhood listserv. The CP Listserv is the only listserv that is professionally edited and free of all shilling, trolling, spamming and flame-wars. We run regular features, such as our popular "Get Out" weekly events column, as well as informative public service announcements and notices from Metro, the MPD, and city agencies. Ads on the listserv, unlike ads on most websites and in print publications, go straight into our readers' inboxes. Ads are not pushed off into a "classified" section, as they are in most newspapers, and they are not off to the side, or in annoying "pop-ups" they way they are on most websites. Our readers tell us they actually like to get the information about neighborhood services and sales that they find on the Cleveland Park Listserv -- and our sponsors tell us they get the best results from advertising on the CP Listserv. That's why most of our advertisers keep coming back.
I'm still not certain that this is a good way to reach potential customers. Who is on an email list these days? Haven't people moved on to Twitter and Instagram and other social media?
If they are, they're still sticking with the CP Listserv, all the same! And we continue to grow by 20-25 new members a week. People stick with us, and they spread the word about us, because it's such a simple, useful way to get information and talk about the things that matter to them. Here are some statistics about our readers that you should know:
The Cleveland Park Listserv readership is concentrated in zip codes 20008 and 20016, two of the highest income and most educated demographics in the United States. We also have significant number of readers in 20015, 2007, and 2009, plus a fair number in the close-in suburbs. Here are some of the advantages of advertising on the Cleveland Park Listserv, which you can't find in combination anywhere else:
- You're reaching a highly targeted and prosperous audience.
- Same-day and next-day advertising is available. When timing matters, the Cleveland Park Listserv is the place to advertise.
- It's easy -- just send in your advertisement as a simple email message to [email protected] (if you are already a listserv member) or send it to us at moderator @ cleveland-park dot com and we will post it for you.
- Staying power - your advertisement stays in our frequently searched archives forever. Your posted message will be found when somebody searches the archives (and people do that often.)
If I purchase the 4 ads for the price of three package, within what time frame do I have to place these ads?
You can place your ads whenever you want to use them. Prepaid ads never expire on the Cleveland Park Listserv. Of course, if it's been more than a year since you advertised last, we may need a little reminder about your advertising account. If your company name or contact information has changed since you last advertised, please be sure to update us.
Are there any discounts for buying more than a "4 for the price of 3" package of ads?
Yes, we offer larger discount advertising packages for sponsors who want to advertise once a month, twice a month, or once a week. Whatever your budget, we can work with you to maximize your ability to communicate with our readers. Give us a call at 202-742-6873 or drop us an email to moderator @ cleveland-park dot com.
What if my advertising message has typos, formatting mistakes, or other problems?
We will correct any minor spelling, grammatical, formatting or typographical mistakes for you. If there are any substantive problems with your advertisement, we will contact you before putting it through. We will always work with you to make sure your ad is just the way you wanted it,
Do you have any tips for writing an effective ad?
We've learned it's best to keep the tone of your advertisement as un-ad like as possible. That is, write it as if you were talking to your neighbors, rather than drumming up customers. Be sure not to use ALL UPPERCASE since in email etiquette this is regarded as shouting. Also, as exciting as something may be, it's best to avoid multiple exclamation marks!!! (Some people set their spam filters to screen out messages with too many exclamations marks.) Ads written in a friendly, even neighborly style, tend to get the best results.
How long can my ad be?
Brevity is usually best, but your advertisement can be up to 750 words. We strongly recommend keeping your ad under 500 words. Since you are not paying by the word, you don't need to abbreviate anything or try to cram a lot of information into a small space (as you would in a newspaper ad). But keep in mind that some readers will be reading on a smartphone with a small screen, and they may not like to scroll down too many times. We can advise you on how long is too long....or whether you should add more information to an ad that doesn't say quite enough.
What is the best day of the week/time of day to advertise?
The great thing about advertising on an email list is that people read the messages when they're in the mood for them, at their own pace, at a convenient time. So you can relax, knowing that when a reader sits down to read his or her listserv email, that reader will be ready to see messages about what's going on in the neighborhood, including what our listserv sponsors have to offer in in the way of services, classes, products, events, and other things. If you are advertising an event (for example, an Open House or a show), it's always advisable to get the information out at least 2-3 days ahead of time, to give readers time to plan to attend. If it's something that calls for a fair amount of advance planning (for example, joining an organized tour group), then by all means take that into account. But based on our years' experience with ads on the listserv, we have come to the conclusion that in terms of readership interest, there's no particular day or the week and time of day placement that works better than any other, in terms of reader response.
You forgot to thank me in your monthly thank you to advertisers.
If we made a mistake, please let us know and we'll fix that and make amends as quickly as possible.
How long does my ad stay on the Listserv?
Once your ad has been sent out as an email to all our subscribers, it remains in place on our website at [email protected] as a permanent part of our searchable archive. So, if you are a locksmith, and you have posted ads, any time any list member goes to the "Messages" or "Conversations" link on the Cleveland Park Listserv and types in the search term "locksmith," your ad will appear in the results.
Do you have a question that hasn't been answered here?
Give us a call at 202-742-6873 or drop us a note at moderator @ cleveland-park.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. If your question is one we get more than a couple of times, we will add it to this FAQ, too!
Click here to go back to main advertising page.