Metro Creative Connection
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FEATURED VIDEOS

Creative & Sales Ideas
Ideas to BOOst Halloween revenue
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Creative & Sales Ideas
Increase 4th Quarter Revenue with Metro's 2023 Holiday Advertising Service
Watch Now »

Webinars
08/31/23 Webinar: TEAMING UP TO GROW REVENUE
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VIDEO TUTORIALS

Ideas to BOOst Halloween revenue


Increase 4th Quarter Revenue with Metro's 2023 Holiday Advertising Service


Planning & Promotions Calendar - Find monthly, weekly and daily events for promotional and advertiser tie-ins


Plus Business - Metro's networking resource for industry success stories


Native Advertising & Social Media - Use Metro editorial features to develop and expand native advertising and social network content


Animated Web Ads - How to easily create an Animated Web Ad


04/20/23 Webinar: BEST OF THE BEST REVENUE IDEAS


02/16/23 Webinar: SUPPORT & STRATEGY FOR CREATIVE PROS (full video)


02/16/23 Webinar Excerpt: Illustrations & Image Manipulation


02/16/23 Webinar Excerpt: Tips for Writing Compelling Ads


02/16/23 Webinar Excerpt: Designing Attention-Getting Ads


10/21/21 Webinar: LET'S TALK ABOUT SPECS

See how ready-to-present-and-sell spec ads from Metro can help you close 70 to 90 percent of sales calls with this live webinar. Learn about all of the spec ad resources Metro offers to help you start the conversation with new prospects, reconnect with inactive accounts, upsell existing advertisers, and get clients excited about advertising. We’ll also go over valuable planning, sales and design tools included with your subscription; custom ad creation options; and helpful tips for making the most of Metro’s site and services.


08/25/21 Webinar: SALE AFTER SALE AFTER SALE - HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR & CLOSE THE SALE WITH ADVERTISERS


06/24/21 Webinar: SALES CALL $TRATEGIES for CLOSING up to 90%


04/15/21 Webinar: DESIGNING KICK-A$$ CAMPAIGNS


03/06/21 Webinar: DESIGNING KICK-A$$ ADS


09/28/23 Webinar: UNLOCKING EVENT COMMERCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH EVVNT & METRO

Implementing time-saving new ways to generate recurring revenue is a top priority for today’s media companies. With EVVNT & METRO, publishers can now connect event marketers to readers instantly with automated digital calendars that can also reverse-publish to print, monetizing advertising as well as ticketing from the $16 billion events industry. This 45-minute webinar will show how fast and easy it is to use these digital calendars to drive discovery and new leads, promote events and marketing services in print, and earn revenue from every ticket sold. Case studies will demonstrate how publishers are using this all-in-one platform to generate thousands in monthly revenue from ticket fees, marketing and advertising, while also gaining valuable consumer purchase data.


08/31/23 Webinar: TEAMING UP TO GROW REVENUE

Join us in exploring the various ways local newspapers and publications are teaming up to create more productive collaborative cultures, and how your Metro subscription tools can help. This live webinar will present industry-tested best practices for getting sales and creative pros working together to save time, increase efficiency and produce greater revenue, all while improving customer and workplace satisfaction. We’ll also review how one publication used their team-focused approach to successfully plan and sell a popular program idea worth $5,000 in monthly revenue.


08/10/2023 Webinar: THE POWER OF SPEC ADS (Metro's Laura Koch and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation)


05/02/23 Webinar: SPECIAL SECTIONS: REVIEW and IDEAS (2023 New England Newspaper Convention)

Optimize your sections program with this Metro Webinar presentation for the New England Newspaper & Press Association


04/20/23 Webinar: BEST OF THE BEST REVENUE IDEAS

Join us in reviewing the best of the best print and digital success stories submitted by local newspapers across North America in our recent Best of the Best 2022 Revenue Ideas Contest. This webinar recognizes the contest winners, and shares the details of how they successfully implemented their most successful revenue-generating programs of 2022. Learn what’s working for peer publications in today’s economy, and get inspired to capture more revenue of your own in 2023.


02/16/23 Webinar: SUPPORT & STRATEGY FOR CREATIVE PROS (full video)

Explore all the ways MetroCreativeConnection.com can inspire your best creative work! Metro’s Creative Team shows MCC users how to find and use thousands of fresh design and copy ideas; time-saving production tools; and online features for sharing, collaborating and organizing projects. Plus, they delve into helpful planning tools like the promotional calendar and SearchBook to develop creative tie-ins for local advertisers using a variety of images and layouts, including themed pages, contests, infographics, shaped ads, web ads, coloring panels, headings and more.


02/16/23 Webinar Excerpt: Illustrations & Image Manipulation


02/16/23 Webinar Excerpt: Tips for Writing Compelling Ads


02/16/23 Webinar Excerpt: Designing Attention-Getting Ads


01/19/23 Webinar: EVERY BENEFIT YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD: 30 MINUTES TO MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR METRO SUBSCRIPTION!

Learn how to extract the most value from your Metro subscription in print, online and on social media with every creative, sales and editorial feature and benefit that’s already included. See just how much more than a stock site Metro delivers, with a rundown of everything from spec ad and article libraries to section features, page layouts, native advertising, social media, web ads, games and puzzles, horoscopes, promotional calendars, team communication tools, custom content requests and beyond. Plus, look at localizing Metro’s flexible content to meet your unique needs and provide added value to advertisers. If you’re looking for ways to save time, grow revenue and overcome staffing challenges with the budget you already have in place, this is an essential webinar you can’t afford to miss!


10/20/22 Webinar - STRATEGIC SPECIAL SECTION PROGRAM PLANNING FOR 2023 (full video)

Discover what special section titles and ideas are performing best for publications across North America, and how you can plan, promote and execute your own seamless and profitable sections targeting key categories using Metro’s Themed Special Sections (TSS) program. This webinar will show you how to use these fully templated, ready-to-present-and-run special sections ­– available in 37 titles featuring unbranded copyright-free content with ad spots in place – to minimize production time and maximize ad revenue. See what’s new for 2023 – fresh themes, bonus mini sections, magazine and tabloid sizes for every title, multiple cover designs, and more – so you can choose the best options for your market. You’ll also learn how to leverage your Metro Creative Library access to optimize sales for every section with personalized spec ads, directories and local program ideas. Plus, get valuable tips for successfully marketing your special sections. This live webinar will also show you how to cultivate digital sections revenue with ready-to-use Themed Websites & Online Directories to match every print title for a coordinated, interactive print and digital program that captures every sales opportunity.


10/20/22 Webinar Excerpt: What's New for 2023


10/20/22 Webinar Excerpt: Anatomy of Metro's Themed Special Sections


10/20/22 Webinar Excerpt: Customize, Localize & Sell!


09/22/22 Webinar - Q4 SELLING WORKSHOP

Unwrap the latest planning, sales, editorial and creative tools your Metro subscription provides to grow-ho-ho fourth-quarter revenue. This webinar will show you all the ways MetroCreativeConnection.com can help your publication engage more advertisers and readers with holiday-themed special sections, pages and locally focused promotions, as well as the Holiday Advertising Service customer appreciation program.


02/17/22 Webinar: "SHOP LOCAL" STRATEGIES FOR AD REVENUE & READER ENGAGEMENT

Learn about the valuable tools Metro provides to help you target and promote local advertisers, events and community investment. Our live webinar will show you how to energize sales and help local merchants compete with big-box businesses using your MCC content libraries, as well as a ready-to-run print and online special section program. Reader engagement tools like contests, social media and unique community programs will also be covered. Register now to benefit from the full spectrum of spec ads, images, editorial features, digital products and ideas available to support and grow your “shop local” efforts!


01/13/22 Webinar: GET SALES RESULTS YOU'LL LOVE WITH THE WIZARD

Make a date with MiAD®Wizard to see how this valuable sales tool can help increase your close rate to 70 percent or more, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Our live webinar will show you how to find and instantly personalize print and digital spec ads and presentations for all of your prospects – then share them from your laptop or mobile device, print and present, or email – in three simple steps. Send sold specs to your design team for all the finishing touches, and streamline the entire process. All you need is internet access, a web browser and this helpful webinar to start sealing more deals for Valentine’s Day and all year, free trial included!


10/28/21 Webinar: HOLIDAY SALES WORKSHOP

Learn how to maximize guaranteed fourth-quarter revenue using the latest selling tools exclusive to Metro’s Holiday Advertising Service. This live webinar will explore new individual and group greeting layouts and marketing support for Christmas, Thanksgiving, the New Year, Chanukah and Kwanzaa, as well as an archive of more than 10,000 ads and images, available only to Holiday subscribers. Plus, learn how to instantly personalize ads with Metro’s ad Wizard and preview four ready-to-sell templated sections, all included free with this year’s Holiday Service. Examples of how publications are using the Holiday Service to successfully build special sections and fourth-quarter sales will also be included!


10/21/21 Webinar: LET'S TALK ABOUT SPECS

See how ready-to-present-and-sell spec ads from Metro can help you close 70 to 90 percent of sales calls with this live webinar. Learn about all of the spec ad resources Metro offers to help you start the conversation with new prospects, reconnect with inactive accounts, upsell existing advertisers, and get clients excited about advertising. We’ll also go over valuable planning, sales and design tools included with your subscription; custom ad creation options; and helpful tips for making the most of Metro’s site and services.


10/07/21 Webinar: GUARANTEED Q4 $ALES BLUEPRINT

Learn how to maximize guaranteed fourth-quarter revenue using the latest selling tools exclusive to Metro’s Holiday Advertising Service. This live webinar will explore new individual and group greeting layouts and marketing support for Christmas, Thanksgiving, the New Year, Chanukah and Kwanzaa, as well as an archive of more than 10,000 ads and images, available only to Holiday subscribers. Plus, learn how to instantly personalize ads with Metro’s ad Wizard and preview four ready-to-sell templated sections, all included free with this year’s Holiday Service.


09/23/21 Webinar: DIGITAL SUCCE$$ TOOLS & TACTICS

Recorded on September 23, 3021 - Explore the most cost-effective ways to expand online readership and ad revenue with easy-to-implement digital options from Metro. This live webinar covers the quickest ways to dive into digital, a look at sleek ready-to-use online sections and directory designs that draw in advertisers at any price point, and best practices for leveraging your local role in the digital realm.


08/25/21 Webinar: SALE AFTER SALE AFTER SALE - HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR & CLOSE THE SALE WITH ADVERTISERS

Learn how newspaper account executive Chris Scott is achieving 130 percent of budget using Pulse + Metro presentation tools. Chris will share his best practices for making presentations more compelling, while experts from Pulse and Metro demo how to seamlessly create data-driven sales presentations complete with personalized spec ads to reach and sell more local advertisers in less time, and help them reach their own sales goals. All webinar attendees will receive a free program trial. Q&A to follow. You are invited to a Zoom meeting.


06/24/21 Webinar: SALES CALL $TRATEGIES for CLOSING up to 90%

LEARN HOW TO CREATE PERSONALIZED, PROFESSIONAL SPEC ADS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR EVERY SALES CALL IN MINUTES USING METRO’S NEWEST AD WIZARD.
Customize print and digital ad designs for any advertiser using their logo.
Create, save and share presentations with teams and clients.
Start seeing close rates of 70 to 90 percent.
All you need is this 45-minute webinar to get started from your laptop or tablet, no further training required.

We’ll also demonstrate how you can incorporate consumer buying data from the experts at Pulse Research to identify the best local business prospects, and create data-driven spec ad presentations to enrich your pitch and make every sales call count.


06/17/21 Webinar: DIGITAL SUCCE$$ TOOLS & TACTICS

Explore the most cost-effective ways to expand online readership and ad revenue with easy-to-implement digital options from Metro. This live webinar covers the quickest ways to dive into digital, sleek ready-to use online sections and directory designs that draw in advertisers at any price point, and best practices for leveraging your local role in the digital realm.


05/13/21 Webinar: DIGITAL SUCCE$$ TOOLS & TACTICS

Explore the most cost-effective ways to expand online readership and ad revenue with easy-to-implement digital options from Metro. This live webinar covers the quickest ways to dive into digital, sleek ready-to use online sections and directory designs that draw in advertisers at any price point, and best practices for leveraging your local role in the digital realm.


04/15/21 Webinar: DESIGNING KICK-A$$ CAMPAIGNS

Implement expert tips from Metro’s newspaper, magazine and digital design team, as well as best practices for melding sales and creative input to develop more effective ads and campaigns. Plus, whether you’re a sales rep or designer, discover new ways to target promotions and campaigns for advertisers as a team using your Metro resources.


03/04/21 Webinar: DESIGNING KICK-A$$ ADS

Implement expert tips from Metro's newspaper, magazine and digital design team, as well as best practices for melding sales and creative input to develop more effective ads. Plus, whether you're a sales rep or designer, discover new ways to target promotions for advertisers as a team using your Metro resources.


Want to Learn More? - See what the 2023 Holiday Advertising Service is all about


Holiday Marketing to Make Your Business Stand Out!


Holiday "How-To" - Everything you need to know to access Holiday content - SearchBook, Images, Ads, MiAD Wizard, Themed Special Sections



Creative Library - search for and download ad and cover templates (InDesign & Quark) and images from your Holiday Advertising Service


Themed Special Sections - Find, preview & download Metro's ready-to-sell Themed Special Sections (TSS); FREE with your Holiday Advertising Service



MiAD Wizard - quickly create customized spec ads from your Holiday Advertising Service to close more sales



MiAD Wizard - Adding a logo to your ad



Production tips for the Holiday Advertisng Service - download images and ads/covers (InDesign or Quark) from the Creative Library or customize ads then download camera-ready PDFs in MiAD Wizard.



Using the Lightbox Tool - Save content for future reference or batch downloading

Save content for future reference or batch downloading



Using the Project Organizer - Create folders to save and organize content and even share it with co-workers

Organize selections and share with co-workers using the Project Organizer. 



9/22/22 Webinar - Q4 Selling Workshop. Unwrap the latest planning, sales, editorial and creative tools your Metro subscription provides to grow-ho-ho fourth-quarter revenue.


• All About Ads - Metro makes it easy for you to always have the spec ads you need to close a sale


• Sales tab - One place for everything you need to plan, prospect and sell - now includes search and download of images, spec ads and covers, too!


• Present/Print/Share - a printable spec ad presentation, personalized with your name and area for notes


• MiAD Wizard - How your sales team can instantly create personalized spec ads to close more sales


• Planning & Promotions Calendar - Find monthly, weekly and daily events for promotional and advertiser tie-ins


• Plus Business - Metro's networking resource for industry success stories


• Themed Event Packages - Plan and publicize profitable special pages and sections


• Using the Lightbox Tool - Save content for future reference or batch downloading

Save content for future reference or batch downloading


• Using the Project Organizer - Create folders to save and organize content and even share it with co-workers

Organize selections and share with co-workers using the Project Organizer. 


• About - Find out what ADS On Demand - Metro's custom print and digital ad solution - can do for you


• Procedure Overview - The basic steps to get you started


• Order Monitor - Learn how to navigate the AOD Home page


• Order Manager - Manage individual orders


• Create an Order - Detailed instructions for sending us a job request (Print)


• Create an Order for a Web Ad


• Review & Share - Preview your proof and share it with your client (Print)


• Review & Share your Web Ad (JPG/GIF)


• Revise - Have changes to make to your job? Learn how to send them to us (Print & Web)


• Approve - Release the job to request a high-resolution PDF (Print)


• Approve and Download your Web Ad


• Download - Retrieve the final, high-resolution PDF (Print)


• Production Issues - How to respond when the designers have a question regarding your order


• Pick up an Order - Start with a finished AOD job and request minor changes for another press run


• Create a Campaign - Request multiple versions of an order


• Production Files - Request and download an InDesign package for your job


• Finding Covid-19 images and ads - How to locate COVID-19 images, ads, designs, features and special section, plus games, puzzles and recipes in Metro’s libraries.


• Finding images - Find the images you need for engaging ads & designs (vectors, photos, icons, borders, backgrounds, headings, etc.) in the Creative Library.


• Searching - Optimize your search experience and results using keyword and search filter options


• Sorting - Options to sort by Best Match, Most Popular or Most Recent


• Download - Download color, black & white and high resolution versions


• High-res Photos - Find and download 300 dpi high-resolution photos


• Image Hovers - What Image hover windows display to give you quick-click options


• More Options Window - Options to download, preview, save, share and link to expanded content

Clicking the "hamburger" icon under any thumbnail brings you to its MORE OPTIONS page where you can get details about the file, access the color or black and white versions, see download options, view keywords, see other files associated with the one you're viewing, as well as see files that are similar based on your keywords.


• Image Types - Finding images based on style or category

Search within similar Image Type design styles


• Archive - Expand search years to find more Images and Spec Ads


• Using the Lightbox Tool - Save content for future reference or batch downloading

Save content for future reference or batch downloading


• Using the Project Organizer - Create folders to save and organize content and even share it with co-workers

Organize selections and share with co-workers using the Project Organizer. 


• Coloring Activities - panels, pages and contests


• Spec Ads - Where to access ready-made ad templates


• Searching - Optimize your search experience and results using keyword and search filter options


• Sorting - Options to sort by Best Match, Most Popular or Most Recent


• Download - Download Quark or InDesign file packages


• Spec Ad Hovers - What Spec Ad hover windows display to give you quick-click options


• More Options Window - Options to download, preview, save, share and link to expanded content


• Present/Print/Share - a printable spec ad presentation, personalized with your name and area for notes


• Covers - Find and download dynamic covers for specialty publications


• Ad Types - Benefits of searching by specific ad types (ie. Infographics)


• Web & Mobile Ads - Find, print and download web and mobile ad versions


• Archive - Expand search years to find more Images and Spec Ads


• Religious/Spiritual Ads - Share faith-based messages with your readers


• Themed Event Packages - Plan and publicize profitable special pages and sections


• Using the Lightbox Tool - Save content for future reference or batch downloading

Save content for future reference or batch downloading


• Using the Project Organizer - Create folders to save and organize content and even share it with co-workers

Organize selections and share with co-workers using the Project Organizer. 


• Animated Web Ads - How to easily create an Animated Web Ad


• Coloring Activities - panels, pages and contests


• 05/02/23 Webinar: SPECIAL SECTIONS: REVIEW and IDEAS (2023 New England Newspaper Convention)


• Copyright-free Features - Find, preview and download individual features & related images


• Native Advertising & Social Media - Use Metro editorial features to develop and expand native advertising and social network content


• Covers - Find and download dynamic covers for specialty publications


• Puzzles, Games & Recipes - Search games, puzzles, horoscopes kids' features & recipes


• Kids Corner - puzzles and games for kids


• Themed Event Packages - Plan and publicize profitable special pages and sections


• Templated Special Sections for Print - Find, preview & download Metro's ready-to-sell Templated Special Sections (TSS)


• Promotional Ads & Rate Cards - Find collateral material to help promote and sell your Templated Special Sections


• Themed Websites & Directories - In only five minutes, see the ease and profitability of Themed Websites


• Using the Lightbox Tool - Save content for future reference or batch downloading

Save content for future reference or batch downloading


• Using the Project Organizer - Create folders to save and organize content and even share it with co-workers

Organize selections and share with co-workers using the Project Organizer. 


• More Options Window - Options to download, preview, save, share and link to expanded content


• Using the Lightbox Tool - Save content for future reference or batch downloading

Save content for future reference or batch downloading


• Using the Project Organizer - Create folders to save and organize content and even share it with co-workers

Organize selections and share with co-workers using the Project Organizer. 


• 05/02/23 Webinar: SPECIAL SECTIONS: REVIEW and IDEAS (2023 New England Newspaper Convention)


• Overview - Find, preview & download Metro's ready-to-sell Templated Special Sections (TSS)


• 10/20/22 Webinar - Strategic Special Section Program Planning for 2023


• What's New for 2023 - Metro's Senior Designer discusses all of the great new TSS features you can look forward to in 2023.


• Anatomy of Metro's Themed Special Sections - Metro's Senior Designer breaks down all of the features of our Themed Special Sections


• Customize, Localize & Sell! - Metro's Senior Designer discusses different ways to customize our sections to make them your own.


• Promotional Ads & Rate Cards - Find collateral material to help promote and sell your sections


• More Options Window - Options to download, preview, save, share and link to expanded content

Clicking the "hamburger" icon under any thumbnail brings you to its MORE OPTIONS page where you can get details about the file, access the color or black and white versions, see download options, view keywords, see other files associated with the one you're viewing, as well as see files that are similar based on your keywords.


• Overview - In only five minutes, see the ease and profitability of Themed Websites


Digital Succe$$ Tools & Tactics Webinar

Explore the most cost-effective ways to expand online readership and ad revenue with easy-to-implement digital options from Metro. This live webinar covers the quickest ways to dive into digital, sleek ready-to use online sections and directory designs that draw in advertisers at any price point, and best practices for leveraging your local role in the digital realm.


• March 25th Webinar:  Growing Digital Revenue With Themed Websites & Directories

Learn how to expand digital advertising with Themed Websites & Directories, including ones for COVID-19.


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