According to a survey* conducted by the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), print is targeted and newspapers remain the primary medium readers turn to for advertising. A substantial 52% of respondents said they use the newspaper to assist in planning shopping trips, with an overwhelming 72% reading preprint inserts such as special sections.

Debra Shapiro Weiss, Metro’s Executive Vice President, says, “Now, more than ever, when budget cuts have left some publications with limited editorial and productions staffs, creating special sections is a challenge. With a high-end templated option like Metro’s Templated Special Sections, publishers have a ready-to-go solution to help them quickly, and economically, develop special sections and increase revenue.”

Every month, publishers can get two, 24-page, professionally-designed layouts, covering popular subjects such as home, garden, pets, seniors, weddings and more. Topics are timed for release during the month and season most optimal for sales. Each section template is available in QuarkXPress® (version 4 and up) or InDesign® formats (version CS3 and up), so that everything, including size, content and color, is completely customizable. A QuarkXPress layout is also available (version 7 and up) with complete in-position spec ads for a ready-to-present vehicle to tempt key prospective advertisers. A downloadable PDF is available for presentation, as well as an online e-Edition for viewing and presenting.

Online editions are on the rise with NAA reporting that an average of 105.3 million people per month visited a newspaper Web site during the fourth quarter of 2010. In order to attract more readers and advertisers to a Web site, it must offer interesting and informative content. Special sections carry this kind of value and that is why Metro developed its Timely Features MicroSites — to help publishers seemlessly move complete special section content to their Web sites, without the need for programming or HTML skills. Providing multiple, ready-to-sell advertising positions, and numerous SEO benefits for a company’s Web site, Metro’s MicroSites deliver what is needed today.

Recognizing that promotion is the key to successful print and online endeavors, Metro expanded on the print and online sales tools which coordinate with each MicroSite by developing an affordable and dynamic print Templated Special Sections package. In combination, the robust special sections package from Metro for print and online publishers now includes: 24 Templated Special Sections, 36 special section MicroSites, 36 online sales media kits, the MiSiteTM online deployment tool, print and online spec ads to draw readers and advertisers, print sell sheets, full-page print directory ads, and Web ads in five sizes to promote each MicroSite to advertisers and readers. The social media feature of multiple photo galleries that can contain reader-generated content such as local photos, or advertiser-generated content such as coupons and offers, was recently added to each MicroSite as well.

“Metro’s Templated Special Sections and Timely Features MicroSites are an ideal solution for today’s media companies that are looking to synchronize their print and online efforts in the easiest way possible to yield the greatest impact and return,” explains Debra Shapiro Weiss.

For more information, samples and demonstrations of Templated Special Sections and Timely Features MicroSites, visit metrocreativeconnection.com and click on the Editorial link and MicroSite link on the top of the home page, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call Metro’s Client Services team at 800-223-1600.

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Metro Creative Graphics, Inc. is today’s advertising, creative and editorial resource specifically designed to help media companies make money with their print, Web and mobile products. With an unparalleled dedication to providing the finest resources available for ready-to-use images, spec ads, ideas, stock-quality photos, logos/trademarks, auto manufacturer photos, marketing/sales materials, copyright-free editorial features, templated special sections, state-of-the-art themed section MicroSites, and ground-breaking online ad development tools — plus custom image, ad design and editorial services — Metro remains unmatched in serving the creative needs of media companies, now and for the future.

*NAA How America Shops and Spends 2011