Thank you for your interest in advertising on FringeGuru.  To make it as easy as possible to get your ad ready, this page describes in detail all our requirements on your artwork.  That sounds very fancy, but you don't have to be the next Picasso - "artwork" is just the technical term for the image which makes up your ad.

We're expecting that you'll prepare your own artwork, using a graphics program like Paint Shop Pro or (if you're a more advanced designer) Adobe Illustrator.  But if you need us to, we can prepare artwork for you, based on a photograph and message from you.  There's a £20 fee for this service.  If you'd like to take us up on that, just write to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Where will my ad go?

Your ad can go in either of three places on FringeGuru's website.  You'll need to choose one of these placements for your ad (though of course, you're welcome to buy more than one!)

We offer you a choice of placement for two reasons.

First of all, you might think one of the positions will work better for your ad than others; we explain below the pros and cons of each position to help you make up your mind.

But just as importantly, we know that designing artwork is a real hassle for a lot of people.  Our three placements are different shapes and sizes, and one of them is flexible about the exact size of your artwork.  What's more, we've designed them to be compatible with the sizes used by some other popular Fringe websites.  So if you've already placed some online ads this year, you may well be able to use the same images.

There are a limited number of slots available in each placement, so talk to us to confirm your slot before you start designing your ad.

What are the placements and what size should my ad be?

Take a look round this page, and you'll see the three places you can put ads on FringeGuru.  They are...

The banner at the top - right next to the FringeGuru logo.  The great thing about this spot is that it's right at the top of the page.  The downside is that your ad needs to be exactly the right size - there's absolutely no flexibility here.

If you want your ad to go in this slot, it must be exactly 468 x 60 pixels.  This is a "standard" online ad size, so you may already have an image which fits the bill.  For example, if you've placed a banner ad with the Edinburgh Fringe website or with FringeReview, it's the right size for us too.

The box at the side - just above the navigation controls.  This ad's also visible as soon as you load the page - without having to scroll down - and because it's right next to the links, it's the place our readers look at when they're moving around our site.  Many people also think a boxy ad is easier to design than a banner.

Our recommended size for this placement is 180 x 150 pixels, which is a standard size called (wait for it) "rectangle".  We can also accept 160 x 160 (as used by the Edinburgh Fringe website and Broadway Baby), 164 x 144 (as used by ThreeWeeks) or 176 x 176 (as used by FringeReview).  We may well be able to accommodate other sizes, so ask us if you already have artwork which might fit the bill.

The big banner at the bottom - below the text of the page.  The advantage of this slot is that it's absolutely huge, giving you plenty of space to get your message across.  Many people also think it's a good way to capture the reader's attention after they've finished an article, and are thinking "What shall I look at next?"  The disadvantage is that because it's at the bottom of the page, it's not visible unless you scroll down - so you may miss some readers who are quickly skimming through the site.

This placement is another standard size called "leaderboard", and it's 728 x 90 pixels.  We recommend you stick to this size, because the whole point of this slot is that it's as big as it can be... but we can accept a smaller ad if you want us to.

What else should I know about artwork?

Whichever size you go for, you'll need to send it to us in either PNG or JPG format.  If you have a choice, PNG format is better.  If you absolutely have to save your artwork as a JPG, always choose the highest-quality option your software gives you - saving your ad as a low-quality JPG might cause problems such as blurry text or distracting ripples.

We're sorry, but unless you've paid us to design your ad, we can't resize or otherwise change your artwork and we'll send back anything which don't meet these requirements.  It's not that we want to be unhelpful - it's just that, like you, we're very busy at this time of year - and if we included any design work in the price then we'd have to charge everyone, whether they needed our help or not.

Are there any rules?

In common with most publishers, we reserve the right to ask for changes to your artwork.  We'll check each ad individually, and we'll get in touch with you if we have any concerns.  But as guidance, here are a few of the points we'll be bearing in mind.

• Bad language.  We've made a policy decision that FringeGuru will be "clean", and so we generally can't accept ads containing strong language.
• Sexual content.  FringeGuru is available to anyone, of any age.  We may accept artwork which is discreetly suggestive, but we don't want anyone learning the facts of life from your ad.
• Shocking or revolting imagery.  We understand that many shows deal with challenging topics, and that challenging artwork may be justified.  At the same time, for simple commercial reasons, we can't accept images we feel will put people off from visiting FringeGuru.
• Derogatory references.  We generally won't accept an ad which contains negative references to another performer, the Fringe, a reviewer or any other third party, unless that's actually the theme of your show.  Use your ad to promote your work, not to discuss anyone else's.

If you think you may come close to any of these boundaries, there are two things you can do.  One option is just to go ahead and submit your ad; either we'll accept it, or we'll write back explaining the problem.  Or, if you'd prefer to get an answer before you put the effort into designing your advert, you can contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We will be checking your ad only against our own policies.  It remains your responsibility to ensure it is legal.  For example, it's up to you to make sure you have copyright clearance for any images you're using, and it's up to you to ensure all the statements you make are truthful.

Whew!  What do I do now?

Book your ad now!  Remember, we have committed to sell a limited number of ads, so the sooner you book the more likely you are to get your choice of slot.

It's simple to book.  Mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call us on 0131 20 80 403.

Remember, if you're struggling to get your artwork together, we can help with that for a nominal £20.  Email or call us if you're interested, and we can run through all the details. 

Or go back to general information about advertising on FringeGuru.