Advertising

Through our Classified section, we are able to put your message in the hands of 225,000 San Diego County readers! Please call if you have any questions - 619-685-6970.

For Classified Display Rates, please contact your Marketing Rep.

Marketplace Line Rates & Form

Marketplace Display Rates

We have a few guidelines to share.
Please contact your Marketing Representative if you have questions or need clarification!

AD SIZES and DEADLINES
SDFM ad size specs and deadlines

Digital marketing specs

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Thank you for your interest in writing for San Diego Family Magazine.

We accept editorial submissions from professional, conscientious, detail-oriented writers who specialize in kids, parenting or topics of interest to families. Find a detailed list of topics in our Editorial and Advertising Planner.

About Us
San Diego Family is a free, monthly parenting publication with circulation of 50,000 print issues throughout San Diego County and a free, online digital magazine. We are the local experts on kid-friendly activities and family life in San Diego. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for San Diego County families by providing articles, information and resources that support the importance and pleasure of parenting. Our readers are parents and caregivers of children ages 0–18. Family Magazine also publishes three annual magazines: 1) “Flourishing Families, the Parent Resource Guide for Children with Special Needs,” 2) “Out & About with Kids, the Local and Visitor's Guide to San Diego County,” and 3) "San Diego Babies and Toddlers" (digital only). San Diego Family is the parent company of the nonprofit Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego.

What We’re Looking For
We want well-written, thought-provoking feature articles with relevant sidebars (700–1,000 words) and short features (400–700 words) that focus on timely parenting issues and highlight local San Diego experts or content. Our readers may only have a few minutes to flip through the magazine, so we prefer an easy-to-read format with “chunks” of information. Stories should be relevant, compelling and use words efficiently. We want our readers to feel understood, supported, inspired or entertained.

Submissions
•    Reprint submissions are accepted, but preference is given to local writers. Please do not submit reprints that are older than 18 months (unless updated) as they tend to contain outdated information and trends. We prefer quotes from San Diego-area professionals.

•  Please email completed articles to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. put “article submission” in the subject line.
•  We pay for assigned artilcles upon publication (not submission).
•  If an assigned article is deemed unpublishable, we offer a kill fee of 10 percent of what the payment would have been.
•  Articles may be submitted as a Word document or embedded in an email.
•  Proof your work before submitting. Articles with poor grammar, misspelled words or not in accordance with these guidelines will not be considered.
•  Include your name, mailing address, phone number, email and word count on the first page of your article and a 25-word author bio at the end.
•  We do not pay for bylined articles. Professionals may offer their expertise to our readers in exchange for a mention of their website or book in a 25-word byline.
•  We receive hundreds of submissions; please note that we will respond only to articles we are considering for publication.
•  If your article is published, payment and will be mailed within three weeks of publication. You can access the digital edition of Family Magazine at www.SanDiegoFamily.com.
  
  Important Tips
• We use AP Style Guidelines. Familiarize yourself with them before submitting your article.
• Give your article a title. Even though we may change it, your submission is incomplete without one.
• Localize the story within the first couple paragraphs.
• Keep paragraphs short.
• Only ONE SPACE following the period at the end of a sentence. 
• Do not use "he/she." Pick one and stick with it throughout the piece.
• Interviews and resources with a San Diego County focus are a huge plus.
• Be consistent in your writing.
• Avoid filler words: however, anyway, therefore, in order to, etc.
• Omit trademark symbols.
• Do not use any special formatting in your submission.
• All submissions are subject to editing.
• To purchase a single copy or annual subscription of San Diego Family Magazine, click here.

Deadlines
Articles are due on the 10th of the month, two months prior to publication (e.g., Jan. 10 for the March issue); however the editorial calendar is filled 3–5 months in advance, so plan accordingly.

Queries
Please send queries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; put “query” in the subject line. We cannot respond to every unsolicited story or idea. If the editor wants to discuss your idea further, she will contact you.

Rights and Exclusivity
San Diego Family requires first-time exclusive print rights and exclusive electronic rights in the SAN DIEGO COUNTY PARENTING MARKET for the first three months your material is published with SDFM. Simultaneous submissions to other parenting publications/websites outside of San Diego County are accepted. Since all SDFM publications are made into digital editions—and because our websites are extensions of our publications—online rights are assumed to be included in our purchase of your work. Your submission may appear in more than one of our publications or websites (San Diego Family, Flourishing Families or Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego). If you do not want your article to appear on our websites, please do not submit it to our magazine.

San Diego Family Magazine is a free publication that is distributed monthly to locations throughout San Diego County.

Find a location near you to PICK UP A FREE COPY of San Diego Family Magazine today!

Distribution locations also include:

Private and Public Schools • Hospitals & Healthcare Centers • Corporate Offices PTAs/Teachers • Gym, Dance, Art & Music Studios • Sports & Recreation Centers • Real Estate Offices • Libraries • Restaurants • Retail Stores • Local Events

Make your life easier! 
Subscribe to San Diego Family Magazine and have it delivered to your door!
Includes 12 monthly issues, plus our annual publication, Out & About.

Digital Issues!
And of course, all of our issues are available in digital format and our available 24/7, so you can read all of our great information on your own time. Find the latest and back issues here.

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Our readers are active, engaged and outgoing parents who value family life.

They are constantly on the lookout for information covering outings with their family, tips on how to navigate parenting issues and discovering new services and products to make family life easier and more fulfilling!

REVIEW GUIDELINES

San Diego Family Magazine runs product reviews based on these categories:


Dads & Grads in June

Home & garden: January, April

Pregnancy and babies: July (with possible updates in May & October)

Seasonal products (Easter, Halloween, Christmas, etc.) during the month of that holiday.

Toys, gifts and games: four times per year in June, July, November and December

TOYS/GAMES

Toys and products are reviewed by teachers, daycare providers, parents and children. Items that receive the highest ratings will be included in our published review or included in our online review. We request two identical samples, one for review, the other for donation to local charities and children's organizations or used for promotional purposes.

For toy reviews, please contact Linda Bay at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for deadlines and guidelines before submitting samples.


PRODUCT REVIEWS

Once or twice a year we review items for home (small appliances), family camping, kids snacks, healthy snack alternatives, baby items, home organizing tools, school supplies, etc. Our focus is on items that make life easier (or just better!) for parents and families.

Plan on your item reaching our offices 10 weeks prior to the issue you're interested in being considered for. A submission does not guarantee publication/promotion.

To have your product considered for review, send a sample, product information (including retail sales price, availability, website and high-res product images via flash drive or email), contact's name, email and mailing address to:

Lisa Gipson, Managing Editor
San Diego Family Magazine
1475 Sixth Avenue, 5th Fl.
San Diego, CA 92101

Product samples are not returned. If your product is chosen for review, we will notify you and provide a link to where the review appears.

Advertising Options:

Print: High-visibility ads within printed publications.

San Diego Family Magazine is the only FREE, family publication in San Diego County. Parents read, share and use the issue to choose schools, camps, doctors, dentists, places to go, and more to enhance their family experience. Parents pick up their monthly guide from Albertsons Grocery and CVS locations around the county. The digital version of San Diego Family is available online.

San Diego’s Out & About with Kids is the destination guide for local and visiting families. It features kid-friendly adventures throughout the County, including attractions, restaurants, hidden treasures and local highlights organized by neighborhood. This local travel guide is available all year long and can be picked up at local businesses around the county, the San Diego International Airport, Car Rental Hub and local hotels.

Flourishing Families: The Parent Resource Guide for Children with Special Needs

Feature your services and products to parents who have children with special needs. Each year we print 14,000 free issues which are distributed to the SDRC, Children’s Hospital, San Diego Unified Schools and targeted locations across San Diego County. The digital version of Flourishing Families is available online for easy access.

Digital: SanDiegoFamily.com

Parents are busy and mobile plays an important part of daily parenting life. We publish mobile-friendly articles, a calendar of events and resource listings to help parents achieve and maintain a better family life. Web visitors average 60,000 each month.

E-Newsletter Sponsorships: Directly engage with our 10,000 local parent subscribers.

Events: San Diego Family Fun Fests!

We host 2 events each year: Spring & Halloween. These events are the ultimate place to meet and connect with parents who are looking for family products and services.

Social Media: Our parents love to connect!

For more information on advertising & sponsorships, please send an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

San Diego Family's Guidelines for Writing BUSINESS Spotlight: Advertisers in the News

• Include: Name of business; all locations; phone numbers; website.
  Ideas for news items: open house, popular trend/new service offered, new location, seasonal specials, anniversary celebration, business profile or any other special event that needs promotion.

Other possible questions to answer:

• How long have you been in business?
• What is unique about your business?
• Why should our readers use your services?

• Word count: no more than 250 words
• Write the news item as a journalist would – in the third person. First person statements will be edited to reflect a third person perspective.
• Quotes from appropriate experts, if available, are great.
• Include a photo or artwork to complement your submission.
• Email your submission directly to your marketing director.

Moms and Dads all over San Diego are still planning summer activities for their children. San Diego Family can help boost your registration by putting your company's message in front of parents who are shopping right now!  We have special advertising offers available to enhance your marketing effectiveness! Check out the special offers below!

Find more information on being part of the San Diego County's Celebrations, Party & Event Planner. (pdf)

Or, contact your ad representative.
  
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Please provide name, company name, area your business is located (zip code) and phone number.

Advertisers:  Submit form for the Out of this world Party and Event Planner.

Find more information on being part of San Diego County's Camps & Summer Programs Guide. (pdf)

Advertisers: Submit form for the June ONLY San Diego County's Camps & Summer Programs Guide.

Let San Diego Family's team of marketing experts help with all of your advertising needs. Our team offers more than 50 years of combined experience in marketing, sales and advertising, so rest assured that you're in good hands as we help your brand grow and reach your target market. Questions? Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Personalized Service, Marketing Experts at Your Fingertips
• An Honest, Trusted, Locally-Owned Company
• Parent Targeted Distribution
• Active Readership of 165,000
• A 40+ year track record of serving the San Diego parenting community
• We are here to help you!

Tony Andrews is the Advertising/Marketing Director for Point Loma, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, North County Coastal and more!
Contact Tony:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Giovanni Baldan is the Advertising/Marketing Director for South Bay, San Diego Downtown and Uptown and more!
Contact Giovanni:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.