FAQ
note: this is a small business—there’s one woman behind most of the communication, design, and editing. We do the best we can to reply to emails and phone calls, but we’ve got a lot going on. Sometimes it’s nice to take a day or two out of the office! Your understanding is sincerely appreciated.
a note on communication:
At Montana Woman, we do not tolerate prejudice of any kind—ableism, homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, xenophobia—do not email us with prejudice. This is an inclusive, intersectional magazine. Any emails, articles, or submissions containing prejudice, slurs, or personal attacks will be disregarded. Be kind, the world does not need more hate.
advertising
I’m interested in advertising with you. Where can I find more information?
You can email us at info@montanawoman.com for prices, ad specs, and more information. Our 2024 media kit is now available on our website!
what ad sizes and pricing options do you offer?
We currently offer a full spread (two pages), a full page, ½ page, and ¼ page ads. Ads can be paid for in full or on an every other month basis (either by check or through our Square invoicing system).
when are ads due by?
All ads are always due by the 12th of the month prior to printing. For example, an ad that will go into the March/April issue is due by February 15th.
can you design my ad?
We offer design services to our advertisers, email us for rates. Please have a logo, verbiage, and potential imagery available.
can i used the ad you designed somewhere else?
Ads may be used elsewhere for a fee—contact us and we can get something worked out!
I want to be featured. how much does that cost?
Our features are hand-selected recommendations—we do not take self-recommendations. We create an authentic magazine— cover features do not pay to be on the cover.
WHAT’S THE MAGAZINE’S SHELF LIFE?
Shelf life is what sets print advertising apart from digital advertising. While it can be tricky to nail down a specific shelf life (especially since we’re still a bit newer!), we do know that Montana Woman is a different kind of publication. Even in November 2020, we’re still selling our first issue from October 2019. Readers have told us that they keep every copy, share them with friends, set them out on their coffee tables— we’re not the kind of magazine you pick up, flip through, and recycle. Even if you just pay to advertise in one issue, your ad will go beyond that one issue (especially since we keep all of our back issues publicly available through issuu.com).
Sure, advertising through facebook and instagram garners a wider audience, there’s no denying that. But when your business is in a printed magazine, people can’t just scroll by— it’s not something they’ll see briefly and move on. Print advertising has a lasting impact.
Why should i advertise with you?
Montana Woman offers a unique, statewide audience. Our magazine is distributed across Montana,* and we have subscribers in 44 states! Not only will your business have an audience in Montana, you’ll have an audience from coast to coast. From online shoppers to people planning a visit to Montana to snowbirds, we’ve got you covered.
Since our new ownership and rebranding, we have increased our distribution and subscription lists, grown our social media following, and reignigted our readers. We’re taking off, and we’re not stopping any time soon.
Your business will also have an online presence in our online magazine—clickthrough links are added for easy access to your website. As a small business, we’re all about small businesses. We believe in the talent of our fellow businesses. We believe in authenticity and honesty. We believe in Montana.
wholesale
do you have an order minimum?
Our order minimum is currently 5 magazines. We still want to keep the magazine as accessible as possible, so we want to keep the minimum lower. Whether you want 5 copies or 50 at your business, we can help!
do i have to have a business to purchase a wholesale order?
Yes—our wholesale orders are reserved for businesses and/or large events. For a more information or a wholesale contract, please email us at info@montanawoman.com.
do you have returns?
We do not accept wholesale returns at this time. Since our order minimum is low (5) and we cover shipping, we can’t take returns as well. Thank you for understanding!
why should i be a stockist?
Right now, we’re majorly reworking the magazine. Since October 2019, readers became used to being able to find the magazine throughout the state. Now that our stockist list is significantly smaller, businesses that do carry the magazine will have higher magazine-related traffic. Also, we love supporting small businesses and women-owned businesses, and carrying the magazine is a great way to do just that!
distribution
how much does the magazine cost?
You can purchase copies in-person for $7 each (back issues are $12 each online to balance shipping & handling as well as a limited supply). If you want to read the magazine for free, you can find all of our issues online.
where can I pick up a copy?
You can check our Where to Find Us page for an updated list of retailers, organized by city.
the magazine should be at “x” business! Why isn’t it there?
We always welcome distribution suggestions! We now wholesale the magazine—businesses interested in wholesale can reach us at info@montanawoman.com.
How can I become a wholesaler?
If your business is interested in carrying the magazine, we would love to work with you! Contact Megan at info@montanawoman.com.
why should I be a wholesaler?
We have a symbiotic relationship with our wholesalers—the magazine brings new customers in the door, and your customers bring in new readers! All of our distributors are listed on our Where to Find Us page on our website. It’s also cool to support local businesses!
subscriptions
can I buy a subscription?
Absolutely! We offer local and out of state. You can buy one here! We offer a one-year subscription (issues for one year, which make a great gift!) and annual subscriptions (automatic renewals). We also have individual copies in our shop if you’re just looking for one issue! Do note that quantities are limited for individual issues—once they’re out, they’re out.
why should I subscribe?
While we do the best we can at distributing the magazine, we only print so many. A subscription will guarantee that you get a copy! The magazine also makes a great gift for someone who’s moved out of state or someone who’s visited and loves Montana.
i want to cancel my subscription.
We’re sad to see you go, but if you do want to cancel your subscription, please email us at info@montanawoman.com. We’ll get it all sorted out for you!
My card was automatically charged for a subscription renewal.
We have two subscriptions available: one-year and auto-renewal. For an auto-renewal subscription, Squarespace will automatically charge the card linked to your account annually.
i got an email saying my subscription payment didn’t go through.
Check to make sure the card linked to your account is up to date! If a card has been updated, replaced, or if it expired, your payment will not go through. You can update your card by logging into your account.
I want to switch from an auto-renewal subscription to a one-year subscription.
We can make it happen! We’ll cancel your auto-renewal subscription, and you can go in and purchase a one-year subscription. We’ll remind you when your subscription is about to expire.
I moved to a new address / have a new payment card. Do I need to let you know?
Yes! Please let us know if we need to correct your mailing address. We mark all of our subscriptions as “electronic service requested” with the Post Office, but that can only do so much. For security purposes, we are unable to update addresses or credit cards through Squarespace. Please email us with your updated address! If you have an account through our website, you can update your card information there. We are not responsible for lost/returned packages if the provided shipping address is incorrect or not up to date.
If you have changed addresses to in state or out of state, please let us know. The cost difference between in state & out of state subscriptions is for the cost of shipping.
My card was charged for a subscription?
If you signed up for an auto-renewal subscription, the card you originally signed up with will be automatically charged once per year. We do not keep card numbers on file—everything is automatically processed through Squarespace. We have one-year subscription options if you don’t want a subscription to automatically renew. If you want to cancel your auto-renewal subscription, just let us know!
submissions/articles
I know someone who would be perfect for the magazine—who do I give their information to?
You can email the editor at info@montanawoman.com. Please keep in mind that you cannot suggest yourself as a feature. We do not accept submissions via phone calls, postal services, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), or this website. Please do not email the editor at her personal address. Pitches sent to the editor’s personal email address, through her website, or through any social media channels will be disregarded.
Your best bet at having a feature selected is to have a pitch at the ready! Getting a name is great, but features submitted as a pitch/article have a far higher chance of being selected.
I have an article I want to write—how do I send that to you?
Please review our submission guidelines here. We accept submissions only through email. We do not accept submissions through postal services, phone calls, or this website.
I have an article that I already wrote, can I just send that to you?
All article submissions follow the same guidelines. When in doubt, always send a pitch first! We only accept submissions through our email: info@montanawoman.com.
I have a family recipe that I want to share, how can it be published in the magazine?
Recipes can be sent to info@montanawoman.com. A recipe pitch is usually around 200 words, so we can start from there! We welcome recipe submissions year round.
when are articles due?
Articles are due on the 25th two months prior to printing—for example, an article for the March/April issue is due by January 25th. This gives us enough time to read, edit, and collaborate on articles before they go to print.
general questions
how often are issues published?
Montana Woman is published every other month (6 issues per year).
can I buy a copy of the photo/art on the back cover?
Yes! Select back cover prints are available at our shop.
I wrote an article / was featured in the magazine. can I have a digital pdf to put on my website?
Absolutely! Email info@montanawoman.com with your information (i.e. issue, year, etc), and we’ll get a PDF put together for you.
I want to put one of your articles in my publication / on my blog, can I do that?
When in doubt, always ask for permission before reproducing work seen in Montana Woman Magazine or at montanawoman.com. Materials may not be reproduced without permission from Montana Woman.
I missed the window to use a discount code. Can’t you just discount my order anyway?
Unfortunately, it’s against our shop policy to retroactively apply discounts or sales. We appreciate your support as a small business.
How do you ship?
We primarily ship via USPS. Single-issue orders are sent in a paper envelope via USPS, orders of about 5-6 magazines ship via USPS Priority, and larger magazine orders ship in a box. Wholesale magazines ship via USPS or UPS, depending on the quantity.
Please make sure your address is correct before you submit your order. We are not responsible for incorrect addresses if that’s the address we are supplied with. If you’ve moved, please let us know so we can get your address updated!
where’s Montana Man?
If you feel so inclined, go ahead and start Montana Man! This, however, is Montana Woman. It’s created by women, but that doesn’t mean that only women can read it. Everyone is welcome to read and partake in our magazine. Montana Woman is a safe space.
are you looking for interns or hiring?
We aren’t currently hiring, but we do appreciate your interest!