Advertising Specifications

General Requirements

  • HuffingtonPost.com accepts GIF, JPEG, Rich Media & Third Party Served ads.
  • Ads served through Javascript.
  • Any sound must be user-initiated, defined as a click and not a mouseover or rollover, and clearly labeled with "Play" and "Stop" controls.
  • Up to 3 additional loads of up to 50k each may be initiated after a user moves their cursor over or clicks on the ad.
  • Flash files must be published as version 9 or below, and the frame rate must be less than or equal to 24 frames per second.
  • HuffingtonPost.com does not accept advertising that is directly competitive and/or disparaging to HuffingtonPost.com. Moreover, HuffingtonPost.com maintains ultimate editorial control over all content and materials which appear on its site, and reserves the right to refuse or withdraw an advertisement or campaign for any reason at any time in its sole discretion.
  • Advertisements promoting specific public policies, advocacy issues, or political/candidate campaigns must include a "Paid for by ___" label on all frames of the advertisement.
  • For the ad to be made clickable, clickTag code (shown below) should be attached to an invisible button. The invisible button (a button that contains only a hit state) should be the same size as the ad unit and placed on the topmost layer of the Flash file. I must read exactly as shown below:
    on (release, 
    releaseOutside) { 
    getURL(_root.clickTag, "_blank");
    }

Lead Times for Submissions

HuffingtonPost.com requires the following lead times prior to campaign launch dates for receipt of creative assets and active URLs:

  • Non-rich media / 3 business days
  • 30-second maximum for any animation.
  • Rich media / 7 business days

In-Page Units

Creative Guidelines

Product Format (WxH) File Size Non Rich Media File Size Rich Media Audio Initiation Animation Length
Big Box 300 x 250 20k 30k User-Initiated
(On-click);
Labeled with 'play' and 'stop' controls
30 seconds
Leaderboard 728 x 90 20k 30k User-Initiated
(On-click);
Labeled with 'play' and 'stop' controls
30 seconds
Half Page 300x600 30k 40k User-Initiated
(On-click);
Labeled with 'play' and 'stop' controls
30 seconds

Expanding Ad Units

Creative Guidelines

  • Expanding ads are subject to frequency capping.
  • The expanded portion must close within 15 seconds and must be clearly marked with a ‘CLOSE X’ button in at least 10-pt type in the upper right hand corner of the expanded portion of the ad.
  • User-initiated expanding ads that expand upon mouse-over must clearly indicate their rollover functionality with language such as ‘roll over to learn more’ or ‘roll over to expand.’
  • The expanded portion must automatically close when the user’s cursor moves off the ad.
  • Expanding big boxes and half pages must be able to open to the left, and expanding leaderboards must be able to expand down.
  • Expanding ads may only be viewed on certain browsers and operating system platforms. Huff Post will test expanding ads and will not show the ad for any browsers or operating systems where the technology causes system instability.
Product Pixel Size Maximum Expanding Size File Size Non Rich Media File Size Rich Media
Big Box 300 x 250 610 x 250 20k 30k
Leaderboard 728 x 90 728 x 360 20k 30k
HalfPage 300x600 610x600 30k 40k

Curtain

Creative Guidelines

High impact homepage ad unit. The curtain ‘drops’ once (for approx 7 secs.) then conveniently rolls back up — leaving an integrated marquis display of brand. Offers 100% SOV — great to supplement a roadblock. The Curtain Unit is 938x200 expanded and 938x100 collapsed. This can be site served or 3rd party served.

If Site Served: 938x200

  • Max File Size: 45K
  • Looping Restrictions 1
  • Max expansion/antimation time: 7 seconds
  • Must include "Collapse" button with this click command:
    getURL('javascript:Curtain.collapse();');
  • Please send FLA and SWF files of both the 938x100 and 938x200 and include any necessary fonts.
  • Flash 9 or lower

If Site Served: 938x100

  • Max File Size: 30K
  • Looping Restrictions: 3
  • Max animation: 15 seconds
  • Must include "Expand" button with this click command:
    getURL('javascript:Curtain.expand();');
  • Please send FLA and SWF files of both the 938x100 and 938x200 and include any necessary fonts.
  • Flash 9 or lower

Code any other clickable areas in the creatives like this:

      
on (release) {
getURL (_level0.clickTag, "_blank");
}

Homepage Trailer Promo

Creative Guidelines

High impact and high reach ad unit. Incorporate your video trailer.

  • FLV file under 100mb
  • 4:3 frame size
  • 30fps
  • 48khz audio rate
  • Cannot be 3rd party served, though tracking is accepted

OPA Pushdown

Creative Guidelines

Homepage and Vertical Front Pages only. The pushdown ad unit automatically expands downward pushing the site content down with it, expanding creative opportunities and capturing audience attention. The Pushdown unit then auto collapses into a persistent ad on the page which can be expanded by our users for additional information and functionality. The OPA pushdown is 970x66 in its collapsed state and 970x418 expanded. Must be 3rd party served.

Specifications:

  • Automatic expansion must be capped at 1 user per 24 hours
  • Collapsed: 970x66, Expanded: 970x418
  • Max File Size: 45k initial load max, 150k subsequent load max
  • 7 seconds auto expansion, 30 seconds max for subsequent user initiated expansions
  • Must include clearly defined Expand & Close click buttons
  • The ad will collapse if the user clicks the close button OR if the user does not interact with the user initiated expanded ad for 7 seconds
  • Audio must be user initiated by a click.

Skin

  • Dimensions: 1622x1040
  • File Type: Static Gif or JPEG only
  • 100K max file size
  • No animation
  • Clickable
  • Can not be 3rd party served, though a 1x1 tracking pixel is accepted.
  • Notes: Only top portion is clickable. Be sure to have the skin fade out to the background color on the left, right, and bottom sides.

First View Overlay (Pre-stitial)

  • 728x500 max dimensions
  • JPG, GIF, SWF or Third-Party Tag
  • 100k max initial load, 250k total
  • 10 seconds max animation
  • Clickable
  • Site will incorporate the ‘click to close’ option on our end
  • Audio must be user-initiated by a click

Ears

  • Appear on the left and right side of the Homepage and/or Vertical Front masthead. Sold monthly.
  • 150x90 (gif/jpg or 3rd party tags accepted)
  • 25k max
  • No animation

Most Popular Sponsorship/Social News Sponsorship

  • 234x60 (gif/jpg or 3rd party tags accepted)
  • 25k max
  • No animation

Daily Brief Email Unit

  • HuffingtonPost.com accepts image creatives of 160 x 600 (GIF or JPEG Only) for HTML e-mails. No animation.
  • Can not be 3rd Party Served, though tracking accepted. The maximum accepted image size is 20K.

Additional Formats

HuffingtonPost.com will consider accepting the following formats on a case-by-case basis:

  • Non user-initiated expanding ads
  • Full Page Takeovers
  • Video