Frequently asked questions

SoGlos is Gloucestershire's leading media brand, on a mission to celebrate Gloucestershire as an incredible place to live, work and visit. 

We share the latest Gloucestershire news, inspiration and expert insight with a large and loyal local audience across our website, social media channels, email newsletters and awards.

No, you don't have to become a member to read SoGlos.

You can, however, sign up as a free SoGlos member to enjoy additional benefits, such as receiving SoGlos's Lifestyle and Business email newsletters and taking part in SoGlos member-exclusive competitions.

Yes. SoGlos is an independent media brand owned by independent media company SoPublishing.

Launched in 2007, SoGlos has grown to become a trusted and recognisable name across the region, with an unparalelled monthly reach of 1.6 million across our website, newsletters, social media channels, as well as a series of prestigious live events.

Our experienced local team, high-quality content and highly engaged audience make SoGlos a powerful platform for both readers and partners.

Championing Gloucestershire is at the heart of what we do.

SoGlos covers a wide range of stories including:

• Business including finance, legal, tech, cyber and manufacturing

• Local lifestyle including food and drink, family, events

• Culture, entertainment and the arts

• Community news and events

• Tourism, travel, days out

We are a positive and trusted brand, avoiding sensationalism or clickbait and shining a light on the county’s success stories such as new openings, expansions and achievements from Gloucestershire’s businesses and people.

SoGlos focuses on Gloucestershire's six key areas: Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury.

We also occasionally feature relevant stories from neighbouring areas including Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire and Bristol.

SoCMS is our custom-built, innovative technology that powers the SoGlos website. 

It is one of the most advanced publishing platforms in UK regional media, helping us deliver a fast, user-friendly experience for readers and powerful campaign options for partners.

To explore current advertising and marketing opportunities and packages with SoGlos:

• Visit soglos.com/partner to download our latest media kit and rate card

• Contact the Partnerships Hub directly on 01242 210330 or partnerships@sopublishing.com.

   

SoGlos has an established and predominantly Gloucestershire-based audience that includes:

• Ambitious business leaders and decision-makers

• Aspirational young professionals

• Active parents and families

• Affluent over 50s

• Adventurous visitors planning trips to the county

For full audience demographics and reach, see soglos.com/partner.

Our advertising and marketing packages are designed to suit a range of objectives and budgets.

You can download the latest SoGlos media kit, including current rate card and package options, at soglos.com/partner.

If you have a story, initiative or event you would like our editorial team to consider, email editorial@sopublishing.com.

Our journalists in the Creative Hub review all relevant press releases for potential editorial coverage. They receive a high volume of emails each week, so coverage cannot be guaranteed.

If you want to be sure your message reaches our audience, in a specific way or at a specific time, we'd recommend content marketing and advertising options that can be tailored to your objectives. Contact partnerships@sopublishing.com to find out how we can help.

SoGlos advertising is highly effective because it reaches a targeted and engaged audience across Gloucestershire, using a powerful mix of online, social media and email channels, as well as live events. 

The results and success of your campaign can be measured in several ways:

• Audience reach – to show how many views campaign elements have achieved

• Clicks and click-through rates (CTR) – to measure engagement and interest

• Brand awareness metrics – including social media engagement, for example

• Conversions – such as enquiries, bookings, sales leads or sign-ups that partners track on their own channels

Partners receive clear, easy-to-understand campaign reports so you can see exactly how your campaign is performing and understand the return on investment.

We take pride in delivering real value for every partner.

If you are ever unhappy with results, we will review the campaign performance with you in detail, identify what has not worked as expected and make practical recommendations to improve outcomes.

This might include refining the campaign brief, adjusting how we are targeting our audience, updating content angles or display creatives, or exploring alternative timings.

You will always have clear reporting and the opportunity to discuss optimisations throughout your campaign.

The typical process for advertising with SoGlos is:

1. Initial conversation to share your business and marketing goals

2. A tailored proposal with recommended advertising and content options

3. Booking and scheduling to secure space 

4. Creative support for artwork, messaging and content marketing

5. Campaign delivery across the agreed SoGlos channels

6. Reporting and optimisation

To start the process, contact partnerships@sopublishing.com  or call 01242 210330.

We do not offer exclusivity on display advertising or content marketing, as SoGlos is designed to be a vibrant platform showcasing a range of leading Gloucestershire businesses and organisations to our audience.

However, we work closely with each partner to ensure your campaign is unique, stands out creatively and reaches the right audience at the right time.

We use the term partners instead of advertisers because we work collaboratively – in partnership – with businesses and organisations to achieve shared goals, not simply to place adverts.

SoGlos's team acts as an extension of your own marketing function, shaping campaign ideas, messages and optimisations with long-term success in mind.

Display advertising is a type of online advertising that uses visual banners, images or animations positioned across a website to attract attention, build brand awareness and encourage users to search for your brand or click through to your site.

Display advertising on SoGlos allows partners to reach more readers than any other service with their branding and key messages, by placing these eye-catching adverts alongside SoGlos’s relevant content, on a section-by-section basis. 

Online display advertising opportunities: 

• Wallpaper (full site)

• Homepage section

• Business, Food & Drink, Family sections

• Entertainment, Culture, Outdoors sections

• Community, Health & Wellbeing, Property & Interiors, Weddings, Visit sections

Newsletter display advertising opportunities:

• Lifestyle newsletter

• Business newsletter

For the latest costs, including current rate card and package options, download the latest SoGlos media kit soglos.com/partner

Performance varies depending on sector, creative, message and placement. Your Partnerships Hub manager can share typical ranges based on similar campaigns.

You are welcome to supply your own display creatives to specification. If you prefer, our in-house design team can create professional display adverts at no additional charge as part of your campaign.

Yes. Visit soglos.com/partner/display-advert-examples to see examples and design inspiration.

SoGlos's standard specifications are:

• Wallpaper: 2,100px by 1,200px, JPG or GIF, max 400k

• Billboard: 970px by 250px, JPG or GIF, max 200k

• Super skyscraper: 300px by 600px, JPG or GIF, max 200k

• MPU: 300px by 250px, JPG or GIF, max 200k

No. Display advertising on SoGlos is exclusively reserved for our partners and can only be booked directly. 

Content marketing is a way of promoting your business through useful, informative or inspiring articles that provide value to readers. Instead of 'traditional' adverts, it uses editorial-style content to tell your story, showcase your expertise and encourage people to learn more about your products or services.

SoGlos content marketing showcases your business through informative, useful and shareable editorial content written by our journalists and promoted through our established channels.

Content marketing options with SoGlos include:

• Hot list

• Interview

• Advertorial

• Competition

• Enhanced business profile

• Extended event preview

• Enhanced event preview

• Featured job

• Featured property

• Annual guide inclusion

• Seasonal guide inclusion

For the latest costs, including current rate card and package options, download the latest SoGlos media kit soglos.com/partner

Reach varies depending on topic, timing and sector. 

All content marketing is written by our in-house journalists and includes professional copywriting at no extra cost.

Content marketing articles with SoGlos include:

• Professionally written copy

• In partnership with recognition

• Calls to action and relevant links

• Promotion across SoGlos, social media and email channels

No. All SoGlos content is crafted by our journalists. Press releases are used as background information but articles are rewritten to engage readers.

SoGlos follows a clear, consistent house style designed to make our content easy to read, trustworthy and enjoyable. We use plain English, a warm and positive tone, UK spelling, accurate local references and fact-checked information. Our journalists follow consistent rules on grammar, punctuation, attribution, formatting and style to ensure every article is professional, accessible and aligned with the SoGlos brand.

The Gloucestershire Lifestyle & Community Awards take place in the spring, with entries opening in the new year. See soglos.com/lifestyle-awards for more information.

The Gloucestershire Business Awards take place in the autumn, with entries open in the summer. See soglos.com/business-awards for more information.

SoGlos's Charity of the Year is a Gloucestershire-based charity selected annually to receive dedicated editorial, marketing and promotional support from the SoGlos team.

Each year, local charities are invited to apply, and the full SoGlos team reviews all applications before choosing one organisation to champion for the year.

SoGlos's Charity of the Year benefits from editorial, marketing and advertising support from Gloucestershire's leading media brand, with opportunities to reach and engage SoGlos's audience through a tailored promotional campaign.

Applications open for our Charity of the Year scheme at the start of December each year.

Apply by emailing tracey@sopublishing.com with:

• A brief description of what your charity is all about
• Details of specific projects or events planned for the following year