Business Edge publisher Rob Driscoll had been hearing the stories for months. Client after client raving about the effectiveness of Edge advertising features as part of their successful marketing campaigns.

One gentleman called up laughing, saying his phone hadn’t stopped ringing since the ad feature on his company ran.
“Congratulations,” he said. “Everyone is reading your publication.”



Recently, Driscoll called another regular advertiser, this one from the investment community, to see if he was interested in running his company’s ad feature again.

His response: “Absolutely not!”

It caught Driscoll off guard, but he had to ask: “Why?”

“I’m swamped – can’t keep up, and 100 per cent of it is from our ads in Business Edge,” the client said.

That call gave Driscoll an idea.

“If the ad feature works so well for our clients, why not try it ourselves?” he says. “So here we are – doing an
ad feature on the ad feature in our own publication.”



There are many reasons why Business Edge ad features are so effective.

First, the Edge always hires highly qualified professionals to tell a company’s story.

“When someone makes a decision to advertise with us, they are spending hard-earned dollars in an effort to grow their business,” says Driscoll. “It’s our responsibility to do everythingpossible to make that advertising effective, and we don’t take it lightly.

“If you book an ad feature, I’m going to line up one of the top writers in the market as well as one of the top
photographers. All we need is about 90 minutes of your time for the interview and photo shoot, and we’re off to the races.”

Your story will outline in colourful detail the strengths of your company and the advantages of doing business with you. It becomes a compelling feature about your firm,
speaking directly to your target audience.

“We clearly label our advertising features, but they are so well written, photographed and designed that our readers don’t skip over the feature as they might in other publications,” Driscoll says.



“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people tell me they enjoy reading our ad features.”

Producing a brilliant ad feature is just one part of the Edge’s formula for success. Bringing eyeballs to the page is the next challenge, and no one does that better.

The Edge is delivered directly each week to more than 40,000 businesses in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. High pass-along readership translates to a massive audience of business readers at all levels.

“Corporate decision-makers are noticing everyone in their offices reading the Edge. They think about the math – about 40,000 businesses a week – and then give us a call,” says Driscoll.

“Once they try an ad campaign with us, they’re generally with us for good. It’s all about value and results.”

The Edge’s high-quality appearance and convenient size are contributing factors, but the biggest reason for its
soaring popularity is its editorial excellence.

The Edge has a cast of journalists unmatched in Western Canada. Each week they bring you a mix of news and features that keeps you on top of Alberta’s fast-paced business scene.



Here’s a look at some of the people who keep Albertans reading Business Edge cover to cover, week after week:

* Dr. Tom Keenan, whose ability to look into the future of technology and business has made the crystal ball all but obsolete.
* Tom Keyser, whose weekly columns read like poetry as they put a human face on the local business scene.
* Gyle Konotopetz, whose "20 Questions" features on business leaders and market musings on the front page of the Financial Edge inspire and entertain our readers.

* National award-winning science and technology writer Mark Lowey, whose in-depth stories regularly give us front-page scoops.

* Humorist Grant McKenzie, who keeps us laughing while bringing us up to speed on the latest trends and technology in Quantum Leap.

* Former Daily Oil Bulletin editor Ian McKinnon, whose weekly Oilpatch Roundup provides an insider’s view on the industry that makes Alberta tick.

“It all adds up to a very compelling package that ensures your ad – be it an ad feature or otherwise – receives maximum attention,” says Driscoll.

“The ad feature is a tremendous, cost-effective way to position yourself in the corporate community. But, bottom line, no matter what kind of ad campaign you run with Business Edge, you can be sure your message will be well read.”

As a bonus to anyone who on or before Sept. 30 reserves an ad feature to run this fall, the Edge will convert your story into a pdf file at no extra charge. The pdf essentially becomes a colour copy that you can send anywhere electronically.

Advertisers can target the Calgary/Red Deer or Edmonton markets, or advertise in both markets at a discount rate. Call 403.219.3343 or 780.425.3343 to reserve your space in Alberta’s premier business publication.