Position Guarantee
A Position Guarantee is a commitment from a magazine or publication to an advertiser that their ad will appear in a specific location within the publication. For example, this could mean the ad will always appear on the right-hand page, in the first third of the magazine, or next to relevant editorial content. This term is important in advertising sales because premium positions (like inside front cover or back cover) are more valuable and can command higher rates. When reviewing resumes in publishing, this term often appears in context of advertising sales or media planning roles.
Examples in Resumes
Secured over $2M in annual revenue through Position Guarantee premium placements
Managed Position Guarantee contracts for top 50 advertisers
Developed pricing strategy for Position Guarantee and Premium Position inventory
Typical job title: "Advertising Sales Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Advertising Sales Managers
Professional Organizations
Industry Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle conflicts when multiple advertisers want the same premium position guarantee?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate experience in negotiation, relationship management, and creative problem-solving, such as rotating positions among advertisers or creating new premium positions.
Q: How do you determine pricing for different position guarantees?
Expected Answer: Should explain understanding of market rates, competition analysis, reader engagement metrics, and how to value different positions based on visibility and effectiveness.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors do you consider when recommending position guarantees to advertisers?
Expected Answer: Should discuss understanding reader behavior, alignment with editorial content, advertiser goals, and budget considerations.
Q: How do you track and ensure compliance with position guarantee commitments?
Expected Answer: Should explain systems for tracking promises made to advertisers, coordination with production team, and quality control processes.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the most common types of position guarantees in magazine advertising?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list basic positions like inside front cover, back cover, right-hand page, and first third of magazine.
Q: Why are some positions more valuable than others in magazine advertising?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of reader behavior, visibility, and how different positions impact ad effectiveness.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of magazine layout
- Knowledge of standard position types
- Ability to explain position benefits to clients
- Understanding of rate cards
Mid (2-5 years)
- Position guarantee contract management
- Negotiation with advertisers
- Coordination with production team
- Revenue optimization
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic position pricing
- Premium advertiser relationship management
- Inventory optimization
- Team leadership and training
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of magazine production workflow
- Lack of experience with advertising contracts
- Poor knowledge of industry standard positions
- No experience with rate cards or pricing strategies
