Advertise on CluedUp
Quick answer: Advertising on CluedUp means clearly labelled display and promotional placements shown alongside our plain-language South African how-to guides. We are an independent publisher, not a government body, and adverts never change what a guide says. Request the media kit to see options and current rates.
Key takeaways
- What you can buy: labelled display placements and promotional slots around our guides — never a change to the guidance itself.
- Audience: readers looking for practical, step-by-step help with everyday South African tasks and processes.
- Independence: we are not a government agency, and advertising never affects the accuracy of a guide.
- Disclosure: adverts are clearly marked and follow the FTC endorsement guidelines.
- Pricing: priced by placement and scope — request current rates.
Why advertise on CluedUp
CluedUp reaches people at a useful moment: when they are actively trying to get something done and are reading a guide to do it. That intent is what makes the audience valuable. Because our content is practical and public-service in nature, readers arrive ready to act — applying, registering, comparing or deciding. A clearly labelled advert placed near the right guide can reach exactly the people your product is meant to help, without interrupting or misleading them.
There is a second reason too: context. An advert seen next to trusted, plain-language guidance borrows some of that trust, provided it is honestly labelled. Readers who feel a site is straight with them are more receptive to the messages it carries. That is why we are careful about what we run and how it is marked — a crowded, misleading page would cheapen every placement on it. We would rather show fewer, cleaner adverts on pages people respect than chase volume and lose the goodwill that makes advertising here worthwhile in the first place.
Understanding our audience
Our readers are, broadly, South Africans trying to navigate everyday admin, money, study, work and public-service tasks — the practical business of getting life done. They tend to arrive from search with a specific question and leave once they have an answer, which means they are focused rather than idly browsing. We do not publish invented audience statistics on this page; if you need figures to plan a campaign, ask us for the current media kit and we will share what we can verify. What we can say plainly is that the intent is high and the mood is practical, which suits offers that genuinely help.
What advertising formats are available
We keep formats simple and reader-friendly:
- Display placements in standard positions around our guides.
- Promotional slots that are visually distinct and marked as advertising.
- Category or topic placements so your advert sits near relevant subject matter.
For storytelling rather than a banner, sponsored content is usually the better route, and a longer arrangement may suit a partnership.
Who advertises well here
The strongest fits are organisations whose offer genuinely helps someone completing a task — banks and fintech, insurers, education and training providers, legal and admin services, and reputable consumer brands. Because we cover public-service topics, we are careful about adverts that could be confused with official services. If your product helps our readers act with more confidence, it usually belongs.
A quick test we apply is whether an advert would still make sense to a reader who is mid-task. Someone reading a guide about a registration, an application or a document is in a problem-solving frame of mind. An advert that speaks to that moment — a tool that saves them a trip, a service that removes a hassle, a product that answers the very need the guide reflects — lands far better than an unrelated interruption. If your offer maps onto why people visit that section, tell us, and we can suggest where it will do the most good.
What we do not accept
We decline advertising that impersonates or implies an official government service, promises guaranteed outcomes, targets vulnerable people unfairly, or is misleading. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links, and we never let an advertiser edit or influence the wording of an independent guide. If a placement cannot be made honest and clearly labelled, we will not run it.
How placements are labelled
Every advert is visually distinct from our editorial guides and marked so readers can tell at a glance that it is paid. This is not a formality — mixing advertising with public-service guidance would undermine the whole site. Clear labelling protects the reader and, in turn, protects the value of your placement, because it appears on a page people actually trust. It also protects you from a subtler risk: an advert that a reader feels was slipped past them breeds resentment, not interest. Honest labelling turns a placement into something a reader can engage with on its own terms, which is worth far more than a click won by confusion.
How to get started
Tell us your goal, audience and budget, and we will share a media kit with available placements and current rates. From there we agree scope, labelling and timing, then go live. Contact us or email [email protected] to begin.
Pricing
Advertising is priced by placement, position and duration rather than a single flat fee, because a short campaign and an always-on placement are different jobs. Share what you have in mind and we will send current rates and realistic timing. We would rather quote you accurately for what you actually need than push a package that looks impressive on paper but does not serve your goal. If a smaller, better-targeted placement would work harder for you than a larger one, we will say so. Request a quote.
CluedUp is an independent publication with a named team and published methods; you can read about us and about how we verify and edit our guides. Advertising is always disclosed in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines and is kept entirely separate from our editorial. Nothing on the site — advert or guide — is legal, financial or professional advice; our guides are information only, and that clarity is exactly why placements here carry weight.
Frequently asked questions
Does advertising affect your guides?
No. Advertising never affects the accuracy of a guide. Our guidance is never for sale, and adverts are kept separate and clearly labelled.
Is CluedUp a government or official site?
No. We are an independent publisher, not a government agency, and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government body.
What formats can I buy?
Labelled display placements, promotional slots and topic-based placements. For narrative, see sponsored content.
How much does it cost?
It depends on placement, position and duration. Request current rates and a media kit.
Do you sell links?
We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links. Any paid placement is disclosed and follows the FTC endorsement guidelines.
What adverts do you refuse?
Anything that imitates an official service, promises guaranteed outcomes, misleads readers or targets vulnerable people unfairly.
How do I book?
Contact us via the contact page or email [email protected] with your goal and budget.
Can advertising be combined with other work?
Yes. Many advertisers combine placements with sponsored content or a partnership.
Do you have a media kit and how-to advertising rates?
Yes — request our media kit and current rates via the contact page; we share reach, formats and pricing on enquiry.
What how-to advertising formats do you offer?
Directly sold display placements, clearly disclosed sponsored content, and ongoing partnership campaigns.
Do you work with how-to advertising agencies?
Yes — we work directly with agencies and brands. Tell us your goals via the contact page.