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Set sail for advertising success

with the #1 site for Smith Mountain Lake vacation and relocation planning since 1998.

If Smith Mountain Lake lovers are your target market, it’s time to partner with the SML Insiders’ Guide. Our print and digital advertising options allow businesses like yours to effectively and affordably reach local customers, as well as those making SML vacation planning and relocation decisions.

OPTIONS & PRICING
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Photo by Jayson Firebaugh, Star City SkyCams

sml insiders’ guide Website BY THE NUMBERS

https://smith-mountain-lake.com

Our site is one of the oldest and highest profile Smith Mountain Lake websites available. Aligning your business with our trusted, well-established SML resource is a smart way to boost your online presence, as well as build SEO-friendly backlinks to your business site.

275K+

ANNUAL Pageviews

130K+

ANNUAL users

8.4K+

organic SEARCH POSITIONS

800+

1st-page google rankings

69%

MOBILE USER audience

31%

desktop/tablet USER audience

Annual data report from January, 2024 – December 16, 2024. Sourced from Google Analytics, Semrush Tracking.

Smith-Mountain-Lake.com Annual Traffic Acquisition

Annual data from January 1, 2024 – December 16, 2024

63%

ORGANIC SEARCH

21%

DIRECT TRAFFIC

15%

SOCIAL MEDIA

1%

OTHER

Website Domain Authority*
33

* Source: ahrefs.com – Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). A link from a site with a higher DA can help boost your site’s domain authority.

AD OPTIONS & PRICING

Print Magazine

Published quarterly, the SML Insiders’ Guide magazine highlights the best of the Smith Mountain Lake in all four seasons. Each issue is packed with articles and photography designed to captivate residents, visitors and those looking to relocate to our spectacular region.

mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing

Our publication offers the largest reach in the SML market. Plus, our print/digital bundles allow your business to establish a strong year-round presence.

  • 10,000 copies distributed for free in racks and at key businesses in the SML region, including resorts and vacation rentals
  • Every issue showcases an eye-catching cover, in-depth special section and engaging content tailored to residents and visitors
  • Each article is written by an experienced local author and enhanced with value-added online bonuses like maps, expanded content or free downloads
  • Quarter, half and full-page options available with discounts for frequency
REQUEST A MEDIA KIT
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing

Online Business Directory

A featured listing in our extensive SML Business Directory is the easiest, most affordable way to showcase your brand.

mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing

Upgrade your free listing and take advantage of:

  • Prominent display of your business listing at the top of the directory category page for your industry
  • “FEATURED” banner to make your business stand out even more
  • Additional custom landing page that we build and host for you with your social media links, detailed description, hours of operation, map location, a photo gallery and more
  • Backlink (do-follow) to your site from our high-authority domain to help boost your traffic
$ 49 / month

No long-term commitment. Cancel upcoming renewal anytime.

$ 499 / year

Save 15% with a 12-month commitment. Cancel upcoming renewal anytime.

CREATE AN ACCOUNT & GET STARTED!
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing

Additional Advertising Opportunities

SML Insiders offers more ways for businesses like yours can effectively and affordably connect with local customers, and people who are in the process of planning vacations or considering relocating to Smith Mountain Lake. Custom print + digital advertising packages are also available to meet your unique business needs. Please contact us.

Screenshot showing three examples of banner ads on SML Insiders.

Affordable website banner advertising is available on the SML Insiders’ Guide, assuring extensive exposure for your business to our thousands of daily visitors.

Price includes initial design, a link to your website and a featured promo on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. All advertising runs throughout the site on both desktop and mobile versions

  • Displayed site-wide
  • Random rotation to improve campaign effectiveness
  • Ample 728 x 210 pixel size for optimal viewing on desktop and mobile devices
  • Backlink to your site from our high domain authority site
  • Displayed multiple times on pages that have extensive content

Investment: $235 per month / 15% discount for annual commitment

CREATE AN ACCOUNT TO GET STARTED

creenshot showing four blog posts on SML Insiders.S

Similar to an “advertorial” in print media, a sponsored blog post is an article we write that incorporates your business. It lives on smith-mountain-lake.com/blog and is heavily promoted on the site, as well as through our email and social media channels.

  • Minimum of 700 words
  • Up to 9 photos (you provide)
  • Up to 3 unique links to your site from our high domain authority site
  • Promoted on our home page for a minimum of one month
  • Distributed a minimum of two times to our email newsletter subscribers
  • Minimum of three shares on our Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest accounts

Investment: $1,200 one-time payment

CREATE AN ACCOUNT TO GET STARTED

Screenshot showing email advertising options on SML Insiders.
Screenshot showing email advertising options on SML Insiders.

The SML Insiders’ Guide offers two options for advertising in our email newsletters. With more than 5,000+ subscribers and an average open rate of nearly 50%, email advertising with SML Insiders provides substantial value and proven access to a highly desirable niche audience.

Option #1: Newsletter Shoutout

  • Design and creation of a 728 x 210 pixel ad
  • Prominent display of the ad in our weekly e-newsletter with a direct link to your website
  • Up to 100 words of copy to promote your business, organization or event
  • Ad and copy shared one time on our Facebook page (2.3K+ followers)

Investment: $150 per insertion

CREATE AN ACCOUNT TO GET STARTED

Option #2: Custom E-Blast

  • Editorial and art dedicated exclusively to your content
  • 350 words and up to 4 images provided by the advertiser; Graphic design provided by SML Insiders
  • Newsletter is deployed twice: Once on the target date and a second time two days later to all un-opens from the first deployment
  • All content is clickable to your requested website address
  • Content shared one time on our Facebook page (2.3K+ followers)

Investment: $750

CREATE AN ACCOUNT TO GET STARTED

mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing
mobile phone view of SML business directory listing

Showcase Your Business in our SML Insiders’ Guide Special Sections. Inside our upcoming magazines, we’ll be featuring new Branded Content Advertorials for wedding vendors and home & garden professionals, a
powerful way to showcase your business and connect
with your target audience.

With an engaging advertorial, we help you craft a compelling narrative that resonates and stays top-of-mind. Our team will guide you through the entire process—writing, editing and proofing—to ensure your message truly shines and makes a lasting impact.

  • Full page and two-page spread options
  • Includes a custom blog post published on our website. This valuable, FREE add-on lives on our high domain authority site forever and includes links to your website and social media
  • Discounted advertorial pricing and extra digital bonus ads available with additional print ad placements

Investment: Starting from $2,625

CONTACT US TO GET STARTED

Getting Started

If you would like to get started with adding a free or featured directory listing for your business or vacation rental, signing up for an advertiser account with us is your first step.

If you are interested in advertising opportunities in our print magazine, please request a media kit.

Already have an account? Login here.

The information collected here will be used to set up a profile for the account holder and will not be made public in any advertising displays. Only the account holder and site administrators will have access to this data. We’ll collect your business name(s) and details after your account has been created.

Advertiser Account User Registration Form
This email will become your username. This email will also receive communication regarding account details, payment status and renewal notifications.
Enter a Password
cancel1 check1 Eight characters minimum cancel1 check1 One lowercase letter cancel1 check1 One uppercase letter cancel1 check1 One number cancel1 check1 One special character
Confirm Password
NEXT STEP: After clicking to create your account, you’ll be redirected to the form to gather your business directory details and choose the free or featured listing.