FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The List?
The List is the online destination for all things Surface-approved. It is a directory accessible through SurfaceMag.com that allows our readers to search and discover top-quality brands. We’re building an exclusive community of respected industry leaders, in turn connecting brands with members of our audience through an experience of search and discovery.
Who is on The List?
Members of The List are best-in-class brands that are approved by our editors and contribute to pushing design forward.
How do I join The List?
For The List launch, Surface is inviting a select group of brands and firms we have covered in the past to join. Potential members who are not invited directly by us are welcome to submit a brief application to be reviewed by the Surface editorial team. Once approved, an annual commitment is required for inclusion.
What categories are included in The List?
– Architecture
– Art
– Design
– Education
– Fashion
– Hospitality
– Technology
– Transport
– Watches
BEFORE JOINING THE LIST
What does the annual membership fee include?
– Enrollment on The List for one year
– Customizable profile page with representative images of your brand/firm
– Direct links to your brand/firm’s website and social channels
– Written endorsement by the Surface editors on your profile page
– The List by Surface seal of approval for use as a tool to promote your brand
– Once-a-year placement in a designated multi-page section of the print magazine
– Inclusion in robust digital, email, and social campaigns
– Special editorial consideration
– Invites to Surface signature events
Are there different levels of membership?
Stay tuned for a rollout of various tiered memberships with exciting new benefits in Fall 2018.
How many members will be on The List?
We’ll be releasing a limited number of invites every quarter. For this initial beta launch we’ve extended invitations to 300 brands.
How are new members identified and selected?
To ensure authenticity, only brands/firms that would be covered by Surface will be invited. A limited number of invitations will be extended on a rolling basis throughout the year to brands/firms pre-selected by our editorial team.
Will there be more categories in the future?
We’ll be introducing new categories as more brands accept the invitation and are approved by our editorial team. Don’t see the category that represents your brand/firm? Not to worry. Once approved, our community managers will work with you to evaluate which category is the best fit for your brand/firm until that category is featured on The List.
What is the estimated traffic to The List?
This is a brand-new product, still in the beta stage, so we can’t estimate that yet at this time. We’ll share more information with members as we begin marketing this new initiative—as more brands join, and as we deploy new features.
Can you provide some examples of industry leaders and top creative professionals that use the site?
Surface focuses on the boldfaced names in the worlds of art, design, architecture, fashion, and travel. Our engaged fans crave daily content that drives purchases, conversation, and buzz, featuring architecture and design notables such as Ian Schrager and Annabelle Selldorf, art-world giants such as David Zwirner and Hans Ulrich Obrist, as well as key influencers including Amar’e Stoudemire, Marc Jacobs, and Rachel Comey.
ONCE YOU ARE ON THE LIST
How is placement determined?
During The List’s beta period, placement in the grid-view is randomized. As we continue to roll out new features and a post-beta pricing structure, members will be able to opt into a program which allows them to move to a “featured” position on the main landing and/or category pages. Placements on the list-view are in alphabetical order.
What is included on my brand/firm’s profile page?
Your profile is supplied with a 75-word brand description, space for 3–5 images, and a “Surface Says” editorial endorsement. Our community managers will work closely with you to gather the assets for your brand/firm’s profile and will take care of the upload to SurfaceMag.com for you.
Can I change my brand/firm profile?
Our community managers will work closely with you on customizing your brand/firm’s profile page. We’ll provide best practices, image guidelines, and everything you need to make the process as seamless as possible. Within the first year of launch, Surface will introduce a content-management system so that members will be able to access and change their profile images.
What about e-commerce?
We realize this is of great value to our members and will roll out an e-commerce component for member profile pages in Fall 2018.
Will any metrics be provided to track traffic to my page?
Your brand’s profile page comes with a space for a custom URL. We’ll be including a full suite of analytical tools in fall 2018, among other new features.
Will I be included in the printed Surface magazine?
With your membership comes a once-a-year placement in a designated multi-page section of the monthly print magazine. All members of The List will be given priority editorial consideration for inclusion in upcoming stories in print and online.
Can brands decide when they are featured in the in-book listing to align with a product/ collection launch?
Until the available editorial space runs out, we are allowing brands to choose which issue they would like to appear in. Images for the in-book inclusion can be submitted for consideration, but editorial team will make final decision on which images will run in print.
Is annual renewal automatic?
Your membership is set to auto-renew; should you wish to opt out of your membership or the auto-renew setting, please contact memberships@surfacemedia.com. Auto-renewal locks your membership in at our significantly discounted fee for the first 300 members who join during the beta period.
What is the cancellation policy?
While the annual commitment to The List is nonrefundable, you’ll be able to remove your brand’s profile page from The List at any time.