Member Benefits
AFCP members enjoy a wide range of member benefits intended to improve their operations and profitability. Click on each banner for more information on our member benefits.
The Leadership Institute (TLI) is a structured, comprehensive, cost effective sales and leadership training program designed specifically for AFCP members and the free paper industry. Industry experts from across the country have pooled their experience and resources to create the best sales training for free paper advertising personnel available anywhere.
As a member, you have free access to these training resources. TLI sessions are presented at AFCP Annual Conferences and local association meetings.
Archives containing training materials that you can use for training your staff can be downloaded without charge at the TLI section of the AFCP Conference website.
AFCP offers professional certification for advertising sales professionals recognizing the extensive training and knowledge of the top performers in our industry.
Certification is available at three levels: Associate Advertising Executive, Certified Advertising Executive and Master Advertising Executive.
Certification is attained through attendance at TLI sessions, completing minimum experience requirements and passing a comprehensive exam.
AFCP coordinates an annual conference and trade show to provide a forum for exchanging information on critical freepaper issues, emerging technologies and professional development. Participants meet informally and exchange ideas with sales and marketing experts, industry leading motivational educators and colleagues. The latest products and services available to free paper publishers are showcased in AFCP's trade show. The annual AFCP Conference & Trade Show is the industry's largest, providing publishers and suppliers their best opportunity to connect.
AFCP members who also participate in NANI can attend this conference without charge. This includes all meals and entertainment as well as all sessions and speakers. New members who also register to participate in NANI can also attend this conference free of charge.
Click here for more information about
AFCP Conference member benefits.
Click here for more information about
AFCP's upcoming annual conference & trade show.
The AFCP Digital Toolbox was created to bring strategic partnerships to free paper publishers that might not otherwise be available. These partnerships allow you to build your online business and add profits to your bottom line. Each of these partners has opted to partner with AFCP and free paper publishers in a manner that allows you to provide online services to your advertisers. Great opportunities for profitable additions to your print business are now available to you through these partners.
NANI Clicks is a full service search management service that can put your advertisers online. By partnering with WebVisible and Location3Media, AFCP has created a full-service search advertising management service that you can provide to your advertisers to assure all of their search advertising needs are fulfilled.
By partnering with AFCP and AutoConX, you can provide your auto dealers with a full-service automotive portal on your website. AutoConX hosts the site, branded to your publication, and provides all software updates and full service to you.
Get more information at www.afcp.org/General/AutoConX.php.
PennysaverUSA is the best local and nationwide marketplace anywhere. At PennysaverUSA, you can find deals on products and services not available anywhere else, print coupons to save money, enter contests to win valuable merchandise, check out product reviews and discuss the best opportunities, search classified ads from across the country and place a FREE ad to convert your extra stuff to cash!
National Advertising Network, Inc. (NANI) is the largest and most efficient classified advertising network in the North America.
Members benefit in three ways.
- First, you earn national classified revenues simply by running liner classified advertising in your publication. Having a wide variety of national ads also brings more local advertising.
- Second, publishers have the opportunity to earn sales commissions when selling NANI ads.
- Third, by publishing the NANI ads, publishers earn special member benefits, such as reduced dues and free attendance at annual conferences as well as reduced travel costs through hotel room buydowns.
For more information, check the NANI website.
AFCP members can increase their advertising sales by using MultiAd's adbuilder co-op advertising service.
Millions of dollars of co-op advertising assistance is available to retailers across the country, including your market. Through use of adbuiler, your salesreps can research co-op advertising that is available to your advertisers and develop ad programs to use those resources for advertising in your publication.
AFCP members enjoy free access to co-op advertising services on the adbuilder website (www.adbuilder.com).
AFCP's annual awards competition provides national recognition for excellence in freepaper publishing. The competition's 50+ categories recognize the best work by freepaper professionals in photography, editorial, graphic design, advertising promotion and general excellence. Winners are recognized at AFCP's annual conference and trade show each spring.
The annual competition, open only to AFCP members, recognizes members for outstanding achievements, innovative ideas and dazzling promotions. Thousands of entries are received each year making this one of the toughest competitions; however, some of the best work is often done by some of our smallest members.
| Networking with publishers in like situations is often your best way to improve your operations. AFCP makes networking easy. Our conferences are styled to maximize your opportunities to meet other publishers. All functions and events are open to all attendees at no additional charge. |  |
   |
Social networking through LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter provide opportunities for publishers to communicate on an ongoing basis. Each social network has a wide variety of participants allowing you to connect with industry associates about problems, opportunities and issues of the day. |
| Free Paper INK is the industry's most widely read trade magazine. Published 12 times per year, INK reaches members and non-members alike. Free Paper INK covers all meetings in the industry, spotlights people on the move and includes information vital to all publishers. Visit Free Paper INK at www.freepaperink.com. |  |
Knowing the latest news, programs and features about the association, fellow members and the industry is important.
Free Paper INK is the publication where answers are found.
AFCP's monthly magazine has up-to-date information, association business and industry events, as well as timely articles on member's successes, educational opportunities, new programs and more.
AFCP retains two of the top legal firms in the country to assist our members in fighting legal challenges that may affect other publishers throughout the country.
- We have worked extensively to assure that “anti-littering” laws do not hamper our members’ ability to deliver publications.
- We’ve worked to assure that the post office and other public entities do not discriminate by giving better access to paid publications than free distribution ones.
- We’ve worked to disseminate information about Truth in Lending Laws, and the dramatic negative impact it can have on advertisin.
- We’ve worked on behalf of all publishers to mitigate the costs and burdensome procedures brought about by the “Do Not Call” legislation.
If you are challenged by any legal authority, or need help understanding new legislation, do not hesitate to call AFCP for assistance. This is a free service for our members.
Home Designs represents a great opportunity to build readership in your publication as well as earn commissions for sales produced by your paper.
Readers are interested in the value of their homes and comparing their homes to designs of new construction. By publishing this weekly feature of home plans and designs, you will build readers' weekly habit of looking for your paper. Simply download the weekly feature from this page and publish it in your paper.
You also can earn commissions by becoming a publishing partner with Home Designs through a partnership between Home Designs and AFCP.
Member Service Group has been the credit card processing provider for AFCP since 2000. Download and print a free analysis form. Fax it along with two monthly statements to Paul Huntley at (515) 334-7461 or contact Paul at (888) 697-8831 or paulhuntley@membergroup.com.
Compare processing rates with your current provider to see if you can cut your processing costs. Switching to MSG to process credit cards may save you money and does not require changing bank accounts. Credit Card receipt deposits are automatically deposited in your local bank.
Build your print revenues by subscribing to Newspaper Toolbox. As an AFCP member, you qualify for a special subscription price AND can download five sections for FREE!