Keels-and-wheels magazine
FAQ Publication History:  back to top  
Created in 1978 and serving SW Florida, we are a photo advertiser supported free publication for business clients and private individuals for buying or selling or promoting services particularly in the Automotive, Marine and Recreational industries.  It has always had a street issue date of Tuesday.  
            
Publication Ownership:  back to top  
Owned by Mio, Inc. a Florida corporation.  

Publication Geography:  back to top
SRQ-   The "North" publication serves Manatee and Sarasota counties with additional circulation into South Hillsborough and Desoto counties.
FM-   The "South" publication serves Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties with additional circulation into Desoto, Hendry and Glades counties.
        
Distribution:  back to top
Date    Both the "North" and "South" publications have a Tuesday issue date. 
Time    Both the "North" and "South" publications are delivered throughout Monday and Tuesday.
Quantities  The "North" publication maintains an annual net circulation of over 25,000 copies and the "South" publication maintains an annual net circulation of over 23,000 copies.
 
Location(s):  back to top
Both publications have high visibility and 24 hour access for absorbtion into the community via multiple distribution channels.  Several chain stores are used to ensure a readily available product throughout the distributed area.

What if a location is found empty?
Throughout the week any location can run empty.  We maintain weekly records of all location volume and regularly conduct audits or distribution.  If you find a location empty, you should seek out additional locations nearby as most neighborhoods have multiple channels and locations.  To report a concern or possible problems with any specific location please call the corporate office at 941-351-2411 or send us an email via this site.
    
Asking to be a distribution site 
If any merchant or property owner wants to have Keels and Wheels as a distribution location please call the corporate office at 941-351-2411 or send an email via this site.

Placing Ads:  back to top
Deadline:  Both the "North" and "South" publications deadline is every Thursday.  The North's Thursday deadline is 6 PM while the "South" is 5 PM. Ads run for 2 weeks ( from Tuesday to Tuesday, with distribution begining on Monday).

How to by Mail   back to top
All mail received at either office by Thursday will be in by deadline.  Every magazine has an advertising form that can be used.  This same form should be used if you schedule a photographer to come and take a photo.

How to by Internet  back to top
Follow the instructions as shown in the place ad web pages.There is an interactive content publisher that will guide you through the ad creation and placement process. Customers have a choice of using Paypal © or by completing all entry information and sending it to Keels and Wheels where someone will call you for verification and payment information via Master Card, Visa or American Express.

Renewals:  back to top
We maintain an active database of all previous ads up to 3 months from placement.  Ads can be renewed using existing photographs during those 3 months.  It may be necessary to submit a new photograph it your ad is older than 3 months.
Renewals placed via the office
Renewals placed through either the Fort Myers or the Sarasota office either in person, by telephone or through the mail are afforded a discount over original placement cost.  See publication or contact either office to determine the discount that applies.
Renewals placed via the Web Site
At the present time there is no discounts for renewing your ad through the Web Site, however there is often advantages in placing your ad via the Web Site that are not offered through conventional means.
         
Office Hours:  back to top
"North" Publication: 
The Sarasota Office is open;
Monday – Wednesday 8-5 PM
Thursday 8-6 PM (Deadline is 6 PM                 
Friday 8- 5 PM (ads taken and placed in next publication based on space available.
Phone #: (941) 351-2411

"South" Publication: 
The Ft. Myers Office is open;
Monday – Thursday 9-5 PM
Closed Friday
Phone #: (239) 482-0909

Web Site Updates:  back to top    
The Keels and Wheels Web Site database is updated every Tuesday PM.  Periodic changes will take place throughout the week including but not limited to text edits of advertisements.  It you have a change that is necessary to an ad that you have placed contact us via email or by phone.

Web Site Searches:  back to top
Item Specific Search by Category
You may search for any item through a specific category search (i.e. Cars, Boats, RVs, Motorcycles, etc.) and once you have successfully entered a specific Make only those models that are currently available in our database will appear in the selection list of Models.  Since not all items may have both the correct spelling or customers may have abbreviated or misspelled a Make or Model further search requests may yield a positive result.  Examples are: 2001 Ford F 150, or 2001 Ford F-150 or 2001 ford F150 note three distinct search criteria for Ford F 150 all of which may have listings.  Additionally, misspellings or abbreviations i.e. Harley Davidson or HD or Harley Davedson can yield different results.

Free Text searches  back to top
Similar to Specific Searches (above) Free Text search can yield different results using a variety of search criteria.  This form of search allows the user to search for any word, part of word or combination of words they choose.  Results can at times seem confusing as portions of words or "like" items can result i.e. F150 can yield $150 or $1500 or $15000.  The power of this type of search is amazing with practice a user can find just what they were looking for using this powerful tool.
            
Web Site Technical Questions:  back to top
Uploading photographs
 The optimum photo size is 640 x 480 and provided in .jpg format.  Please refer to your camera instructions or the Help menu of the image software program you are using to alter your photo if it is higher resolution or in an alternate format.  Please note; changing the extension; .tiff, .eps, .kdc or other to a .jpg will NOT change the actual file type UNLESS you follow the proper instructions for doing so.  In order to reformat your digital photo (size or type) you must follow the image processing instructions exactly.  If you still have difficulties you may send your photograph as an upload anyway however, 1) your photo may too large to send, 2) we may have difficulty in a re-format.

Confirming your transaction:  back to top
There are two confirmation steps in the process of Web ad placement.  
1).  First is a "Confirmation of Receipt" this confirms that we have received your request for a transaction – it is NOT a confirmation of the posting (payment confirmation and meeting the terms and conditions still need to take place) As part of this portion of the automated process you will receive (through the e-mail address provided by you) a "Confirmation of Receipt" of your requested transaction.  You will receive this "Confirmation of Receipt" no mater which technique you use to pay for your transaction. 
2)  Second is a "Confirmation of Transaction" this confirms payment and meeting the terms and conditions of placing an ad either onto the Web Site and/or into the publication(s).  a)  If you process your payment via paypal © and we receive payment confirmation from them of a successful transaction, we will process your ad to the next step of authorization.  Once authorized (see terms and conditions) we will upload your photo and text to the Web Site within 24 hours of receipt (during business days) and send a "Confirmation of Transaction" to you again via the e-mail address you provided.  If your transaction includes publishing to the magazine(s), you will be loaded into the process depending on the date and time of "Confirmation of Transaction" (see Placing Ads: Deadline above).  b)  If you are processing your transaction with the choice of having Keels and Wheels personnel contacting you for credit card payment (see Placing ads: How by Internet above) you will first receive "Confirmation of Receipt" which sets into motion the process of authorization.  Following confirmation of payment via contact with you by telephone you will receive a "Confirmation of Transaction" via the e-mail address provided by you.  In either case, once a transaction has been confirmed there are no refunds. 
   
Charges for your ad:  back to top
Placing your ad via the Web Site there are no additional or hidden charges from Keels and Wheels.  You will be provided a receipt of the total charges for your choice of ad placement that is charged by Keels and Wheels.
    
Database updates and your ad:  back to top
 The Keels and Wheels database is updated every week on Tuesdays in the PM.  If an ad needs to be changed, contact the technical support staff via e-mail or call your request into the office.

Reminders to renew your ad:  back to top
At the present time, if you place an ad, including using either one or both of the magazines, you will be reminded of its expiration by postcard somewhere during the days of  Monday and Wednesday via U.S. Postal Service of the week you would need to renew by (Thursday) in order to not miss a publication date.