WEEKLY FEATURE REGISTRATION PACKAGE
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15
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
WEEKLY FEATURE
WOTS 2021
REGISTRATION PACKAGE
FIRST ROUND REGISTRATION DEADLINE – APRIL 9, 20211 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
2 ABOUT WEEKLY FEATURES 10 DISCOUNT DETAILS
3 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 11 THEME SELECTION
5 TEXT & IMAGE REQUIREMENTS 12 PRICING FOR PARTICIPANTS
6 NEWSLETTER 13 DEADLINES & APPLICATION DETAILS
7 WEBSITE PLACEMENT 14 CONTACT
8 SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION
9 LIVE INTERVIEWS2 ABOUT WEEKLY
FEATURES
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
After careful deliberation, The Word On PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE
The Street has decided to run another
all-virtual festival for 2021. This year, our
marketplace has been reimagined for the
virtual space. WOTS remains committed to
providing a platform to promote authors,
publishers, small businesses and non-profit
organizations to our audiences. Instead
of 2020’s booth-style, 100+ vendor online
market, we’re piloting a new program called
01 02 03 04
the Weekly Features!
WOTS Weekly Features is a curated program
that will showcase independent authors,
publishing partners, and small businesses, PLACEMENT IN PLACEMENT ON OUR PROMOTION ON A CHANCE TO
all organized around one central theme OUR DEDICATED DEDICATED WOTS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECT LIVE
per week (for example: children’s literature, E-NEWSLETTER WEEKLY FEATURES CHANNELS WITH A 20-MINUTE
climate change, mental health week, etc.) WEBPAGE PROGRAMMING SLOT
These features will give audiences the
opportunity to discover that new book, 2 mailouts during Reaching a Interview- or panel-
magazine, organization, poet, or local store your featured week combined audience style
through dedicated promotion, interviews, of over 25,000 book-
and discounts. lovers3 ABOUT WEEKLY
FEATURES
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
For over thirty years, countless PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS
readers have come to WOTS
excited at the prospect of
discovering their next perfect
read at a discount! Weekly
Features will continue that
01 02 03
tradition by offering deals valid
during the week that each
participant is featured.
AN ONLINE PRESENCE A DEAL TO ENTICE SOMETHING
WE CAN DIRECT PEOPLE TO OUR AUDIENCE* EXCITING TO SAY
Instead of building virtual Our minimum requirement is We’ve found that the most
booths, this year we’re sending 20% off original item price, but successful live interviews feature
our audience to the successful you can add onto that with free diversity, engaging presenters,
online infrastructure our shipping, gifts with purchase, or and material that is interesting
participating exhibitors already whatever else you think readers in its own right. Participants
have. If you want to sell a might love. Discounts will be will have the chance to discuss
product, you will require an publicized in our dedicated interview topics with their host
online store; if your goal is to e-newsletter and on our Weekly beforehand.
raise awareness for your cause, Features webpage.
a website will suffice.
*If you are a Literacy Organization, no discount is required!
You can request a slot for promoting your day-to-day activities, recruiting tutors/volunteers, etc.4 ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
Despite our all-virtual home ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS
for 2021, The Word On The
Street remains proudly 100%
Canadian in content. The Weekly
Features program depends on
certain requirements in order to
01 02 03
maximize its impact.
Please read the following to
check your eligibility before
applying. PUBLISHERS, BOOKSTORES, LITERACY & ARTS INDEPENDENT
MAGAZINES & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORS
RETAILERS
Must be based in Canada or Must be a Canadian citizen or
Must be based in Canada or promoting Canadian branches Permanent Resident
promoting Canadian authors & Must have published a book,
creators magazine, etc. within the last
Must be equipped to handle three years (2018-2020) or have a
online transactions title forthcoming in 2021
Must be equipped to handle
online transactions (online store,
distribution, etc.) and to apply
discounts to titles/items
NOTE: WOTS Weekly Features is a curated program. Application does not guarantee a feature slot.5 TEXT & IMAGE
REQUIREMENTS
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
Upon acceptance to the Weekly Features SPECIFICATIONS
program, each participant will be asked to
provide feature images and a short piece of
copy describing their business/organization
and the deal they have on offer. Participants
will also provide a code or URL for audiences
to access their discount (or a Call to Action
for non-transactional participants). These
assets will be placed in our dedicated
e-newsletter and on the WOTS Weekly
Features webpage. In certain cases, more
than one image may be requested.
Images and copy are subject to approval
by WOTS staff prior to the e-newsletter &
webpage’s release, and WOTS staff may FEATURE IMAGES TEXT
600PX WIDE 100-150 WORDS
request changes or edit copy to meet style
& branding guidelines.
Having trouble imagining what you should
include in your image or text? Here are PNG or GIF format, preferably not just a logo Explaining your organization & detailing your
some best practices. weekly feature6 NEWSLETTER
DETAILS &
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
TIMELINE
Weekly Feature e-newsletters run on a
timeline of 2 mailouts per week. The first
e-newsletter is sent at 12PM ET on Mondays,
the second at 9AM ET on Fridays. Friday
mailouts are intended as a reminder—in case
you missed it—to readers; no additional copy
is required.
As WOTS Weekly Features is a pilot program,
there is no pre-existing mailing list. As part
of building our e-newsletter list for this
project, WOTS is inviting its 4,000+ current
newsletter subscribers to opt-in to discover
their new favourite books, magazines, and
local businesses.7 WEBSITE DETAILS
& TIMELINE
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
In addition to e-newsletter placement,
participants will also see their feature up on
WOTS’ dedicated Weekly Feature webpage.
This webpage will be easily reachable
through the WOTS homepage, as well as a
top-level menu button.
Your feature will go live on the website at
12PM ET on the Monday of your featured
week, and stay active until 11:59PM ET on
the Sunday. Once your feature is complete,
we will include your image and a link to your
interview in a “Previous Features” section of
the page for three weeks (in case curious
browsers want to peruse your site after the
fact!). Discount access will not be included
in the Previous Feature section. After three
weeks, your information will be removed
from the webpage.8 SOCIAL MEDIA
PROMOTION
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
Each participant in the Weekly Features will We at WOTS have found that the best
be promoted during the week their feature strategy for promotion on social media
is live, between Monday and Friday. WOTS is to make it a communal effort. We
will be posting on Twitter and Facebook, as encourage participants to share & repost
well as making use of Instagram Stories. We WOTS’ promotional material, and to post
will use these posts to introduce audiences their own announcements and reminders
to participants, detail the deals on offer regarding their Weekly Feature slot. We
that week, and promote the time & date of also encourage participants to boost each
participants’ live interview. other’s work, in the same “booth buddy”
network-building spirit of our in-person
For the sake of maintaining a consistent marketplace.
and identifiable brand identity, WOTS staff
are responsible for writing copy associated Retweets & reposting is up to the
with Weekly Feature social media posts. discretion of WOTS staff. We will gladly
Participants will not be required to submit repost organic content showing
copy for social. Images may be requested your excitement about participating!
from participants (e.g. author headshots), Be sure to include the hashtag
or else repurposed from the feature images #WOTSWeeklyFeature for visibility.
supplied.9 LIVE
INTERVIEWS*
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
Weekly Feature participants will be Details are as follows: Regarding non-publisher partners,
interviewed in a live programming segment there are still ways to get involved with
hosted on StreamYard, the same intuitive Interviews take place for approximately programming.
software The Word On The Street uses for 20 minutes
author panels during festival week. This live Some examples include:
stream will be simulcasted to WOTS’ social Scheduled for 12PM on the Tuesday/
channels: YouTube, Twitter (via Periscope), Wednesday/Thursday of that week Opportunities to participate in
and Facebook.** conversation with or host virtual
WOTS will provide a moderator, unless presentations
Interviews will be recorded for participants other arrangements are made
to link/use in the future. WOTS will host Discussing books & literature in a way
Weekly Feature videos on our YouTube On special request or for select themes that aligns with your brand/product
channel publicly for a minimum of 6 months; (e.g. Indie Author Week), participants
afterward, we may delist the video. The URL may be grouped together in a panel-style Suggesting an alternate format
will remain active, and WOTS will provide a discussion in order to maximize cross- (workshop, DIY video, etc) or topic
copy of the recorded video upon request for pollination of audiences. which relates to your brand/product
participants to use.
*to participate in the live programming portion of Weekly Features, participants must be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to broadcast
on a live stream. WOTS will provide a StreamYard-specific orientation, but otherwise we unfortunately do not have capacity to train participants on technology.
Participants may opt-out of the interview if live streaming is out of their comfort zone. **Instagram/IGTV does not support streaming outside of its native mobile
platform. Until IGTV can integrate with other multistreaming services, we unfortunately cannot include it in our simulcast.10 DISCOUNT
DETAILS
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
Every participant except Literacy Discounts may be accessed in different
Organizations must include a deal or ways depending on the capabilities of the
discount for the public to access during participant’s online facilities. We recommend
the week of their feature. Discounts will one of the following:
be advertised within our twice-weekly
e-newsletter and/or on the WOTS Weekly A WOTS-exclusive discount code to be
Feature webpage. WOTS Weekly Feature applied at checkout
discount codes will not be shared on
social media. An embedded link to a subsection of your
online store where WOTS buyers have your
WOTS Weekly Features require a minimum discount automatically applied
discount of 20% off the original item price.
Additional discounts may be applied If a participant is accepted for placement in
over and above this deal, including free the Weekly Features, a member of WOTS staff
subscriptions, free shipping, gifts with will be in touch to further discuss discount
purchase, etc. These promotions must be a logistics.
WOTS-exclusive deal, and not a replication
of what already exists in your store.
Discounts must be valid for the entire week
of your feature (12PM ET on Monday until
11:59PM ET on Sunday), and participants
must clearly indicate when discounts will
expire.11 THEME
SELECTION
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
The WOTS Weekly Features program is built Please familiarize yourself with the theme list before
around the concept of themed curation. starting your application, as you will be asked to choose
Audiences are more likely to be drawn in by no more than six (6) themes.
a cohesive story, and themes help to position
companies/organizations in alignment with National Poetry Month April Emancipation Day August 1
specific values and interests. Museum Month May International Youth Day August 12
Pride Month June World Humanitarian Day August 19
Below is a working list of themes WOTS is Aboriginal History Month June Animals/Pet Appreciation Week
considering for the Weekly Features program. National Wildlife Week April 5–9 Children’s Literature
Included are both national awareness National Volunteer Week April 18–24 Citizenship & Public Policy
dates (National Wildlife Week, Canadian Children’s Book Week May 2–8 Fantasy
Multiculturalism Day, etc.) and more general Education Week May 2–8 Graphic Novels
genre-based themes (Romance, Graphic National Mental Health Week May 2–8 History & Historical Fiction
Novels, Children’s literature, etc.) Earth Day April 22 #indielove/Indie Authors
Mother’s Day May 9 Literacy Week
Successful featured participants will have a Canada Health Day May 12 Memoir
strong tie to their chosen theme, whether National Museum Day May 18 Romance
inherently or through a specific marketing Father’s Day June 20 Science Fiction
campaign. For example, if a publisher has Indigenous Peoples’ Day June 21 Sports
several exciting memoir titles, they may wish Canadian Multiculturalism Day June 27 STEM/STEAM Week
to check "Memoir Week" and use their Weekly Canada Day July 1 Summertime/Beach Reads
Feature to run a promotion on their selection International Self-Care Day July 24 Young Adult Fiction
of memoirs.12 PRICING
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
The chart represents pricing for BUSINESS CATEGORY PIONEER PRICE* REGULAR PRICE
Canadian-based authors, organizations, (April slot only!)
etc. If you are an International entity with
Canadian ties, please contact:
CANADIAN PUBLISHER $
250 $
500
Sienna Tristen (exhibitors@
thewordonthestreet.ca) or Kim Robinson SMALL PUBLISHER (13 DEADLINES &
APPLICATION
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
DETAILS
Ready to apply to this exciting new program? If you are considered for a Weekly Feature,
Complete your application to participate in you will receive notice within 5 days after
the WOTS Weekly Features by filling out the applying. Please note that the Weekly
form HERE. Features program is a curated offer;
applications do not guarantee placement.
The deadline for the first application
period (including Pioneer Pricing) is If you are placed for a Weekly Feature, you
Friday, April 9 at 11:59PM ET. will receive notice of acceptance a minimum
of three (3) weeks before the Feature Week
Depending on volume of applications, a takes place. Notice of acceptance will
second period may open mid-summer. include an invoice for the amount indicated
Subscribe to the WOTS Exhibitor newsletter in the Pricing chart, plus applicable taxes.
for updates and announcements regarding Participants must pay their invoice in full
application periods. to confirm their feature slot.14 CONTACT
THE WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO — 2021 WEEKLY FEATURE DECK
We hope you will consider joining us
in celebrating storytelling, ideas, and
imagination all year round!
For more information on Weekly Features,
please contact Sienna Tristen (exhibitors@
thewordonthestreet.ca)
For information on Sponsorships,
please contact Kim Robinson (kim@
thewordonthestreet.ca)You can also read
