Ads in the 2027 Key to the City Guide: Is It Right for Your Business?
Considering a half or full page ad in Burlington's Key to the City guide? Here's what the guide is, who sees it, and how to decide if it's the right advertising for your business.
Every city has a handful of publications people actually keep coming back to — the ones locals bookmark, share, and hand to visitors. In Burlington, the Key to the City guide has become exactly that: a digital magazine and local guide covering the city's best restaurants, adventures, events, and hidden gems. For a local business, a spot inside it means placement next to the content Burlington residents are already actively looking for.
This guide covers what the Key to the City guide actually is, why half and full page placements work differently than a typical ad, and how to decide whether it fits your business.
What Is the Key to the City Guide?
A Digital Magazine Built Around Local Discovery
The 2027 Key to the City guide is a curated, ongoing resource that helps residents and visitors explore, plan, and discover more of Burlington — from where to eat to what to do and where to go, all in one place.
Distributed Through an Established Local Platform
Rather than launching as a standalone publication, the guide is promoted year-round across the Burlington 365 platform — meaning it reaches an audience that's already built, engaged, and actively looking for exactly the kind of local recommendations a guide like this provides.
Why Guide-Style Advertising Works Differently Than a Typical Ad
Readers Are Already in Discovery Mode
Someone flipping through a "best of the city" guide isn't scrolling past ads to get to content they want — the guide is the content they want, which means your ad is seen in a much more receptive context than an interruption-style placement.
Longevity Beats a Single Campaign Flight
Unlike a paid ad that stops the moment your budget runs out, a guide placement stays live and gets referenced repeatedly throughout the year — by locals planning a weekend and by visitors researching the city before they arrive.
Association With a Trusted Local Source
Being featured alongside Burlington's best restaurants, adventures, and events lends your business a kind of local credibility that's hard to manufacture through paid ads alone.
Half Page vs. Full Page: Which Should You Choose?
What a Half Page Placement Offers
A half page ad is a strong fit for businesses that want consistent visibility in the guide without the investment of a full page — ideal for smaller businesses or those testing guide advertising for the first time.
What a Full Page Placement Offers
A full page gives your business the most prominent, uninterrupted presence in the guide — more room for photography, messaging, and offers, making it a better fit for businesses that want to make the guide a centerpiece of their annual marketing.
Matching Placement Size to Your Goals
If the goal is simple awareness among an already-engaged audience, a half page can do the job. If the goal is to actively drive bookings, visits, or a specific promotion, the extra visual space of a full page tends to convert better.
Who Should Consider Advertising in the Key to the City Guide
Restaurants, Attractions, and Experience-Based Businesses
Any business built around "things to do" or "places to go" is a natural fit, since it sits directly alongside the content readers are already searching the guide for.
Service Businesses Looking for Local Credibility
Even businesses outside the restaurant-and-attractions space benefit from the trust transfer of appearing in a guide residents already associate with quality local recommendations.
Businesses Planning Ahead for the Full Year
Because the guide is promoted year-round rather than for a single flight, it suits businesses thinking about annual visibility rather than a short-term push.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Placement
Pairing Print/Digital Placement With an Active Online Presence
A reader who sees your ad in the guide will often look you up immediately after — which means your website, social profiles, and Google Business Profile need to be ready to make a strong second impression.
Combining Guide Advertising With Broader Marketing
Businesses that get the most out of a Key to the City placement usually pair it with ongoing social media presence and digital advertising, so the guide isn't the only place people encounter their brand.
Secure Your Spot in the 2027 Key to the City Guide
The 2027 Key to the City guide is Burlington's go-to local resource, promoted year-round across the Burlington 365 platform to an audience of 20,000+ engaged Instagram followers and 500,000+ monthly views. Grabbing a half or full page puts your business in front of thousands of locals and visitors actively looking for what Burlington has to offer.
Join Burlington 365+ to get your business profile, Instagram perks, and blog features working alongside your guide placement, or talk to Boost, Burlington 365's in-house marketing agency about securing a half or full page ad in the 2027 guide — and about pairing it with Boost's SEO and conversion package or web design services, so your site is ready to convert the traffic your placement sends its way.
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Disclaimer
Please note that the information in this blog is for general guidance only and may not always be up to date or accurate. We recommend double-checking details directly with local cities, businesses, or official sources before making any plans or acting on the information. We are not a news outlet, and while we do our best to make sure information is accurate, sometimes we make mistakes. It is always best to verify with official sources. The inclusion of any business, individual, event, or service on the Burlington 365 platform does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of its quality, performance, or reliability. Users are solely responsible for conducting their own research and due diligence before engaging with any third-party businesses or services listed on the platform.
