Format rules
These are the contract with our readers. They are immutable: every ad must comply, no exceptions, no negotiation. Operator approval enforces them; rejected ads are never charged.
Slots per send
One sponsored slot per edition by default, two hard maximum. We never run three. Inventory is atomic at the database level — two campaigns can never book the same position in the same edition.
- Headline slot — top of newsletter, immediately under the masthead. $200.
- Section slot — mid-newsletter, between editorial blocks. $100.
Text-only format
Every ad is text. No images, no video, no animated GIFs, no embedded media of any kind. Ad blocks use the same editorial typography as the newsletter; only an inline 広告 / Sponsored tag distinguishes them.
- Headline — ≤ 60 characters
- Body — ≤ 300 characters EN, ≤ 200 characters JP
- CTA — one URL, displayed as a labelled link
Copy restrictions
The editorial bar applies to ad copy too. We reject:
- All-caps shouting
- Fake urgency ("only 3 left", "ends today" without a real deadline)
- Emoji-bombing (one or two emojis is fine; ten is not)
- Hyperbolic claims ("the only", "guaranteed", "10× ROI")
- Anything we wouldn't want our own readers to read about — editorial veto, no appeal
Language match
Each ad must match the edition language. The English edition only carries English ads; the Japanese edition only carries Japanese ads. No mixed-language ads ever.
If you have English source copy and need a Japanese ad, we provide free JP copy polish — submit either JP copy or English source, and a native JP operator lightly polishes for naturalness. The approval email shows the diff so you see exactly what we changed.
Tracking
UTM tags on the outbound CTA URL only. No pixels. No behavioral retargeting. No third-party scripts. Readers shouldn't be silently profiled by an ad they read in our newsletter.
Frequency cap
The same advertiser may book at most once per 14 days. Enforced server-side at submission. This is a discipline measure — readers get tired of seeing the same logo on rotation, and rotation kills CTR.
Banned verticals
The following verticals are not eligible to advertise on 415, regardless of how the campaign is positioned:
- Gambling — casinos, sportsbooks, lottery, fantasy sports paid leagues
- MLM — multi-level marketing, network marketing, pyramid-structured sales
- Political — candidates, parties, ballot initiatives, advocacy on contested issues
- Adult — pornography, escort services, sexual-wellness products with explicit messaging
- Weapons — firearms, ammunition, weapon accessories, tactical gear
- Predatory finance — payday loans, debt-consolidation schemes, "make money fast"
Editorial veto
Beyond the explicit bans, an operator can reject any ad that doesn't fit the editorial voice. Rejected ads are never charged — Stripe authorizes at submission, captures only at approval, voids the auth on rejection.