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InventorySpread

How InventorySpread works

InventorySpread is a two-sided newsletter-ad marketplace. Operators with paid sponsorship inventory list in our directory; advertisers tell us what audience they want; we broker the deal end-to-end and take a 10–20% fee per booking (default 15%). Money settles directly between the advertiser and the newsletter, or via Wise / Polar one-time with Northtide forwarding minus the fee — per deal, no escrow.

For advertisers

  1. Send us your campaign brief. Use the /advertise form: budget, target niches, audience details, what you’re selling. We reply within one business day.
  2. We propose 2–3 matches. Each match comes with the newsletter’s name, audience numbers, slot type, real CPM, and the broker fee disclosed up front. You only commit once you approve a quote.
  3. We book and coordinate. We’re the single point of contact for creative review, placement date, must-include language, and confirmation. You pay the newsletter (or pay Northtide and we forward minus the fee).

For newsletter operators

  1. List your newsletter at /list-newsletter. Name, niche, audience numbers, public rate-card URL, optional notes on cadence. Free.
  2. We vet within 2 business days. Active listings show up at /directory with an “owner-listed” badge. Your contact details stay private — advertisers never see them on the directory.
  3. We bring matched advertisers to you. When the broker opens a deal against your inventory, we email you with the campaign brief, proposed creative, and the price. You always approve before anything runs.

The broker fee

10–20% per deal, default 15%. The fee is disclosed on every quote — you see the slot price and the Northtide cut before approving. Paved’s reference fee is 30%; we’re deliberately undercutting because the marketplace value is in matching, not in rent-extraction.

The fee is what funds InventorySpread. We don’t charge platform fees, listing fees, or subscription fees. There is no upsell.

Payments

Settled per deal. Most deals run advertiser-to-newsletter direct, with Northtide invoiced separately for the brokered fee. For advertisers who prefer a single point of payment, we accept Wise / Polar one-time and forward minus the fee. We do not hold funds in escrow — that’s a deliberate MVP choice; if monthly brokered GMV justifies the compliance work, we’ll revisit.

What we ask of you