Work With Us

Advertising, Sponsorship & Press

Tech Between the Lines is an independent publication. That independence is not a disclaimer. It is the product. Readers trust this coverage because no brand can buy the outcome of a review, a conclusion in an editorial, or a favorable mention in a newsletter. What brands can do is get in front of that audience in a clearly labeled, contextually relevant way.

This page covers who reads us, what is available, what it costs, and what we will not do.

The Audience

Before rates, context.

Tech Between the Lines readers are not passive scroll-and-bounce traffic. They are Apple enthusiasts, IT professionals, and technically engaged people who read carefully, click thoughtfully, and buy deliberately.

67% newsletter open rate — roughly three times the industry average 3,000+ monthly unique visitors, consistent and growing month over month 2.2 average pages per visit — readers who engage, not skim

If your product or service is something this audience would genuinely find useful, a placement here carries weight. If it is not a fit, we will tell you before you spend anything.

What Is Available

Newsletter Sponsorships

One sponsor per issue. No exceptions.

The Cupertino Chronicles is a weekly Apple-focused newsletter covering strategy, hardware, platform decisions, and the stories behind the announcements. Each issue is also published to the web, which means sponsor placements reach both email subscribers and web readers. A single sponsored placement per edition: your copy, your link, and no competing placements on the same send.

Single issue: $150
Monthly package (4 issues): $500

All newsletter placements include sponsor copy (we can write it or use yours), one link, and clear "Sponsored" labeling.

In-Article Sponsored Placement

A single, clearly labeled sponsor card embedded within a relevant published article. These are contextual by design. We only accept in-article placements that fit the topic of the article: a productivity tool inside a workflow piece, a gear recommendation inside a review, an enterprise software mention inside an IT analysis.

We reserve the right to decline any placement that does not fit the editorial context of the article, regardless of budget. That is not a negotiation point.

In-article sponsor card, new article: $175
In-article sponsor card, existing high-traffic article: $125
In-article placement with newsletter amplification: $275

All in-article placements include a labeled "Sponsored" card, your copy and link, and permanent placement for the life of the article.

Sidebar Sponsor Placement

A dedicated sponsor card in the site sidebar, visible site-wide on every page and every article, not limited to a single post or issue. This is the highest-visibility slot we offer: continuous presence rather than a one-time placement.

Sidebar placement (14 days): $125 plus affiliate commission
Sidebar placement (30 days): $250 plus affiliate commission
Sidebar placement (90 days): $450 plus affiliate commission

Note: Sidebar placements require a product we have actually used or can evaluate. We will not feature something we cannot vouch for.

Press & PR

Embargoed briefings and review unit requests are welcome across Apple hardware, accessories, audio, smart home, productivity tools, and beyond.

Sending a review unit does not buy a review, a rating, or a publish date. Editorial decisions, including whether to cover a product at all, stay independent of any sponsorship relationship. Coverage is earned, not arranged. If we take your review unit and the product is not good, the review will say so.

There is no fee for review consideration. Reach out with what you have and what you are hoping to get covered, and we will tell you honestly whether it is a fit.

Who You're Working With

Tech Between the Lines is a small team, not a syndicate, which is part of why the coverage holds together.

Justin Scharlemann is the founder and editor. By day he is a Senior Desktop Engineer who has spent 14 years managing enterprise technology at scale. He launched Tech Between the Lines as a passion project and built it into a publication with a consistent editorial voice and a growing roster of contributors.

Brad Thomas covers Apple design, UX, and notable apps. He is a product designer and UX/UI Principal with a 25-year journalism and sports media background, and he brings a designer's habit of asking whether a product solves the right problem, not just what it does on paper.

Hayden Bond covers AI search and Siri. He runs an AI search optimization agency and tracks on-device AI adoption and assistant usage data the way other writers track spec leaks.

Want the longer version? Meet the full team →

The Fine Print

What We Will Not Do

This is worth stating plainly, because it shapes everything above.

We do not sell editorial outcomes. A sponsorship guarantees placement in the formats described above. It does not guarantee a favorable review, a positive mention in editorial content, or influence over any coverage decision.

We do not run display advertising. No banner ads, no Google AdSense, no programmatic ad networks. Content on this site is readable because we keep it that way.

We do not paywall content. All coverage is free to read. Sponsorships support the publication without restricting access to anything.

We do not accept partnerships that conflict with our coverage. If we are actively critical of your product category, a sponsorship will not change that coverage. We will tell you this before taking your money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you write the ad copy for us? Yes. For newsletter placements and in-article cards, we can draft sponsor copy that fits the publication's tone and your product's message. You approve it before it runs.

Do you disclose sponsorships? Always. Every placement is clearly labeled. This is both a legal requirement and an editorial commitment. Readers know what is editorial and what is sponsored.

Can I sponsor a specific article or newsletter issue? Yes. For newsletter sponsorships you can request a specific upcoming issue. For in-article placements, we can match your product to the right piece or discuss upcoming articles that would fit.

Do you offer review coverage as a paid placement? No. Review coverage is editorial. Products can be submitted for review consideration at no cost, and coverage is at our discretion. What is listed on this rates page is advertising, not editorial.

Can we negotiate rates? For longer-term partnerships or multi-format packages not listed here, reach out and we can discuss. The rates above reflect fair value for this audience. We are not a publication that discounts its way into relationships.

How to Get Started

Use the form below to reach out, whether you are looking at a sponsorship, a review, or a press briefing. Let us know what you have in mind and what you are hoping to get out of it, and we will confirm fit, answer any questions, and get you on the calendar.

All rates are in USD. Placements are confirmed upon receipt of payment. We typically book 2 to 3 weeks out for newsletter placements.