Jeffrey Lunsford of Spud's Emporium of Comics and Games in Ottumwa, Iowa sent in his Free Comic Book Day report, telling of the advertising bonuses he was able to obtain:

This years FCBD ran about the same as last year but I wanted to mention some advertising bonuses that I got that may work out for others. 

My local radio agent came in about a month before to book my advertising spots for this year's FCBD.  I had racked up about 50 ad spots from other promotions that I was saving to use.  When she got the details from me on what the day was, she then suggested a live remote broadcast.  The price for a two hour live remote started at $300+.  I kind of chuckled at that which led her to ask why.  When I explained to her that Free Comic Book Day was 'free to everyone' but me, she then understood my humor.  She was under the perception that I got these 'comics' for 'free' from my distributor to give away.  She was amazed to learn that I had spent several thousand dollars overall for this promotion.  She then said that she would see what she could do for me to promote this altruistic community event. 

She returned the following week and announced that she had found eight sponsors to pay for my live remote.  In addition she was able to do some advertising trading with the local paper to get me an ad the day before the event.  Here I was expecting a small two column inch ad.  I instead got a 1/2 page, color ad in the entertainment section of the paper complete with a picture listing of the covers of the FCBD comics, right off the FCBD website.  For years I have spent what I could afford for additional advertising.  I find it amazing that, with a few minutes explanation to a sympathetic ad rep, I would be rewarded me with a bounty of free advertising.  We are both looking forward to next year's event as each of us came out ahead on the deal.