Sponsored Content Guidelines

The Natural Stone Institute (NSI) welcomes sponsored content as an opportunity to highlight the beauty, sustainability, and versatility of natural stone, as well as the people and stories behind it. To maintain the integrity of our mission and communications, all sponsored content must follow the guidelines outlined in this policy.

Definition of Natural Stone

For the purposes of all NSI communications, natural stone is defined as:

"Stone that has been harvested from its in-situ position within the earth and used as a building material without altering the natural fabric of the material."

Examples include (but are not limited to): granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, travertine, onyx, slate, quartzite, and other quarried stone products.

Sponsored Content Categories

This policy applies to the following types of sponsored content:

• Advertorials in The Cutting Edge newsletter, Building Stone Magazine and other publications
• Sponsored social media posts on NSI platforms
• Digital and print advertisements (e.g., website, email communications, The Cutting Edge newsletters, Building Stone Magazine)

Content Requirements

Primary Focus on Natural Stone if Building Materials are Featured

Sponsored content must feature natural stone as the core focus. This may include applications, performance benefits, design inspiration, sustainability advantages, technical innovation, or project highlights.

Celebrating People in the Industry

NSI also encourages content that recognizes individuals and teams who work with natural stone — fabricators, installers, designers, quarry workers, installers, restoration workers and other professionals — to foster community and showcase the strength of the industry.

Mentions of Other Materials

References to other materials (e.g., engineered stone, concrete, porcelain) are acceptable only if incidental and clearly secondary to the story of natural stone. The overall message must reinforce natural stone’s value and relevance.

Accurate Representation

Descriptions of stone products must be truthful and clear. Do not present non-natural products as natural stone.

Alignment with NSI Mission

Content must support NSI’s commitment to lead, support, and promote a unified natural stone industry through authoritative information, education, standards, and advocacy.

Editorial Rights and Review

All sponsored content must be submitted in advance and will be reviewed by NSI staff to ensure compliance with these policies.

NSI reserves the right to:

• Request edits for clarity, accuracy, or policy compliance
• Decline or refuse content that does not align with NSI’s mission or standards
• Remove previously approved content if post-publication concerns arise

All content must be:

• Professional in tone
• Non-political and non-discriminatory
• Respectful and aligned with the values of the NSI community

Submission Guidelines

Please include the following with your submission:

• Final copy for review (article, ad, script, or post text)
• High-resolution content free of copyright or licensing restrictions OR Completed Media Release Form
• A short summary of the content’s goal or campaign context

Submit materials to:
NSI Marketing Department
marketing@naturalstoneinstitute.org