Edward Grinnan may be the world’s leading inspirational publisher
Edward Grinnan is the Vice President & Editor-in-Chief of Guideposts. His blog, “EdPosts“, is a quirky mix of thoughts about personal change, his life in and away from New York, life at Guideposts, spontaneous inspiring moments of joy and anything else he finds interesting.
[text_ad]
Mequoda – How many blogs are you currently writing for?
EG – Weekly for Guideposts.com and I am an occasional blogger for the Washington Post.
Mequoda – Which CMS (i.e.: WordPress, Typo) are you using? What do you like about it?
EG – Drupal 5. It’s easy to use.
Mequoda – Are you blogging for your company as part of you job (i.e.: corporate) or is this a personal passion?
EG – Both.
Mequoda – Has your blog enhanced your professional reputation? How?
EG – It has helped me reach a broader audience, especially through the Washington Post.
Mequoda – How often do you post a new blog? Are you the only one posting on your blog?
EG – At least weekly. And yes, I am a solo blogger.
Mequoda – Who is your target audience?
EG – People seeking inspiration.
Mequoda – What are you doing to grow your audience and to create customer loyalty?
EG – Promoting the blog across all our platforms: in our newsletters, magazines, on the site itself, Facebook and Twitter. Mequoda – How are using social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) to promote your blog? Has that changed the way you blog?
EG – I post all blogs on Facebook, which has increased user engagement significantly.
Mequoda – What is your main source of revenue: ads, sponsorships, products sales, or donations?
EG – Ad revenue and e-commerce.
Mequoda – Approximately what percentage of your overall revenue comes from product sales vs. advertising/sponsorships or other sources?
EG – 80-20 e-commerce to advertising.
Mequoda – What is your main source of referrals?
EG – Google and Yahoo.
Mequoda – What key metrics do you monitor to analyze the health of your business?
EG – Uniques and page views; return visits; newsletter opens and click-throughs.
Mequoda – What changes have you seen in your market since you began blogging?
EG – More of an integration and exchange between magazines and websites.
Mequoda – Any interesting experience you’d like to share? Has the blog led to any other interesting projects?
EG – Fairly frequently when I travel I am recognized by my picture in the magazine. For the first time the other day I was recognized for my blog shot. That was a surprise!
Mequoda – What advice would you give a new blogger?
EG – Be honest…about yourself, most of all, and be personal. That’s what people want to know you.
Mequoda – What ways are you planning to expand over the next year?
EG – We are moving to a different blog template, which will feature a blogroll. This will connect us to other bloggers and widen our community reach.
Mequoda – Is there anything you’d like to share?
EG – The technology may have moved from cave paintings and beating drums to hand-held digital devices but the dynamic is still the same: people crave connection and information.
Contact Information
Edward Grinnan, VP & Editor-in-Chief
Website: Guideposts.com
Facebook: Guideposts
Twitter: @guideposts_com
