Don Nicholas

Founder & Executive Publisher

Don Nicholas serves as Executive Publisher for Food Gardening Network and GreenPrints. He is responsible for all creative, technical, and financial aspects of these multiplatform brands. As senior member of the editorial team, he provides structural guidance, sets standards, and coordinates activities with the technology and business teams. Don is an active gardener whose favorite crops include tomatoes, basil, blueberries, and corn. He and his wife Gail live and work in southern Massachusetts surrounded by forests, family farms, cranberry bogs, and nearby beaches. Don is also the Founder of Mequoda Systems, LLC, which operates and supports numerous online communities including I Like Crochet, I Like Knitting, and We Like Sewing.

Articles by Don Nicholas

Subscription Website Publishing

Last Chance to Learn Analytics from a Knowledgeable Director of Marketing

Discover what all of those numbers really mean Register now for our 90-minute Actionable Analytics webinar, which takes place on Tuesday, December 16 The ability to track and analyze statistical data has

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Seven Principles of Content Marketing in the Digital Age — Part 5

Have a plan for implementing your database marketing strategy. I don’t know why you chose a career in publishing, but for me, it has been my mission and my passion. I

CDs and Transcripts

SEO Campaign Management 2011

Order this new, 90-minute webinar, co-sponsored by Mequoda and SIPA, and discover how to increase visibility, email conversions and revenue with search engine optimized content.

Audience Development Strategy

Reach New Audiences with SEO Press Release Guidelines

Target your keywords, inform audiences and do so in style Download a free digital copy of our SEO Press Release Guidelines white paper now The press release will never be the same. The

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Seven Principles of Content Marketing in the Digital Age — Part 4

A Mequoda Content Marketing System depends on building user relationships that begin with email capture. In 2011, more than ever before in the history of publishing, the database is king. Building user

Writing Killer Text Ads

[question] What is a Negative Keyword? [/question] [answer] A negative keyword is a word that you define in a campaign or ad group within Google AdWords. The word you define as a negative keyword

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Seven Principles of Content Marketing in the Digital Age — Part 3

A Mequoda Content Marketing System is driven by earned, organic media. Since the first time we organized these content marketing tenets (in 2003), the third principle has always been about search

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Seven Principles of Content Marketing in the Digital Age — Part 2

The emergence of new entry points makes online marketing more complicated for publishers. Our customers — the consumers of the information you and I publish — now have more options than

CDs and Transcripts

Actionable Analytics

Order this new, 90-minute webinar, co-sponsored by Mequoda and SIPA, and discover how to use analytics to determine statistics about your data and for modifying your website’s Internet marketing strategy.

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Seven Principles of Content Marketing in the Digital Age — Part 1

The special interest media experience requires publishers to reinterpret how users assimilate information. Mequoda has been designing and building content marketing systems since 1995 while concurrently studying those of other publishers

Maximizing Online Advertising Revenue

Maximizing Online Advertising Revenue

[question] Should it matter if the pages are unique or not? [/question] [answer] Getting hung up on unique and page views is kind of a conflict. Unique users are individual people, no matter how

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Why Mequoda Systems Succeed: Embracing (and Bracing for) the New Prototype

The first step required to accomplish anything new is believing that it is possible We now have 44 Mequoda Systems up and running for magazine and newsletter publishers and, happily, most

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

The New Mequoda Media Pyramid for Publishers

A more encompassing media pyramid adds delivery platforms and requires additional product development. As we review our product portfolios and media strategies for the 44 benchmark Mequoda Systems we regularly follow,

Building Subscription Websites

Free content vs paid content – how much should you give away as a draw to get a subscription?

[question] Free content vs paid content - how much should you give away as a draw to get a subscription? [/question] [answer] Somewhere between 3% and 15%. [/answer]

Digital Magazine Publishing

AMC 2010 Coverage: From the Page to the iPad

Three magazine panelists share their company’s use of iPad apps Moderator Abbey Klaassen, Editor, Advertising Age began the session asking panelists if technology is making their lives easier or harder and

Audience Development Strategy

AMC 2010 Coverage: What Publishers Can Learn from Facebook

David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect, encourages publishers to embrace the realities of our new world Facebook is a 25 billion dollar company, with 500 million active users. The company

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

AMC-IMAG 2010 Coverage: Lessons in Paid Content from Consumer Reports

Consumers Union Vice President and Editorial Director Kevin McKean shares his thoughts on paid content Consumer Reports, like other multiplatform publishers, creates content once and repurposes it endlessly. A brand that

Audience Development Strategy

AMC 2010 Coverage: Starbucks CEO on the Importance of Social Media

Howard Schultz delivers an inspiring keynote and highlights social media as a huge key to the company’s success Starbucks is the #1 brand on Facebook, with nearly 14 million connections. They

Search Engine Optimization

Why do I rank high in Google.us but not in other countries?

[question] Why do I rank high in Google.us but not in other countries? [/question] [answer] Google automatically gives preference to the sites from the same country. Basically, Google gives preference to sites on its

CDs and Transcripts

Maximizing Online Advertising Revenue

Order this 90-minute webinar today, co-sponsored by Mequoda and SIPA, and discover new opportunities for making money with your online content.

Audience Development Strategy

Audio Podcast Containing Search Engine Optimization Tips Released

Discover information on SEO copywriting and SEO campaign management in this new podcast from Mequoda Group Download your free digital copy of Search Engine Optimization Tips now I’m sure search engine optimization

Which CMS is Right for You?

[question] Would Telligent be recommended if you do not have a .net programmer? [/question] [answer] Got to pick the solution based on your experience, resources and infrastructure. If you are primarily a Microsoft shop

Audience Development Strategy

How to Write and SEO Digital Book or Report Titles

Guidelines and Examples of Blockbuster SEO Copywriting for Digital Books and Reports The best practices in writing the title of a report or white paper require the copywriter to focus on

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Which Type of Advertising Compliments Your Internet Marketing Strategy

If your goal is to convert website traffic at a fast pace, then paid advertising may be for you. Free advertising that builds website traffic over time starts with your

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Last Chance to Attend the Mequoda Summit Boston 2010

A few seats remain: register now to join us at the Mequoda Summit Boston 2010 Discover how to thrive and prosper in the world of online publishing and Internet marketing with

Subscription Website Publishing

Landing Pages that Maximize Email Conversion Rates

Our Rapid Conversion Landing Page Optimization Guidelines free report includes eight steps for creating high performance RCLPs Download our free report Rapid Conversion Landing Page Optimization Guidelines now Building a database of

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

“System” — The Word that Online Publishing Forgot

What we mean by a Mequoda System and why you should care Here at Mequoda Group, we often are asked what we mean by a Mequoda System, especially now that our

Subscription Website Publishing

The Article Landing Page Template

One of the twelve landing page templates found in our 12 Master Landing Page Templates free report Download our 12 Master Landing Page Templates free report now As an online publisher, I

iPad and iPhone Apps for Publishers

How long would you say it takes to build a store app? Say if we have 500-1000 products?

[question] How long would you say it takes to build a store app? Say if we have 500-1000 products? [/question] [answer] Plan for 12 weeks minimum unless you work with a developer who has

Audience Development Strategy

Three Steps for Driving Website Traffic to Articles

Our Increasing Website Traffic & Building Email Marketing Lists free eBook has over 30 beneficial strategies for online publishers and content marketers Download our Increasing Website Traffic & Building Email Marketing

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Are You Hiring the Right People?

How the A Method can help us find those A Players we so desperately need Hiring employees can be stressful, especially in today’s economic times. Companies are desperate for good help,

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

A Marketing System That Supports Free Content

If you don’t own it, our free Internet Marketing Strategy for Publishers eBook Download a free copy of our eBook Internet Marketing Strategy for Publishers now A major difference between a Mequoda

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Would You Like a Taste of the Mequoda Summit?

Our new Digital Media Podcast provides an example of the Mequoda Summit experience Download our Mequoda Summit Digital Media Podcast: A Dozen Minutes from the Mequoda Summit 2006 now It's the time

Website Design Reviews

Website Design Review of Golf Vacation Insider

GolfVacationInsider.com scores well, but adding video and encouraging user-generated content could bring it to the next level We put Golf Vacation Insider to the Mequoda Website Design Review Scorecard test.

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Jewelry Making Daily Publishing Case Study: Interweave Launches Another Online Community with its Proven Content Marketing Strategy

A Google keyword visibility strategy and valuable, highly targeted content are fundamental to this experienced online publishing enterprise If you have ever doubted the value of keyword research and search engine

Audience Development Strategy

SEO Campaign Management Basics and the New Google

Download our free report on SEO campaign management if you haven’t done so in the past, and use the information to harness the power of the new Google The new Google,

Subscription Website Publishing

Have You Read Our Landing Page Handbook?

If not, can you write, design and create sales letter landing pages that convert visitors into email subscribers or buyers? Action, action, action! I can’t say it enough… Sales letter landing pages

Website Design Reviews

Website Design Review of Ragan.com

This week we took a look at Ragan.com, a popular site for communicators, and put it to the Mequoda Website Design Review Scorecard. 1. Strategic Intent: A At first look it's easy

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Increasing Website Traffic with Search Engine Optimization

Online publishing faces new challenges with the latest major Google update If you’re older than 50 and can actually remember adult life before the personal computer, you may still be filled

Audience Development Strategy

SEO Press Release Guidelines Re-Released with Some New Content

Let the world of online users know about your story The world of journalists, bloggers and news aficionados has grown to an exorbitant size because of the internet. This notion should

Audience Development Strategy

Last Chance to Learn how to Execute an Online PR Campaign

Our Online PR Tips, Tricks and Traps will be taking place on July 13th As online communities continue to expand and evolve, online PR is further developing into a resource that

Website Design Reviews

Website Design Review of Dark Daily

See how Dark Daily holds up to the Mequoda Website Design Review Scorecard This week we used the Mequoda Website Design Review Scorecard to review Dark Daily. Dark Daily is

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Capitol Information Group Embraces Content-Driven Search and Internet Marketing Strategy

InvestingDaily.com launched with an experienced publishing team and an internet marketing strategy comprised of legacy content from KCIInvesting.com.

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Mequoda Digital Media Podcast: Interview with Steve Forbes Released

Learn Steve Forbes’ approach to online publishing. With a strategy in mind, Forbes began to show online publishers what’s possible through the depth of the Internet. Now, almost 15 years

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Last Chance to Attend a Content Marketing Seminar

June 29th will be the last seminar of our content marketing installment. Register now for our Content Marketing 2010 Seminar in Chicago Dozens of attendees have already experienced the magic behind

Website Design Reviews

Website Design Review of America’s Test Kitchen

We explored America's Test Kitchen to see how it held up to the Mequoda Website Design Review Scorecard. America's Test Kitchen is the "Uber" brand for multiple magazines, a TV

Audience Development Strategy

SEO, Link Building & PR

2 Ways to Approach Search Engine Optimization, Link Building & PR

Audience Development Strategy

Free eBook: Increasing Website Traffic & Building Email Marketing Lists

Find out how successful publishers are increasing website traffic and building email marketing lists with this free report

Audience Development Strategy

Brilliant Strategies Used by Online Publishers to Develop Their Audience

Last chance to sign up for our Building Email Circulation webinar

Multiplatform Publishing Strategy

Keyword Phrase: Pug Puppy

Puppy purchasing goes online driven by keyword search, an easy-to-use website and great customer service

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