Our interview today is with Heather Snodgrass of [decentcontent] & Spoke Media:
Tell us briefly about yourself
I’m a freelance writer and consultant. I recently relocated to New York City from San Diego, as most of my writers live out here and I was running on East Coast time as it was. There was nothing really holding me in San Diego, so this seemed like a logical choice for me.
Tell us about [decentcontent] and your sites….
The concept behind [dc] and the other spoke media sites to provide a platform for exposing fresh and solid talent. I want to spotlight and nurture that talent and give the writers an audience that they wouldn’t necessarily have if they were doing it on their own. While the sites have a similar tone and feel, each of them bring their own voice and opinions to the mix. It’s a very interesting, humbling and stimulation environment to be a part of.
There are many blog networks out there now – what makes spoke media different than the rest?
I think the problem with a lot of the other blog networks out there is there is so much focus on the design, and not enough focus on the content. Design and aesthetics is good and all, but if the content isn’t there, you’re not going to retain readership over an extended period of time.
Tell us about being a Professional Blogger – how did you get into this lifestyle? Do you think it’s a viable career option for the long-term?
I’m hardly what could be classed as a “Professional Blogger”. I’d love to make a living like this, working with the amazing people that I do on a daily basis, and there are a lot of monetizing options on the horizon for spoke media. Right now though, it’s just a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Not that I’m complaining – I love what I do, and have faith that it will start paying off in a monetary form in the very near future for me and my team. I’m not sure if it’s a viable long-term career option, given the volatile nature of the internet. Maybe the money is in building something and selling it off. Maybe it’s in licensing, or in back-end development. Personally, I know where I want to be at in five years, and it’s not necessarily going to be as web-heavy as it is right now.
What do you do when you’re not blogging?
I work on my various writing projects. I write business plans and help plan web marketing strategies for small businesses. I design and consult merchandising displays for retail spaces. I try to keep up with the people who are important to me, which is hard when they’re spread out all over the world. I try to be everything to everyone, which doesn’t usually work out the way I want it to.
Your computer & OS of choice? Why?
12″ Apple Powerbook, OSX Tiger. Because you couldn’t pay me to use a PC again. Ever.
Software that you use each day?
Photoshop CS2, NVU, Flock, Fetch, Adium, Entourage, iTunes. I’m fairly basic when it comes to my applications.
Websites you visit each day?
I generally scan through my Bloglines, to see if there’s anything worth looking at. I visit the blogs of the people that write for me, the sites I write for, as well as any articles or sites that get submitted to me via [dc]. I check the basics – NYTimes, Google News, Style.com. I don’t really have sites that I obsessively check everyday – I’ve been living in a little bit of a vacuum the last few months.
What advice would you give someone who is new to blogging and looking to increase their traffic?
Make sure you have something that’s visually appealing – if you can, try and hack up your template a little to make it your own. But really, really concentrate on your CONTENT. Be passionate about something. Anything. Stand by what you write, and be yourself. More than anything, people respond to honesty and ingenuity.
What’s next for [decentcontent] in next 12 months?
We’ve just acquired some incredible new writers, and will be moving onto version two of the site in late January. Other than adding more talent to our stable, I can’t really tell you much more at this point – it’s all very hush hush. You know how it is.
Our thanks to Heather. Visit [decentcontent] and girlspoke for more of her writings.
Interested in interviewing with us?
We’re always interested in profiling bloggers, new blog networks, and others with insight on the blog network world. Drop us a line at interviews [at] blogmedia [dot] biz for a chance at your fifteen minutes of fame!
Technorati Tags: blog networks, girlspoke, decentcontent
