WordCamp Fayetteville Forum: Finding Your Niche Online, Moderator Jon Schleuss

TheCityWire.com’s Michael Tilley, NWATunedIn.com’s Kevin Kinder, NWAMotherlode.com’s Shannon Magsam and OzarkNaturalFoods.com’s Alexa McGriff will discuss their relatively new online publications, the challenges they face and how they measure success in their rapidly competitive markets.

Michael Tilley represents the the City Wire, an online publication focused on business, politics and culture in Northwest Arkansas. The site began in 2006 as a community forum and emerged in 2008 as a news site. Tilley says they don’t compete with anyone, offering focused content driven to the business elite of the Fort Smith area.

Kevin Kinder covers the music scene of Northwest Arkansas at TunedIn. The blog started in 2007 as a compliment to the newspaper publication What’s Up from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers. It has since evolved into a place with live music reviews, show times and general music news.

Shannon Magsam is the co-creator of NWA Motherlode, a website with helpful information for Northwest Arkansas mothers. She says she and her co-creator Gwen Rockwood decided the area needed a website for moms. Magsam said their website gives transitioning moms an “instant community.”

Alexa McGriff is part of Ozark Natural foods, a Fayetteville food co-op. She says they started blogging last November to provide another avenue for the company to connect with their customers. McGriff says they use the blog to educate customers on different products, give recipes and news updates on the organic food industry.