Writer and editor Mary Reed added ‘entrepreneur’ to her list of credentials when she created GetOut!, a web magazine for outdoor enthusiasts in the Ohio River Valley region. Her passion for the area’s natural beauty, local adventurous destinations and the community inspired her to publish the magazine, and in order to achieve her business goals, she turned to the Small Business Development Center at the Voinovich School. Shawn Mallet, director of the SBDC, helped Reed with her business plan and was instrumental in directing her toward business opportunities online.
“For my Pre-venture [the beginning of a business plan], Shawn helped me make decisions about how to incorporate my businessand whether to trademark the name of the business, and also put me in touch with the editor of Bird Watchers Digest,” Reed said.
Editor Bill Thompson III advised Reed to publish online because of the high cost of print publications. She took his advice and the online magazine was launched in March.
“It is inspiring to see someone who never takes no for an answer,” Mallet said, commenting on why Mary Reed’s business venture is a success story. “She continued to move forward [in spite of finding that she needed to change her plans.]” He also said that that Reed’s magazine is unique in that it brings together several different business aspects: IT, environment and tourism.
The online magazine focuses on respecting and enjoying the outdoors through articles that feature a range of subjects like how to choose fuel efficient vehicles or where to go for the best hike and bike trails. Reed’s online magazine caters to those who want to discover new places close to home.
SBDC invited Reed to the Biz Day at the Capitol 2008, which brought small business entrepreneurs and state and local legislators together to discuss Ohio small businesses. The event was part of the Third Annual Small Business Summit held by the Ohio Small Business Development Centers Advisory Board. Reed was able to share her experiences with creating Get Out! and had an opportunity to network with people in related businesses.
“Business Day allowed for me to make some connections, like with the Ohio Division of Tourism,” Reed said.
Reed continues to work with students at SBDC to improve her marketing strategies. She hopes to increase web traffic and the demand for advertisements as she keeps delivering the beauty and diversity of the Ohio River Valley region to the world wide web.
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