Inthekoots celebrates one year online

Inthekoots publisher and managing editor chat about their company's first year of experience on the web

by Colin Payne — July 07, 2011

Inthekoots publisher Bradley Roulston (left) and managing editor Chris Shepherd (right) — Colin Payne photo

The Inthekoots Network is celebrating a year since its inception as a new face in the Kootenay media landscape, providing a fresh service to the people of the region.

An online network of websites and blogs that features everything from news and arts to business and personal wellness, Inthekoots strives to connect the people of this region through common threads.

“Our goal is to recreate the Kootenays, both east and west, online in a way that allows people to share information and make connections that lead to action in the real world,” said Chris Shepherd, Inthekoots managing editor.

“We don’t want people staying in front of the computer all the time," he said. "But when they do, we want them to find information that’s created by Kootenay residents and relevant to our region.”

Former Nelson and District Credit Union financial planner, Bradley Roulston, recently left his post at the NDCU to take over as publisher of Inthekoots.

While he is thankful for his time at the NDCU, Roulston said he’s looking forward to connecting with the community on a deeper level through Inthekoots.

“I’ve spent 16 years in the financial world and I’m excited to take my skills on to a new chapter,” Roulston said. “Our online community has grown in many great directions since its inception. But there are so many more possibilities.”

While marketing has mainly been through word of mouth and social media, Inthekoots now yields 82,000 page views a month from more than 22,000 individuals throughout the region.

Shepherd says the first year has been one of learning and marvelling at the vast potential of working online.

“Consider the possibilities of a medium that can distribute to its readers instantly,” he said, “or that allows you to get into an instant conversation with people across the Kootenays.”