Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Bedard
Hi Diane, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a natural communicator and a child of multiple generations of entrepreneurs, so I began my first business when my children were babies with a computer and a sandwichboard sign outside our home in Pinellas County.
I invested in a Travelhost magazine franchise in 2003 for Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, but it never really turned enough profit, so when the Gulf coast oil spill happened in 2010, we lost the business. Fortunately, I printed one issue to make-good on some ad agreements I had in place, so when I ventured back into the publishing business, my former clients were willing to try again with me.
I started NatureCoaster.com in 2014 as I was recovering from major trauma of being attacked by an elephant (!!!!) on August 26, 2013. After three months in Shands Hospital and a month in the rehabilitation hospital, I was stuck in a chair in my home healing. I wanted to do something with the rest of my life, but what?
A friend suggested I take “the magazine” online, reminding me that everyone loved it, so my husband bought me a laptop computer and I taught myself WordPress, developing the concept and creating the site.
I met my mentor, Robin Draper who is the founder of AuthenticFlorida.com, and she helped me with guidance and encouragement including starting an email list.
My first interview for the magazine was with The Bellamy Brothers who live in Pasco County. They were so supportive.
I began with one reader in 2014 and today we have hundreds of thousands of viewers, a weekly e-magazine schedule, multiple writing awards, and have even won Best Local/Events Blog for the State of Florida from our peers in 2018.
The most difficult thing for me was keeping up the website, so I hired Stefen Phelps and Luke Kinney to create our logo and website. I was the first client of the creative firm, Kelp Agency, and we are still a team with them hosting and improving the site and me selling and managing the business.
Today NatureCoaster.com offers award-winning feature stories, an events calendar, a regional business directory, community news, and community profiles. Our mission is to connect the world with the best of Florida’s Nature Coast.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. The encouragement of my mentor, clients, prospects, readers, and family has kept NatureCoaster growing. Without the relationships, I would have given up in years 2-3. COVID, instead of being a death sentence, was a good growth time for NatureCoaster. I assume that is because we publish online. The loans and grants that SBA gave helped me change my mindset from freelancer to organization. We just paid off our EIDL loan last month!
One of our major struggles is figuring out how to grow with personnel.
Another has been the changes that search engines make in their ranking and the constant learning curve of social media and its ranking, not to mention new platforms and algorithms.
Time management, cash flow management, and learning to take care of myself have been imperative to staying in the long game.
Selling to small businesses can be challenging also, but the relationships are so rewarding.
Another challenge every organization in this area faces is the disruption of hurricanes and weather events to our livelihood.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We publish an online magazine featuring the best of Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties. Award-winning feature stories about events, activities, places, and history in Florida’s Nature Coast, supplemented by community news, a regional small business directory, a tri-county events calendar, and community profiles make up our content.
Because we have a regional focus, we offer local businesses the opportunity to connect with locals and those within driving distance, as well as those considering a move here or a vacation here.
We are known as a champion for small businesses and the beauty and charm of this area, which I am most proud of.
Our brand logo represents the yin and the yang of the east (forest) and west (water) sides of the area making us stronger. Our name is synonymous with enjoying the outdoors and connecting with people, places, and events that make this part of the world special.
Each side of the area is different in regards to culture and population, as well as density. Together we are stronger. NatureCoaster.com works hard to unite the area and looks at each advertiser as a partner.
Over the years, we began displaying at the larger area festivals and events, handing out printed maps of the area and selling logo merch. It has been rewarding to meet avid readers and spread the word to new prospects. These events support our communities and NatureCoaster is proud to help sponsor them also.
In April 2024, NatureCoaster celebrated ten years with a fundraiser to benefit the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, one of our valued partners. Many readers and partners came. We enjoyed live music from the Sarasota Slim Band and painted a nature scene with the help of Traveling Art Parties. Many of our advertising partners donated auction items and we viewed the Florida Wildlife Corridor’s film at a local U-pick farm and winery, Masaryk Winery. It was a stellar celebration.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are always looking for like-minded organizations to partner with. We offer the opportunity for medium to large organizations, such as hospitals, builders, car dealers, and recreational outfitters to join as NatureCoaster partners to capitalize on our great relationship with our readers and our track record of stability and growth.
We appreciate each and every reader and welcome subscribers through our website’s home page, https://naturecoaster.com, where subscribers can add their email and start receiving the weekly e-magazine on Thursdays to get to know the area.
We seek opportunities to collaborate and sponsor local and area nonprofit events.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://NatureCoaster.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nature.coaster
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/NatureCoaster
