Rob Laidlaw

AutoForums SEMA 2007

I will be off to the SEMA Show on Monday for yet another year. This year however will certainly be different. I don't have a Modified shirt to wear, no required black-on-black dress code, and no SEMA party at the TABU lounge. It will be weird to just "walk the floors" but we will certainly be there doing our best to continue building AutoForums.

AutoForums has really picked up speed lately. Its amazing what a string of acquisitions by a competitor (CarsDirect) can do for a market. There is now 2 companies - CarsDirect/InternetBrands, a mainstream, investor-funded, IPO company that cares little about enthusiasts, and mostly about investors and profits... and AutoForums, a nimble, enthusiast-owned, enthusiast-operated, company going head-to-head. It sounds so similar to the Modified vs. Primedia battles that we came to know so well..... we will be victorious again. Currently we have over 60 sites in the AutoForums family, and are looking to continue growing that number as web site owners choose their alliance - BigCorporate, or Enthusiast-owned.

We promise we'll update our website soon with all of our new sites :)

Link: AutoForums.com

Online Publishing

Its incredible to think how far online publishing has come in the last few years. I started my first website back in about 1995, amazingly, about 12 years ago. In 2002, I launched my first print magazine, and by 2007 I had 3 print magazines. We sold the magazines in February 2007 to Primedia. Since then, I have loved every minute of my work. Being focused back on online publishing is like being rushed into a whirlwind of opportunity. On a day-to-day basis, I make decisions that make a difference. The results are visible almost immediately. Long-term strategy would be "12 months" out. It is quite the opposite of print publishing where results can take months to be seen, and strategy is often years out. I think its the speed at which online publishing moves that really rewards the hard-working entrepreneur. Its not so much about capital, as it is about passion and truly understanding your subject matter. Anyone can make it big online - the barriers of entry are small, and you certainly don't need millions to get started. So why aren't more people doing it??? I don't have that answer.