A bit later than promised, Tim Montgomerie, Editor of ConservativeHome.com, answers your questions.
Mike Walsh: "When the site was initally launched, it was designed by Politicos. It was very different then, only one blog. More like a website than a blog etc. What was the reasoning behind switching to TypePad so soon after launching?"
The main reason was expense. Politicos and other specialist website designers charge thousands of pounds for their products. TypePad is not without its drawbacks but it costs $15 a month and is in many ways a much more flexible platform. I think a lot of people pay far too much for websites. MPs, in particular, could save a lot of money by hosting their constituency sites with firms like TypePad.
When the internet first began firms and individuals published exactly the same sort of stuff onto their websites that they would publish in a hard copy pamphlet or annual report etc. There was no interaction. The best sites now harness the Wisdom of Crowds and involve the general public in helping create the content for their site. That is why I have become an enthusiast for as open a blog as possible (within constraints of taste and decency).
Ben Rogers: "Can you tell us what your plans are for your 2nd year?"
Not yet, Ben. All I'll say is that if my plans materialise ConservativeHome will be unrecognisably different at the end of the second year and 1000% bigger.
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