Creative Boom - an online magazine for the creative industries - is now part of The Guardian Culture Professionals Network, a new section of the national newspaper's website launched today.
The big announcement brings a wealth of benefits to Creative Boom's loyal community of creative freelancers, businesses and organisations and firmly cements the magazine's place as one of the UK's biggest and fastest growing creative networks.
Katy Cowan - who runs her own digital marketing business, Boomerang with husband Tom - is Creative Boom's founder and editor. She came up with the idea for the site after the previous recession and wanted to help support the creative industries. Using Tom's web development skills, Creative Boom was launched on the 24 July 2009.
Since then, the pair have dedicated their spare time to support, celebrate and inspire creative freelancers and businesses across the UK. They have helped hundreds of people to grow their businesses and become a success through their voluntary effort.
Katy said: "I never expected my idea to be a success. I was just fed up with the total lack of support out there for small businesses like mine and wanted to help myself and others to get noticed and win new business. That's when I realised that I could launch my own online magazine and start to promote the UK creative industries. It certainly felt a tad over-ambitious at the time but I was determined to at least try and do something.
"We've worked incredibly hard over the past two years. There have been many lost weekends and evenings but it has all been worthwhile. Today's news is something we can't quite believe. I have to keep pinching myself. Best of all, it's great news for the community as a whole because nothing beats being part of something as credible as The Guardian."
The Guardian Culture Professionals Network is aimed at the creative industries and includes helpful and relevant content relating to everything from arts and theatre to design and crafts. It includes a select number of quality bloggers and e-zines from across the UK, including Creative Boom.
Katy said: "Our new association with The Guardian is a hugely exciting development. It will not only benefit our website in terms of boosted SEO and increased web traffic, it will also help everyone who is featured on Creative Boom. That's because it gives that extra special credibility plus a much enhanced level of exposure.
"I have been bursting to tell the news to my Twitter followers because I know Creative Boom can do so much more to help its community. This latest development will go a long way to doing just that."
Following today's big announcement, Katy and Tom are now working hard behind the scenes on a new and much improved version of Creative Boom. Katy said: "I can't reveal what we'll be bringing you just yet - it's a work-in-progress and very organic. What I can tell you is that we'll have something launched well before Christmas and it's going to hopefully blow your socks off. Well, at least we hope it will!"
The new Creative Boom is set to launch in the coming weeks and will include new sections, more features and huge improvements throughout. It will also bring an enhanced web design and better layout.
Katy added: "I'm super excited to share this happy news. 2011 has been an amazing year for us. We've been featured in Computer Arts, The Independent and Creative Review. We've grown a huge Twitter following. We've even been invited to the Houses of Parliament to speak to Dan Jarvis MP to help him with a report on Arts in the Regions. And now we're becoming part of this fantastic network on The Guardian.
"This wouldn't have been possible without our community, so I really have to thank them for all for their fantastic support over the past two years. One final thought - if you're not yet listed or featured on Creative Boom, now's the time to do so!"
Click here to view The Guardian Culture Professionals Network.
To find out how to get featured on Creative Boom read these Regulars. You can also sign up to the free directory to list your own business and don't forget to submit your news. If you've got any questions, read these helpful FAQs.
