A Few Moments with Melanie Notkin

The Founder and CEO of the SavvyAuntie website is Melanie Notkin. For those who have not visited SavvyAuntie yet, it is a “community for cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids“. Although focused initially as a site for women, there is a growing number of men who are finding terrific information on Ms Notkin’s site. The SavvyAuntie was extremely gracious in answering a few questions:

What was the inspiration to creating SavvyAuntie?

I was a senior level beauty executive, traveling to Paris for work, meeting with the CEO often, and winning awards. I was a savvy, New York City executive. But when it came to the most valuable part of my life, my nephew and nieces, I didn’t know my Dora from my Bob the Builder. I was not a Savvy Auntie.

I felt it was time to develop the first online community for aunts so they could become Savvy Aunties. SavvyAuntie.com has become like a parenting guide for non-parents. It’s a modern resource for the cosmopolitan aunt.

With the forum postings to monitor, articles to write, blogs to write, Twitter and Facebook to stay in touch with your audience and various other site-related chores, how do you manage to keep up with all the demands for your time?

To be blunt, I have no idea! I am just so empowered to serve my users and members well by provided great content to this powerful niche, that I’m inspired every day to keep pushing along!

What has been the single, most rewarding aspect of the SavvyAuntie project?

Fulfilling my dream to start my own company; a company of value, promise and passion.

Men seem to be finding the SavvyAuntie site. Will there be some additions to your content to focus on your increasing male audience?

There’s so much yet to do for the Savvy Auntie! We’ve just begun. But yes, many men (and gay uncles) are enjoying the Expert advice, Activities and Gift Ideas. That’s why the content is open and free for all.

In your URL and in your prime website header, you indicate that the site is in “beta”. You have been nominated for a “2009 Webby Award”, with the site still in “beta”. Can you share with us some possible development of the SavvyAuntie site? Or have you adopted the Google Gmail approach and will continue ‘indefinitely’ to be in “beta”.

There’s still more to come for SavvyAuntie.com, and naturally, we’re still working out little bugs we’re finding along the way. However, I have a feeling once our one-year anniversary approaches in July, it will be time to take down our “beta” sign and keep adding value.

The SavvyAuntie content can be found directly in your inbox. Melanie Notkin sends out a wonderful newsletter. My thanks to Ms Notkin for giving generously of her time and for participating on this space.    

Catherine Forsythe