When I made the executive decision to reduce PeKu from a collection of twenty-one publications to twelve, it was with the hope that it would encourage growth.  As I pondered whether to take my figurative ax and eliminate over forty percent of my company, I weighed my options. What if I was making the wrong choice? However, every piece of data that I had and every one of my instincts pointed toward reduction.

Two and a half months into this change, I am seeing many signs that this is the correct direction for PeKu.  First, with a greatly reduced portfolio and a more aligned audience, the editorial calendar has become more focused.  Although there are more changes to come, most notably more interaction between the publications, each publication’s calendar has been examined. With only twelve publications, more time can be given to each, allowing for more thoughtful scheduling.

Second, our social media presence is expanding. With a more homogenous audience, our generic PeKu accounts are able to share messages that are interesting to more of our audience. Additionally, we are taking the time to build more publication specific accounts. At the time of this writing, we now have Twitter accounts for four of our publications, Pinterest boards for nine, and Instagram accounts for two.  Plus, we have Twitter and Instagram accounts for our mascot, Peku.

Third, we have reintroduced the role of a Features Reporter intern. We last had this role two years ago. While it was a nice to have internship, we didn’t have the time to oversee this role or to find the proper place for it in our editorial calendar. With a more structured editorial calendar and more refined message, these articles will be a fabulous addition to our calendar.

I know it’s too early to confirm that this transformation is a success, but so far it seems to be going well. Here’s to hoping for continual growth after the initial reduction!