Blogger Spotlight: Andrew Schrage of Money Crashers

Andrew Schrage and his friend Gyutae Park have been building Money Crashers for the past four years, using fabulous writing and interesting topics to make it one of the premier personal finance sites on the blogosphere. With a passion for helping readers have a better understanding of their finances and a commitment to providing accurate information, Andrew sees blogging as much more than just a way to earn a living. He was kind enough to answer a few questions about his experiences with blogging:

1. How did you get into blogging?
After I graduated college, I took a position at a hedge fund in Chicago. The corporate world was not fulfilling enough for me, so I decided to venture out on my own. My educational background is in economics, so I decided to utilize my background and work on a personal finance blog. It turned out to be a good idea, as the average American consumer is often looking for ways to better manage his or her money, especially given the ongoing recession.
2. Where do you get your ideas?
Current events often provide inspiration, and I also try to provide readers with tutorials on things they know they should be involved in (such as investing for retirement) but may not necessarily know how to get started.
3. How do you let people know that your blog is out there?
We are utilizing many forms of social media, including Facebook and Twitter. It’s a fantastic (and free) way to get the word out. One thing I strongly recommend to any startup or business on a shoestring budget is to utilize social media marketing sites to help get the word out about your business without spending immense amounts of money on more traditional forms of advertising.
4. Do you have a favorite blog to read?
One blog I’ve been reading a lot lately is at the website Entrepreneur.com, which is full of great tips and advice while catering to a variety of demographics.

5. Why do you attend FinCon?
I attend FinCon as a way to connect with fellow bloggers and also to continue the learning process. I feel that you can never stop learning and growing, and meeting other professionals in my industry always gives me new ideas.