Justin McKinley

21895 Moveo Drive Valencia, CA 91350
Contact

Professional Experience

With more than 15 years of experience as an editor for major brands AOL, AT&T Interactive, and Yellow Pages, I've managed hundreds of writers and covered content for thousands of local businesses across America, specializing in content for travel, food, entertainment, and home improvement. I love my career and, above all, the amazing talented people I've had the pleasure to work with along the way. On the marketing side, I've overseen national promotional campaigns, created social influencer partnerships, covered major trade shows, and launched editorial franchises. And with my years of focus on local content, I've developed a rare, keen perspective for local B2C and B2B marketing. Anyone in need of an objective, shrewd, yet fair assessment of their work... Well, I have an extra eye and extra ear to lend.

Expertise

Editor
16 Years
Writer
20 Years

Specialty

Travel
16 Years
Food
16 Years
Home & Garden
5 Years

Industries


Online/new media
16 Years
Marketing (in-house) - Fortune 1000 corp. clients
3 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

17 Years

Showcase

General

Our goal at YP was to rise above the noise of other local review sites. As the Editorial Director, I developed and launched an initiative to interview hundreds of celebs, star chefs, experts, and influencers for their favorite businesses and personal tips: Wolfgang Puck's favorite restaurants, HGTV stars' go-to home stores, country star Jake Owen's local hangouts in Nashville, etc. The screenshot is only a small fraction of the interviews and articles created by my team. They covered more than 3,000 businesses in total, with each interview and article promoted via its related local business listings
As part of my initiative to generate qualified content for YP's home improvement vertical, my editorial team interviewed dozens of home gurus, including the following stars (left to right): Cari Cucksey (HGTV), Chris Lambton (HGTV), Anitra Mecadon (DIY), Sara Bendrick (DIY), Josh Flagg (Bravo), Nate Berkus (Star Designer), Taniya Nayak (HGTV), Martha Stewart (Media Mogul), Jennie Garth (HGTV), Justina Blakeney (Designer/Author), Bob Vila (Home Improvement Icon), Eugenia Santiesteban-Soto (BHG), Tyler Wisler (HGTV), Jeff Lewis (Bravo), Danielle Bryk (DIY/HGTV Canada), Ryan Serhant (Bravo).
My team interviewed scores of star chefs, restaurateurs, and foodies, including the following gurus (left to right): Lorena Garcia, Scott Conant, Tammy La, Ricardo Zarate, Susan Feniger, Kristen Kish, Wolfgang Puck, Nancy Silverton, G. Garvin, Andrew Zimmern, Fabio Viviani, Suzanne Goin, Lisa Lillien, Nate Appleman, Alex Guarnaschelli, Dominique Ansel.
My team interviewed squads of health and fitness stars, including the following (left to right): Gabe Kapler, Tony Horton, Nick Aldis, Dr. Carey Strom, Jessie Pavelka, Phil Heath, Angela Davis, Dr. Ian K. Smith, Brooke Adams & Robbie E, Jillian Michaels, David Wise, Laila Ali, Dr. Travis Stork, Gracie Gold, Jennifer Widerstrom, Dr. Bill Dorfman.
My team interviewed hundreds of other stars, experts, and public figures, including the following (left to right): Betty White, Alexandra Cousteau, Cedric the Entertainer, Anthony Melchiorri, Ellie Laks & Jay Weiner, Suze Orman, Tim Gunn, Jean Chatzky, George Lopez, Stassi Schroeder, Eva Longoria, Pooch Hall, Nicole Isaacs, Buzz Aldrin, Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), Don Wildman.
Here's one of my articles combining two of my favorite topics: travel and design. The story angle was crafted for syndication to travel and home improvement audiences. It was published in multiple formats, including a photo gallery for Yahoo. The format below was specifically for YP.com and YP mobile apps.
Here's another of my favorite travel pieces that garnered more than a million pageviews (in an aggregate of formats). So not-so intrepid travelers, if your escape into nature requires four walls and the option of indoor plumbing, relax in some mountainous spots and wilder-nests that help maintain that physical and psychological barrier between you and the wild.
Oddly, I don't care for horror flicks, but I love mysterious history and travel. My ghost hunting article garnered more than one million pageviews, albeit in a number of formats (the one here being its last incarnation). If you love to get spooked out, you now know where to go!
Another one of my favorite travel pieces. Got tons of love for my intro, too. Let it snow!
As an initial contributor for Triptello, a German travel startup, I wrote about a dozen destination packages. My Aruba article was one of my favorites.
As an initial contributor for Triptello, a German travel startup, I wrote about a dozen destination packages. Of all the packages, my luxury piece for Puerto Rico has me most jonesing to hop on a plane right now.