The question: What is DKPS+?
The answer that matters most: Yes, you're already a member.
When we switch to the new app and website -- more on that below -- we'll also be taking a fresh approach to which content is available to everyone and which is just for subscribers like you: The premium stuff will be clearly marked with a blue-and-yellow DKPS+ logo, and the rest of it won't be marked at all.
So, what constitutes this premium level?
Here's the full list:
• My columns
• Our beat writers' 'Thoughts' pieces
• Our more ambitious, long-form articles
• Friday Insider
• All Xs and Os analyses, like Classroom
• The commenting forums
I know, that's a lot, but we also feel like it still leaves a lot to try to get new readers aboard and, most important per the new business model I'll be describing for you in the coming weeks, it'll get more app downloads and more app usage. That's about to become priority No. 1 here and, when you see the thing, you'll know why. The aim is to have it be unlike any sports app anywhere, local or national, and we won't settle until it's there.
We'll do some of the additional free content with the current staff. It'll be mostly straight game coverage, news coverage and other elements that'll be common to all outlets. (Hopefully, we'll do it better, but I'm referring just to the material, like a press conference.) But we're also going to be adding reporters sooner rather than later, and that'll compensate for some of the additional work.
We've been digging in for a year like this for a very long time, and this coronavirus shutdown, ironically, has allowed us the time and space to really plan and execute the way we'd always wanted. Not just the app. Everything. You'll see.
THE BETA'S OUT
The app took its biggest step yet in being sent out to our 25 volunteer beta testers -- thanks again to all of you! -- just yesterday. Additionally, our staff got a copy of their own.
It's not done. It's a complex, challenging collection of elements, but it's also being built 100 percent from scratch. There are no remnants of the previous app, no remnants of any app. It's pure custom. Like melting down hunks of steel and building a new car from them. We didn't want to be married to anyone else's software, plugins or parts. We wanted complete control.
Why?
Because we'll always be the first company of its kind anywhere in North America and, as a result, we'll always have the most knowledge about what our readers want, whether it's content, community, commerce, whatever. So there'll never be an app built by someone else that'll fit here.
Another sneak peek takes us to a mockup of our Trending page, one where you can see our hottest stories -- tracked by real-time Google Analytics -- and navigate directly to the articles or to the corresponding comment sections:
We're very proud of this, and we can't wait to share it with you ... soon. You don't get to beta phase without being close, and we're definitely close.
MILITARY DRIVE TO 1,500: 688
We sold 18 military subscriptions in the past week, including a bulk purchase of 10 to the one, the only Erich Cushey at Curtis Pharmacy, the sponsor of this very feature.
In the three months since Josh DeNinno at Moon Golf Club challenged our subscribers to step up with 1,500 veteran subscription purchases in 2020, commemorating his course's 15th anniversary, our count is at 688.
They're $19.99 for the annual and can be bought individually right here. Or, if you’re interested in making a bulk purchase, please email me directly: DK@DKPittsburghSports.com.
JOIN OUR SOCIAL ARMY!
We need your help: As the launch approaches, we're working to build up our social-media muscle to maximize promotion. And, if you aren't aware of the inner workings of Twitter and especially Facebook, you can't imagine how big an impact you can make with the simple tap of a button.
If you'd like to help, please email me directly at DK@DKPittsburghSports.com.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• New paid subscribers for 2020 -- not including gifts, military, returning/renewing subscribers -- are at 164. We had eight new paid subscribers over the past week.
• Our daily page views, averaged out over the past week, were 54,349. The goal with this figure is to average 100,000, but that's obviously not going to be remotely realistic for a while.
• Our most-hit original article of the past week was Dale Lolley's analysis of the Steelers' plan at nose tackle, at 34,575. The Steelers accounted for 157,215 page views, the Penguins 45,826, the Pirates 32,051 and Pitt 4,491.
• We're at 36,342 (+111) followers on Twitter, we're at 32,364 (+28) page likes on Facebook, we're at 14,242 (+62) followers on Instagram. These figures are just for our official company account on each platform, not for us as individuals.
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