MONTREAL -- We've always kinda had two anniversary dates. That's because, on July 22, 2014, we launched our actual website at around 10 p.m. But it wasn't until the next day that we announced that launch, which is why we go with July 23, 2014, on any relevant literature.
As a result, we've been thinking, we'll simply celebrate both this year.
Our plan for the eighth anniversary is to invite everyone to the Downtown HQ/shop on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23. We'll have a bunch of our staff on hand, at least as many as regular work will allow. Dali's concocting some cool freebies she plans to give out to any subscribers who announce themselves as such. We'll pipe up the music and keep it all light and fun and, of course, sports-y. Meaning we'll talk about what everyone really wants to talk about on the eve of the Steelers' training camp.
Eight's not a super-dramatic anniversary figure, but I've got to say it again: We've never had a year like this one. Not financially. Not in terms of just an uplifting feel. Not in terms of the energy and connection brought to us by some of the new staffers. So it's definitely special to us.
And maybe atop all of that has been meeting so many of you, now that we've got the HQ/shop and, of course, now that the pandemic's pretty much in the past. It was a little too easy to forget when we were all huddled indoors and masked up how much the human touch still matters. Everything was virtual and nothing was real. But just as society's bounced back -- even here in Canada, where the caution flags are still raised higher than back home -- this script flipped, as well.
I'd rather not drop longtime readers' names who I've finally had a chance to see face-to-face, for fear of leaving someone out, but let's just say that each one's been very cool. It's one thing to recognize a name or a handle on here, but it's quite another to have that be a smiling face, voice and all that.
And don't laugh at this, but it's been almost as cool to have complete strangers walk in, ask us who/what we are, and then sign them up to subscriptions because they like what they see/hear of our coverage. My goodness, we had two gentlemen stumble in by accident last week -- they'd turned the wrong way on Fifth -- and one of them bought Cody Sabol's original Troy Polamalu painting for $1,000, a handful of other trinkets, then had Dara sign him for a full year of our site/app.
Finally, there's been the new, strange sense of appreciation I have for those who've only found out about me or our company through the podcasts/videos we do. Or those who pop their heads into the place and ask, 'Is Ramon Foster here?' A whole new audience has meant a whole new world for our expanded content.
We hope you can plan to make it down!
Oh, and feel free to bring friends and family!
INSIDE THE WORKS
• We're still searching for a full-time Pitt reporter, it turns out. It's been a frustrating beat to fill for years, and that hasn't changed. People who want to do it aren't qualified. People who are qualified aren't equipped. We thought we'd found an answer but, as has happened to us probably a half-dozen times since launch, the job wasn't what the new hire anticipated, and that individual backed out soon after realizing that. We'll get there.
• Hey, if you're interested in the beat, feel free to send your own professional resume and professional writing samples directly to me: DK@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Taylor Haase and I will fly back from Quebec today after doubling up the NHL Draft. There's no break for the Penguins coverage, though, as Taylor and Danny Shirey will be all over all five days of the annual development camp that begins tomorrow in Cranberry. I'll be up there for the camp-concluding scrimmage, as well.
• Open up our menu on the site or app, tap on 'Our staff,' and you'll now find all our smiling faces. New head shots, too, taken at the HQ/shop last week. More to come on this front.
• Dale Lolley will be on vacation from today until July 18, back in plenty of time for the opening of the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe a week later. Chris Halicke will track any news, and Matt Williamson will be more involved in Dale's absence, as well.
• Per readers' preference in a survey last week in this space, I've moved each day's Live Qs at 5 close to the top of the home page. There's still a row near the bottom of the home page collecting the most recent editions.
• There was also healthy feedback about a return to the old feature I did forever ago on my favorite things about the city, and that's appreciated. I'll see what we can figure out.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page views for the past week were 451,148. Our most-read original piece was Taylor's exclusive reporting on the Penguins' Winter Classic sweaters, at 6,023. Broken down by team traffic, articles on the Pirates brought 22.3% of our readership, the Penguins 21.66%, the Steelers 6.9%, Penn State 1.5%, Pitt 1.3%.
• Our podcast downloads for the past week were 236,423.
• Our YouTube video views for the past week were 70,965.
• Our company social media accounts are at 45,690 followers on Twitter, 37,723 on Facebook, 14,549 on Instagram, 14,730 on YouTube.
• We make mistakes. If you see one, email: Typos@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Anything you need, including lost/forgotten passwords, email: Help@DKPittsburghSports.com
