Our app's been utilized for a dozen years now exactly as intended:
1. Read stuff 2. Comment on stuff 3. Read more stuff
Maybe there should be more to it.
I had an eye-opening meeting yesterday at our Downtown HQ/shop with one of the many dedicated people at Pittsburgh-based BoomPress, the developer of our app/site, and it was really cool to learn that they're coming up with all kinds of ideas to add to the user experience for us and their other sports-based clients.
It's all conceptual, so nothing's set. But to share the brainstorm, I'd welcome feedback on:
• A mock NFL Draft engine ... and a really advanced one, too. Even makes trades. Only flaw I found was that it treats the Browns as if they aren't the village idiots. But there's time to fix that.
• A prediction contest ... meaning for both staff and subscribers. It's one thing to say you saw something coming, quite another to have it recorded for all of us to make fun of you.
• An all-purpose live game center ... which is precisely what it sounds like. Live score, play-by-play, box, stats, our staff's commentary, your comments, all in an aligned presentation. Neatest of all, you'd be able to revisit this center at any time to catch all our coverage, as well.
Now look, I'm thinking the same thing everyone else is even as I type this, which is that, of course, we've got stuff to straighten out with existing features, including the current live files, before any augmentation. That's known. That's understood.
I've got a bunch of ideas of my own in this vein -- an integrated calendar for each team, automated statistics and standings, in-depth player pages, how we present photos, among other examples I offered -- but all with the recognition that we've got to get to the grunt work first.
It's exciting, though. Really is.
I'll be checking feedback in comments.
INSIDE THE WORKS
• We're a dozen days away from the Pirates' pitchers and catchers reporting to Bradenton, Fla., and we'll be doing so ourselves with José Negron and, freshly back on our staff, Greg Macafee as part of our additional emphasis on visuals. We'll offer detail, including videos and photos, unlike ever before.
• The Penguins have two road games remaining before the Olympic break: Taylor Haase will have the trip to Elmont, N.Y., and I'll have the finale Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y. Chris Halicke had been set to fly to Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl this past week, but we scrapped that once Mike McCarthy was hired. Too much to do here.
• We weren't able to pull off a Friday Insider this week. I should've notified everyone. My bad.
• Feel free to add a generous review of any aspect of our business on our Google business listing, or on our Appleand Spotify podcast channels. Makes a significant difference.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our video views for our most recent full seven-day span, Jan. 23-29, were 388,580. Our most-watched program was our Live Shot of Steelers on McCarthy's hiring, at a show-record 32,540.
• Our page-view numbers, also for Jan. 23-29, were 849,693. Our most-read original piece was Chris'news of McCarthy's hiring, at 23,596.
THE ASYLUM
Site Stuff: More from the app?
Our app's been utilized for a dozen years now exactly as intended:
1. Read stuff
2. Comment on stuff
3. Read more stuff
Maybe there should be more to it.
I had an eye-opening meeting yesterday at our Downtown HQ/shop with one of the many dedicated people at Pittsburgh-based BoomPress, the developer of our app/site, and it was really cool to learn that they're coming up with all kinds of ideas to add to the user experience for us and their other sports-based clients.
It's all conceptual, so nothing's set. But to share the brainstorm, I'd welcome feedback on:
• A mock NFL Draft engine ... and a really advanced one, too. Even makes trades. Only flaw I found was that it treats the Browns as if they aren't the village idiots. But there's time to fix that.
• A prediction contest ... meaning for both staff and subscribers. It's one thing to say you saw something coming, quite another to have it recorded for all of us to make fun of you.
• An all-purpose live game center ... which is precisely what it sounds like. Live score, play-by-play, box, stats, our staff's commentary, your comments, all in an aligned presentation. Neatest of all, you'd be able to revisit this center at any time to catch all our coverage, as well.
Now look, I'm thinking the same thing everyone else is even as I type this, which is that, of course, we've got stuff to straighten out with existing features, including the current live files, before any augmentation. That's known. That's understood.
I've got a bunch of ideas of my own in this vein -- an integrated calendar for each team, automated statistics and standings, in-depth player pages, how we present photos, among other examples I offered -- but all with the recognition that we've got to get to the grunt work first.
It's exciting, though. Really is.
I'll be checking feedback in comments.
INSIDE THE WORKS
• We're a dozen days away from the Pirates' pitchers and catchers reporting to Bradenton, Fla., and we'll be doing so ourselves with José Negron and, freshly back on our staff, Greg Macafee as part of our additional emphasis on visuals. We'll offer detail, including videos and photos, unlike ever before.
• The Penguins have two road games remaining before the Olympic break: Taylor Haase will have the trip to Elmont, N.Y., and I'll have the finale Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y. Chris Halicke had been set to fly to Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl this past week, but we scrapped that once Mike McCarthy was hired. Too much to do here.
• We weren't able to pull off a Friday Insider this week. I should've notified everyone. My bad.
• We're still hiring. Big-league experience a must. Email: Jobs@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Feel free to add a generous review of any aspect of our business on our Google business listing, or on our Apple and Spotify podcast channels. Makes a significant difference.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our video views for our most recent full seven-day span, Jan. 23-29, were 388,580. Our most-watched program was our Live Shot of Steelers on McCarthy's hiring, at a show-record 32,540.
• Our page-view numbers, also for Jan. 23-29, were 849,693. Our most-read original piece was Chris' news of McCarthy's hiring, at 23,596.
• Our company social media: 71,869 followers on Facebook, 59,680 on X, 57,768 on YouTube, 17,613 on Instagram, 8,058 on TikTok, 6,658 on Threads.
• We make mistakes. If you see one, email: Typos@DKPittsburghSports.com
• The Downtown HQ/shop's open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m., while our company-themed merch can be had in our online store.
• Anything you need, email: Help@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Thanks for supporting this proud venture.
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