You’re invited! The Pee Dee Post preps for 1st birthday

 

Staff report

ROCKINGHAM — The Pee Dee Post is about to celebrate its first birthday, and you’re invited to join in the celebration.

The Richmond County Chamber of Commerce will lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the PeeDeePost.com office, located at 301 E. Washington St. in downtown Rockingham. The ribbon-cutting will be followed by the cutting of the PDP birthday cake.

PDP_ribbon“I can’t believe it’s been a year already,” said Kevin Spradlin, proprietor of the veteran-owned business. “In some ways, it seems like the PDP began just yesterday. In others, it feels as if it’s been around much longer than only 12 months.”

Either way, “I don’t take a single day of it, or a single reader or supporter, for granted,” Spradlin said. “So many people already choose PeeDeePost.com as their first choice for local news, seven days a week. Thank you for that.”

Those in attendance will have an opportunity to meet Spradlin and his wife, Stephanie, along with his three oldest children: Noah, MacKenzie and Josiah. They’ll also get to meet sales representatives Pam Dillman, Sharon Nichols, Sharlyn Elmore, Brenda Berger, local columnist Howard Richardson and more.

The PDP stays in business through support from advertisers and readers. Advertisements can reach up to an average of more than 40,000 readers per month at rates that can only be described as “the best around” everyday low prices — no gimmicks needed.

In October 2014, the PDP began soliciting voluntary contributions from readers like you in amounts of $5, $10 or more. Some readers chose to give once, and others chose to set up monthly contributions that were automatically drafted from their banking accounts.

“Every little bit helps,” Spradlin said. “My wife can make a dollar last a lot longer than others.”

This image, taken from data caught in early April, shows the readership figures on PeeDeePost.com for the first three months of 2015.

This image, taken from data caught in early April, shows the readership figures on PeeDeePost.com for the first three months of 2015.

And, Spradlin said, every dollar stays in the community as it helps to fund band lessons and school trips and not corporate executives’ beach homes in far-off places. In fact, the PDP has invested in Richmond County quite a bit. The Post is a corporate sponsor of the Richmond Raiders Marching Band, the Richmond Community Theatre, the Relay for Life of Richmond County, the Allison Butler Memorial 5K and more.

In addition, the PDP in May will award the first PeeDeePost.com Community Scholarship to a deserving graduating senior from Richmond Senior High School.

The voluntary contribution approach followed the original business plan’s concept of garnering reader support. It’s not an uncommon approach in modern journalism. From May 1 through Dec. 31, 2014, PeeDeePost.com attracted a monthly average of 40,094 readers. In February, the Post suspended normal news-gathering operations but still attracted more than 36,000 readers that month. The idea, Spradlin said, was to get readers’ attention to press for the need for their support. Over the first four months, the reader support campaign generated less than $300. In the two-week period in February, the PDP collected more than $3,000 in voluntary contributions — enough to keep the lights on and move forward.

“We still were the best, daily source for timely and accurate information,” Spradlin said of the time period that included school delays and closures and other important announcements. “News-wise, it was a slow two weeks and the best time to go “soft” in operations.”

Beginning March 1, the PDP came roaring back and attracted more than 43,000 unique visitors to PeeDeePost.com.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com

“The PDP’s strength is its original reporting, wide selection of photos — nearly 100,000 photos uploaded for readers’ free downloading since April 28, 2014 — and timeliness,” Spradlin said. “Our timeliness and accuracy is tough to beat. I can’t wait to see April readership figures” that will be available in early May.

The PDP’s future appears quite bright, Spradlin said. Stay tuned to PeeDeePost.com each day for details.

 

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  • Donna G Bailey

    Congrats to you

  • Jess P.

    Would have loved to see Kevin interview himself, lol. Peedee Post theme song?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUuDPNbkJk

    • Kevin Spradlin

      Jess, I’ll be sure to record the next session. Believe me, it’s not all that entertaining (no soundtrack, even) but the PDP is happy to meet your request. 🙂

  • http://frutke.com/ Frutke

    Small businesses for the Win! We’re pulling for ya!
    Anytime you need a hand, just let me know.

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