Contest Announcement: d5R Snapshots

Remodelers' seemingly bottomless capacity for creativity and generosity is the thinking behind Snapshots, one of the daily features in d5R and the only feature that consistently revolves around a user-generated video, image or other graphic, along with a short caption in the user's own words.

What's the goal of Snapshots? To let remodeling pros peek inside the windows of their peers -- and thus see some of the unique and wonderful things their peers are doing (other than performing high-quality remodeling work). It's one thing when a third party writes about such an event or activity; it's another when the remodeler shares the thinking behind a community service program, a marketing campaign, a team-building practice or an affirming PR coup.

Now it's your turn. In celebration of the holidays, we invite you to share a Snapshot from your company. If yours is chosen as the readers' favorite, you'll win the following gift pack of terrific remodeling resources:


From Remodelers Advantage (value: $110.95):

From Bill Robinson and Train2Rebuild, this 60-minute DVD training program for teaching crews to comply with lead-safe renovation rules (value: $79):

From Construction Programs & Results, Michael Stone's widely heralded book on selling remodeling work profitably (value: $39.95):

How to become eligible? Take a look at previously published Snapshots, then email images or a video of something your company is proud of, along with a brief caption in your words and your contact information, to snapshots@daily5Remodel. We'll invite readers to select their favorite Snapshot before we break for the Christmas holidays.

Thanks to Remodelers Advantage, Train2Rebuild and Construction Programs & Results for donating these terrific prizes.

High Frequency

"Congratulations on this new endeavor," began a note I received last week.

The writer continued. "I have to admit, when I first saw it, I thought, 'Oh, great, one more daily email. But I signed up because it’s you and I wanted to support you."

Um ... thanks?

"And I have to say, this daily update really is different. It’s diversified, not too heavy, gives lots of options and pulls industry and industry-related news together. I can glance at it quickly and decide what I want to see more of.....good job!"

Whew! That ended nicely. 

So have most of the notes I've received since kicking off daily5 less than two weeks ago.

From a reader in Pennsylvania:

"Each issue has a ton of valuable information, and I’m sure it saves many the time from culling through lots of publications for the worthwhile stuff. You do the culling for the industry, share what’s worth knowing, and add your own content to the mix."

Missouri:

"I truly love what you have done! I read it on my blackberry in the am!"

Georgia:

"Really well done! Can't wait to read every issue and participate!"

New York:

"Finally, a one stop shop for all my home improvement news!"

North Carolina:

"Your readers don't have time to search for all that information. You've become the go-to for remodeling news!"

Pennsylvania

"Huge congratulations on the daily5 delivery! It’s upbeat, useful, fun, and eclectic. I haven’t seen anything else quite like it."


Maryland, exercising a little hyperbole:

"Soon you will be the Kiplinger report of the remodeling world. Then the CNN of the remodeling world. Lexus Nexus of the remodeling world."

Wow. That wasn't in the business plan, but thanks. Thank you all. I really appreciate the feedback.

But also this, from Massachusetts:

"The quality and breadth of information is staggering. Are you sure you can keep it up?"

and this, from Georgia:

"I'm having difficulty reading all of it. Maybe a weekly would be better."

and this, from Ohio:

"Have you considered a weekly 'omnibus' e-newsletter instead of daily? Dailies are too frequent for me -- I almost never sign up for them -- but weeklies are more manageable."

Hmmm. Yes, I have considered a weekly. Rather, I did ... before I settled on the name (what compelled me to come up with daily 5, anyway?). 

My general feeling is this: Cranking this product out every day is a lot of work -- but it's worth every ounce of my energy if it benefits the industry and generates a following that continues to grow. 

So it's really about you. What would you like to see more of? Or less of?

Tweaking the Recipe

"Isn't it great being small?" the owner of another small business -- okay, not as small as daily5 -- told me recently over lunch. "We can change things. We can fix things. Fast!"

Cheers to that, I say. And this morning, after a pretty much sleepless night for myself and my development team, I'm happy to report that daily5Remodel went live at 6 a.m. EST. It's now 3.5 hours old, and already needs the inevitable tweaking and changing and fixing that all new launches require. We're going to take care of those fixes one by one.

In the weeks, months and years to come -- should we be among the minority of new businesses that survive, knock wood -- we hope to never to stop changing. I've worked in big organizations and tiny ones, and while I can't say that small is always necessarily more nimble than big, I can say that it's a lot more satisfying to work with, and be the customer of, a business that is willing and able to constantly improve.

So bring on your comments and suggestions. If something on the site isn't working for you, please let me know. I can't promise that we'll get on it right away, but we're working on it -- and we're listening.

Thanks. Welcome aboard!

Leah Thayer
leah@daily5Remodel.com