WSB FYI: A survey with questions about us, isn’t being done by us

It’s come to our attention (thanks!) that a phone survey under way in West Seattle right now includes questions about WSB — apparently, what you like, and what you don’t like. Just to make you sure know, in case your phone rings, this survey is NOT being done BY us. We prefer to have direct contact with you, from you, any time you have something to say. But in case there IS something you’ve been meaning to tell us you DON’T like – DO like – or would like to see – let us renew our invitation: Call us, e-mail us, text us, send us a tweet, send us a Facebook message, OR send us good-old-fashioned postal mail, any time, 24/7/365. (This page has all our contact info for all those methods.) Or leave a comment on this post! Almost every improvement we’ve put in place here in the past few years has been in direct response to suggestions, requests, complaints, and we’re working on more upgrades/additions even as we speak. Thanks again for making WSB West Seattle’s most-read community-news source (1.5 million pageviews in the past two months alone, with at least 17,000 homes/businesses checking in at least once a week) – although it’s not “being read” that we find most exciting – it’s collaborating with you – to find and share West Seattle news/information.

deb February 6, 2009 (4:03 pm)

Weird! Who is doing a survey about you, but without your advance knowledge? That seems… odd.

Scott February 6, 2009 (4:09 pm)

Gas prices have fallen aside since the snow…

marco February 6, 2009 (4:13 pm)

Do you love WSB?

Yes / No / Maybe

WSB February 6, 2009 (4:18 pm)

Deb, it’s apparently just two of the questions on a longer survey. But the person who called us said the surveyor “talked very fast” and, as is the case when political phone surveys are done, we are from the school that says “clear up any confusion as soon as possible” so we’re publishing this to say, it isn’t anything WE are doing. Scott – we hope to get back to gas prices this Sunday night. Just noticed that 35th/Holden Chevron is all the way up to 2.25 for regular. Yikes! – TR

Lindsey February 6, 2009 (4:38 pm)

Once a week!? pssht. I check this thing once a day… at least.

CarolPB February 6, 2009 (4:55 pm)

I always say I am addicted to the WSB! Also find it amusing when a story makes the 5:00 news that i KNOW was discovered by someone reading it here first!

miws February 6, 2009 (5:26 pm)

Can’t think of anything I’d like to see new/changed here, but, am so glad the “Preview” feature came back a couple of weeks or so ago!

Makes it easier to spot, and again be able to correct, my ~~tyops~~ typos! ;) :)

Mike

d February 6, 2009 (5:48 pm)

Preview, you say?

Uh oh. Had not noticed and that’s probably been obvious to all.

:( how embarrassing

MargL February 6, 2009 (6:07 pm)

Interesting – I wonder if the survey is being done by the self-proclaimed ‘original’ West Seattle community web site in an attempt to find out why WSB is so popular.

Jo February 6, 2009 (6:11 pm)

I received the survey call today, and it was definitely by the West Seattle Herald (caller ID confirmed that). I subscribe to WSH, so they have my unlisted phone #. I would imagine other subscribers might get a call, also
The survey was basically about what I’d like to see on WSH’s online coverage, but the last two questions were specifically about West Seattle Blog. What I like about WSB, and what I don’t like about WSB. There was no ‘all of the above,’ or ‘none of the above,’ choice to those last two questions, but the lady said she had written it down when I commented on it.
One of the first questions was, what should WSH include in their online coverage. I answered “everything that West Seattle Blog covers”. Her answer was “but, that’s just a blog.” My answer was “that’s just the name, it’s a community-based news site, run by professional journalists.”
All in all it seemed to be a poorly designed survey, with too many and too wordy choices to each question.
I let Patrick and Tracy know that WSHerald was conducting this survey with specific mention of WSB, as they might receive calls from other WSBers.

old timer February 6, 2009 (8:26 pm)

Whatever/whoever does not matter to me.
What I would like to say is:
I am so grateful for your truly outstanding work.
Your energy and devotion to the blog is rare and precious.
The feeling of connection you provide is priceless.
Just keep on keepin’ on WSB!
I’ll take all that you offer, and say ‘Thank you very much.”

acemotel February 6, 2009 (8:44 pm)

At least the Herald is making an effort to be relevant to people in the market it serves. I love WSB; its place is secure. I am sorry to see the decline of newspapers and wish the Herald every success. Multiple news sources can only benefit us, the readers, and it keeps a few more people employed. One area the Herald should not neglect is obituaries. The older generation likes to keep up with the passing of its members, many older folks do not know how to use a computer.

cjboffoli February 7, 2009 (7:59 am)

The WSH doesn’t report stories until days or even weeks after they’ve happened. And yet they need a phone survey to tell them what they’re doing wrong. Classic.

d February 7, 2009 (10:02 am)

WSH = Dinosaur
WSB = evolutionary link

denny February 7, 2009 (10:10 am)

phone survey? how quaint.

Jo February 7, 2009 (11:26 am)

acemotel: I agree to EVERYTHING you said above!
The survey by WSH definitely was about what we (public) would like to see on an expanded WSH website, i.e.; videos of news items, interactive ‘comments’ or/or forum section, etc.
I still want to ‘read’ my Seattle Times as a newsPAPER. I’d be very upset if the ‘paper’ version went away – although it’s really skinny now.