When we first started ContestHound, some 13 years ago, Bob and I believed we
needed a "hook" to get subscribers to our newsletter. So in each issue, we
included a story about life as at-home parents with our then toddler, Neva. As
ContestHound grew, so did our family and our readers were there when Milo and
Willa were born, offering us parenting tips and name ideas along the way. We
cherished every email we got from our readers. (Yes, even when you suggested we
name our youngest after your great grandma Ethel Minerva!) The "hook" had done
more than build our audience, it had hooked us as we documented over 500 stories
about our children.
Over the years, however, ContestHound led us - or we
led ContestHound - away from our real beginnings as we expanded and became more
business like. And we dropped the stories from the newsletters. The dollar value
of each issue became more important than the connection we had with our readers.
But that's not how we want to operate. It's not enjoyable anymore and we
certainly all could use more fun and less stress in our day to day.
So,
as our kids head back to school to begin a new year, so too will Bob and I head
back to our roots to bring you great contests and sweeps and, hopefully, a smile
to your day.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
