Redmond Patch is Six Months Old Today

In some ways it seems like only yesterday, and in other ways it seems like ages ago, but Feb. 18, 2011—exactly six months ago today—was the day Redmond Patch "went live" (that's "was born" in cyberspeak).

In honor of our half-birthday (semi-anniversary?), I'd like to take this opportunity to ask you to share your feedback regarding Redmond Patch. What have you seen on the site that you like? What have you seen that doesn't quite suit your fancy? Is there anything we're missing that we should be covering (or covering more often)? You can leave your comments below, or reach me via email at caitlin.moran@patch.com.

Even though we're getting quite up there by being six months old, I know not everyone has grasped exactly what Redmond Patch is and why we're here. That's perfectly understandable.

To help us get better acquainted, here's a list of ways you can interact with the site and help make it your own:

1. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that "news is a conversation." Much of our reporting will emanate from what readers tell us in emails, comments on our sites, and in conversations around town. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story.  

2. Post an Event 

Do you know of a book signing at our local bookstore, a celebrity chef appearing at cooking store or an art exhibit at a local coffee shop? Is there a garage sale or graduation ceremony coming up? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site at http://redmond.patch.com/events/new. 

3. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to me, Caitlin Moran, the editor of Redmond Patch.

4. Post an Announcement

Post births, engagements and wedding announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards, social notes and thank-you shout outs. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Just remember, our Terms of Service say announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising.

5. Sign Up for Newsletters

The daily Redmond Patch newsletter brings you all articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your email account every morning. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of the content created and featured on our site over the last few days. It is delivered every Thursday at 10 a.m. Look for the Newsletter link under the "Follow This Patch" tab in the top right corner of this and most every page.

6. BLOG!

Do you have something to say that might go on longer than a shout-out or tweet? Consider blogging on Redmond Patch! Whether you've had your own blog for years or are contemplating your very first post, we want to feature your interest and expertise on any and all topics: politics, literature, community sports—you name it. If you're interested or have questions, contact me directly at caitlin.moran@patch.com. To get a feel for what our existing bloggers are up to, visit http://redmond.patch.com/search/blog_posts

7. Claim Your Directory Listing 

Our business and organization listings aren't skimpy. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more so we can provide photos as well as detailed information such as products sold and hours of operation. To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, email us at directorysupport@patch.com. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it at http://redmond.patch.com/search/listings.

8. Upload Your Photos and Video 

Upload videos of Redmond High School football touchdowns or your Redmond Little Leaguer's first home run. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of a fun summer day at the park. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.

9. Advertise With Us 

For all advertising queries, please send an email to local sales representative James Barr at james.barr@patch.com. And if you've got an old couch or desk sitting in your basement you want to get rid of just post a classified ad. Many types of classified ads are free, and others have a minimal cost (vehicles, jobs and housing rentals or sales all cost between $15-$20).

10. Review Restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets a thumbs-up? You can post a review of your favorite (or not-so favorite) restaurants at http://redmond.patch.com/restaurants. Or, search to find what you're craving—you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

11. Social Media Engagement

You can "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RedmondPatch and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RedmondPatch. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let's start a conversation.

12. Send a Letter to the Editor

Patch would like to invite every member of the Redmond community to submit a letter to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words and e-mail it to me at caitlin.moran@patch.com.

The more Redmond Patch serves as on online space for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So next time you have something to share with your neighbors, consider taking a moment to send a letter to Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels that way.