Help us help you. We, the employees of this newspaper — all of us, in the advertising, circulation, editorial and production departments — want to know how we can better serve you through your daily paper and the other publications we produce.

All we ask is for 30 minutes of your time, and for honest feedback.

What publications do you read? What Web sites do you visit? Where do you shop? How do you use our newspaper and Web site?

The Lufkin Daily News and our Web site, www.LufkinDailyNews.com, have partnered with Pulse Research, an independent company, to get a read on our readers. Whether the Great Recession is on its way to being over or not, we would like to get a greater insight into the economic climate of the communities we serve. The way we see it, the information you provide can help all of us who live here.

How is that, exactly? We believe that with a better understanding of our readers' spending and purchasing plans, we will be able to show local businesses that you are in the market for the products and services they offer and that, regardless of the economy, there is a demand for those items. We believe local advertising leads to more shopping dollars, which leads to a positive effect on our local economy. And we believe we can better serve our advertisers, and you, with good information about your needs and tastes.

There is another benefit to taking the survey: Participants who complete it will be entered into a drawing for six $100 gift certificates, to Academy, Belk, Brookshire Brothers, Cook Tire, JC Penney or Lowe's. The survey does take a little time to complete — about half an hour — but you can do it at your leisure by going to www.pulseresearch.com/tldn online. Readers who do not have access to the Internet may complete a survey by dropping by our office at 300 Ellis Ave. Your information will be kept confidential and will be used for this survey's purposes only. You will not receive any solicitations as a result of completing this survey.

Thank you for helping us help you, and for contributing to the rebound of our local economy.