Berwick 2016

[penchev]

I was up at Border Tyres earlier this week, and they have a picture of Adrian Rymel on the wall and all Berwick Rangers fixtures are displayed on the wall, therefore wouldnt know if the speedway fixtures were ever displayed during the season or not?

[BigRackBandit]

This year we took 1/4 page adverts in a magazine delivered to 45,000 houses around Plymouth for 3 months, 15000 flyers distributed to caravan sites, gagages,and shops advertising boards on the Torpoint ferry that glow in the dark, none of it has made much difference to the people through the gate. SO what advertising does work these days online? Ad blocker software filters them out. Seems word of mouth might now be the only method that is cheap and effective so bring a friend to speedway

 

SOCIAL MEDIA for goodness sake!!! .. Its 2015!! .. Spittal Rovers in the past 3 months have done FAR more than Berwick Bandits EVER have on Social Media .. AND ITS FREE!!!

 

WHAT ADULT OR TEENAGER DOES NOT HAVE TWITTER OR FACEBOOK?!

 

You may not reach all of the pensioners with this form of advertising, but who cares..generalization here but...If you are over 65 and don't go to the Speedway already, are you really going to start going now?

 

Waste of time trying to get new people along with flyers, but you may attract some lapsed fans so I am all for putting each months upcoming fixtures list in Pubs and Newsagents like Berwick Rangers but taking out adverts in magazines etc is a waste of money.

 

An idea.. Under each Bandits related headline in the Advertiser (or the scottish alternative) have in smaller text our opposition for our next meeting, after all the headline is the first thing people look at (other than pictures) so our next meeting will be the 2nd thing people look at!

 

BERWICK BANDITS BEAT EDINBURGH IN A 48-42 THRILLER

Berwick face Somerset next Saturday at Shielfield 7PM

 

..Just a thought

 

 

Something Berwick do well, kids go free with paying adult. Best promotion of its kind in the PL.

I'm aware there isn't a definitive answer to this, but do you think there be any less kids at Shielfield is the offer was "Kids for a Quid" rather than kids go free?

Edited October 2, 2015 by DeeksYaMahaga

[bigeddiechek]

There's a misconception that Social Media (and the websites) are some form of marketing magic wand.

Social media has a conversion rate of around 1%, and that is only in the most effective categories, i.e. online shopping.

 

With respect to the kids go free. That £1 per head is surely a very cost-effective way of promotion?

It is to (hopefully) build the next generation of supporters, plus free is so much more effective than for a quid, or £1.

What the £1 would raise would really be peanuts.

 

As Screm and barncooseboy say, get talking and bringing friends along has to be really important if we want the sport to survive and grow.

 

I also think the suggestions of taking a stall on Saturdays is a very good one. Maybe if there were someone to have a bit of time and willingness to to that, then it would happen? I'm only basing that on the communication from the club that it is not just financial support the club requires.

[topsoil]

 

SOCIAL MEDIA for goodness sake!!! .. Its 2015!! .. Spittal Rovers in the past 3 months have done FAR more than Berwick Bandits EVER have on Social Media .. AND ITS FREE!!!

 

WHAT ADULT OR TEENAGER DOES NOT HAVE TWITTER OR FACEBOOK?!

 

You may not reach all of the pensioners with this form of advertising, but who cares..generalization here but...If you are over 65 and don't go to the Speedway already, are you really going to start going now?

 

Waste of time trying to get new people along with flyers, but you may attract some lapsed fans so I am all for putting each months upcoming fixtures list in Pubs and Newsagents like Berwick Rangers but taking out adverts in magazines etc is a waste of money.

 

An idea.. Under each Bandits related headline in the Advertiser (or the scottish alternative) have in smaller text our opposition for our next meeting, after all the headline is the first thing people look at (other than pictures) so our next meeting will be the 2nd thing people look at!

 

BERWICK BANDITS BEAT EDINBURGH IN A 48-42 THRILLER

Berwick face Somerset next Saturday at Shielfield 7PM

 

..Just a thought

 

I'm aware there isn't a definitive answer to this, but do you think there be any less kids at Shielfield is the offer was "Kids for a Quid" rather than kids go free?

If you follow any professional sports teams on twitter, you will see that they absolutely bombard their followers with posts. Something speedway clubs lag a long way behind in.

I honestly don't think you would see a drop off in the number of children or accompanying adults if you charged £1 rather than free. It's still a huge reduction on normal prices.

[tyretrax]

 

SOCIAL MEDIA for goodness sake!!! .. Its 2015!! .. Spittal Rovers in the past 3 months have done FAR more than Berwick Bandits EVER have on Social Media .. AND ITS FREE!!!

 

WHAT ADULT OR TEENAGER DOES NOT HAVE TWITTER OR FACEBOOK?!

 

You may not reach all of the pensioners with this form of advertising, but who cares..generalization here but...If you are over 65 and don't go to the Speedway already, are you really going to start going now?

 

Waste of time trying to get new people along with flyers, but you may attract some lapsed fans so I am all for putting each months upcoming fixtures list in Pubs and Newsagents like Berwick Rangers but taking out adverts in magazines etc is a waste of money.

 

An idea.. Under each Bandits related headline in the Advertiser (or the scottish alternative) have in smaller text our opposition for our next meeting, after all the headline is the first thing people look at (other than pictures) so our next meeting will be the 2nd thing people look at!

 

BERWICK BANDITS BEAT EDINBURGH IN A 48-42 THRILLER

Berwick face Somerset next Saturday at Shielfield 7PM

 

..Just a thought

 

I'm aware there isn't a definitive answer to this, but do you think there be any less kids at Shielfield is the offer was "Kids for a Quid" rather than kids go free?

Me.

[bigeddiechek]

If you follow any professional sports teams on twitter, you will see that they absolutely bombard their followers with posts. Something speedway clubs lag a long way behind in.

I honestly don't think you would see a drop off in the number of children or accompanying adults if you charged £1 rather than free. It's still a huge reduction on normal prices.

 

It's absolutely essential to have a good social media presence. What I am saying is not to expect it to work any great miracles. With regard to sport its role is really to communicate with existing fans.

 

The kids go free is an example of very cheap promotion of the sport. Squeezing a few quid out of a sector of the fans who have no income makes no business sense whatsoever. Not only does it encourage the next generation of fans, it also puts out a very clear and explicit message that it is a family friendly sport.

 

Charging kids £1 and making a few hundred quid out of it will make no difference when the club runs at a loss of £40k p.a.

It might even put families off coming, and then you can quickly move into further losses.

 

Again, bigger picture.

 

There still seems to be a denial on here about what the club requires.

Either a buyout, or additional partners, who have the means and willingness to share the financial burden.

Plus, more hands on help.

[screm]

 

SOCIAL MEDIA for goodness sake!!! .. Its 2015!! .. Spittal Rovers in the past 3 months have done FAR more than Berwick Bandits EVER have on Social Media .. AND ITS FREE!!!

 

WHAT ADULT OR TEENAGER DOES NOT HAVE TWITTER OR FACEBOOK?!

 

You may not reach all of the pensioners with this form of advertising, but who cares..generalization here but...If you are over 65 and don't go to the Speedway already, are you really going to start going now?

 

Waste of time trying to get new people along with flyers, but you may attract some lapsed fans so I am all for putting each months upcoming fixtures list in Pubs and Newsagents like Berwick Rangers but taking out adverts in magazines etc is a waste of money.

 

An idea.. Under each Bandits related headline in the Advertiser (or the scottish alternative) have in smaller text our opposition for our next meeting, after all the headline is the first thing people look at (other than pictures) so our next meeting will be the 2nd thing people look at!

 

BERWICK BANDITS BEAT EDINBURGH IN A 48-42 THRILLER

Berwick face Somerset next Saturday at Shielfield 7PM

 

..Just a thought

 

I'm aware there isn't a definitive answer to this, but do you think there be any less kids at Shielfield is the offer was "Kids for a Quid" rather than kids go free?

 

Look at the average age of Berwick`s support, its an ageing one, the majority of which wont have access to the internet, so using social media would be lost on them. To be fair to the club they have the social media bases covered, the club has an account on Twitter with over 3000 followers and they are on Facebook, as is the supporters club, then there`s the club news letter, so they are getting the word out there.

Other than word of mouth I would imagine the poster campaign will be the next cheapest, the club give these away free, for example there was 500 handed out for the last meeting at Berwick, so again that would seem to be covered.

IMO its not up to the local paper to provide free advertising for Berwick Speedway, anyway I think speedway is well covered by them, there is a report on the previous weeks meeting, plus a preview of the next meeting.

[BigRackBandit]

There's a misconception that Social Media (and the websites) are some form of marketing magic wand.

Social media has a conversion rate of around 1%, and that is only in the most effective categories, i.e. online shopping.

 

 

With respect to the kids go free. That £1 per head is surely a very cost-effective way of promotion?

It is to (hopefully) build the next generation of supporters, plus free is so much more effective than for a quid, or £1.

What the £1 would raise would really be peanuts.

 

 

 

As Screm and barncooseboy say, get talking and bringing friends along has to be really important if we want the sport to survive and grow.

 

I also think the suggestions of taking a stall on Saturdays is a very good one. Maybe if there were someone to have a bit of time and willingness to to that, then it would happen? I'm only basing that on the communication from the club that it is not just financial support the club requires.

Me.

 

Minority.

 

 

It's absolutely essential to have a good social media presence. What I am saying is not to expect it to work any great miracles. With regard to sport its role is really to communicate with existing fans.

 

The kids go free is an example of very cheap promotion of the sport. Squeezing a few quid out of a sector of the fans who have no income makes no business sense whatsoever. Not only does it encourage the next generation of fans, it also puts out a very clear and explicit message that it is a family friendly sport.

 

Charging kids £1 and making a few hundred quid out of it will make no difference when the club runs at a loss of £40k p.a.

It might even put families off coming, and then you can quickly move into further losses.

 

Again, bigger picture.

 

There still seems to be a denial on here about what the club requires.

Either a buyout, or additional partners, who have the means and willingness to share the financial burden.

Plus, more hands on help.

 

But speedway is a different animal, everybody who follows the Bandits on twitter does so as they have an interest in this specific product (perhaps very small interest, yes). I think the social media conversion with such a niche product rather than generic online shopping would be very different. Yes, I have no evidence for this, I am only assuming.

Its not just simply about selling the product either, its about garnering local interest. Spittal Rovers and Tweedmouth Rangers are doing a far better job than the two Shielfield clubs, they've gained alot of local sponsorship but perhaps the return from the sponsorship for the clubs is only "peanuts"

The difference between the clubs? Other than Spittal and Tweedmouth who are amateur clubs and Berwick being professional (at least thats what the riders call themselves) seems to be that they garner interest by creating a buzz and get people to join the band wagon.

 

A POUND, it is a POUND.. I did a paper round every day and spend £5 on the Speedway every single week when I was younger. When other clubs promote "Kids for a Quid" they get praised to the hilt.

 

Yes, perhaps the ship has sailed on this by constantly having kids go free as there is no way back. What difference does it make? very little I agree but I hope the book keeper of the club doesn't have the same attitude when it comes to other small amounts of income.

[sparkafag]

I’ve always felt it was blissful ignorance when it is referenced that speedway is poorly promoted.

 

It’s a product that must average around about 200 hours TV time a year by the time you factor in GP’s, World Cups, Euro meetings, EL meetings, replays etc that is before you even go into local promotion, which takes place, and a lot more than is often made out.

 

In Berwick in particular I genuinely don’t know what difference a few posters around town and the caravan park would make those are all things that have literally happened, people know about Speedway up and down the country, there just isn’t that many people who are interested in it.

[BigRackBandit]

 

Look at the average age of Berwick`s support, its an ageing one, the majority of which wont have access to the internet, so using social media would be lost on them. To be fair to the club they have the social media bases covered, the club has an account on Twitter with over 3000 followers and they are on Facebook, as is the supporters club, then there`s the club news letter, so they are getting the word out there.

Other than word of mouth I would imagine the poster campaign will be the next cheapest, the club give these away free, for example there was 500 handed out for the last meeting at Berwick, so again that would seem to be covered.

IMO its not up to the local paper to provide free advertising for Berwick Speedway, anyway I think speedway is well covered by them, there is a report on the previous weeks meeting, plus a preview of the next meeting.

Yes, and that is the problem they come to the Speedway already, the only way to keep them is to entertain them. I was speaking to a bloke at work a few days ago wearing a Berwick Rangers scarf, Speedway came up in conversation, he said he has been going since its inception but stopped this year? Why? He simply didn't enjoy it anymore, and he is starting to feel the same about Berwick Rangers.

 

We shouldn't cater our advertising to pensioners just because that is our current largest market.

 

We aren't getting the most out the social media, cut down on the amount of newsletters that go out, they are repetitive, long and boring, they should be used to conclude news not break it.

 

 

 

I’ve always felt it was blissful ignorance when it is referenced that speedway is poorly promoted.

 

It’s a product that must average around about 200 hours TV time a year by the time you factor in GP’s, World Cups, Euro meetings, EL meetings, replays etc that is before you even go into local promotion, which takes place, and a lot more than is often made out.

 

In Berwick in particular I genuinely don’t know what difference a few posters around town and the caravan park would make those are all things that have literally happened, people know about Speedway up and down the country, there just isn’t that many people who are interested in it.

How do I know that Berwick are riding this weekend against Ryehouse by watching Belle Vue vs Kings Lynn on Sky?

 

...Aye, im beating a dead horse.

[sparkafag]

How do I know that Berwick are riding this weekend against Ryehouse by watching Belle Vue vs Kings Lynn on Sky?

 

Form the commentary team who regularly reference tracks up and down the country. If the product interests you that much when watching it, it then takes about 30 seconds to check on the internet where the nearest track is.

 

Actually watching a visible tangible thing, seeing how it works etc is a far better promotional tool for the sport (and tracks up and down the country) then posters or a twitter account.

Edited October 2, 2015 by sparkafag

[BigRackBandit]

 

Form the commentary team who regularly reference tracks up and down the country. If the product interests you that much when watching it, it then takes about 30 seconds to check on the internet where the nearest track is.

 

Actually watching a visible tangible thing, seeing how it works etc is a far better promotional tool for the sport (and tracks up and down the country) then posters or a twitter account.

 

If you are lucky, Pearson might mention in passing you're club and what night you ride, a couple of times a season.

 

Not a knock on Nigel btw, he gets enough unnecessary grief.

[sparkafag]

 

If you are lucky, Pearson might mention in passing you're club and what night you ride, a couple of times a season.

 

Not a knock on Nigel btw, he gets enough unnecessary grief.

 

It doesn’t require luck; it is a 2/3 hour advert for speedway up and down the country. If people enjoy it that much that they feel they would attend it wouldn’t (doesn’t) take long to locate your local track.

 

There is a far greater chance of a fan searching out their local track having watched a product shown on prime time TV than managing to find a Twitter account or probably even a poster in the local area.

 

If you offered most products the chance of the advertising/promotion Speedway is given on TV over a regional poster campaign my natural assumption is that they would take their chances with the TV campaign every time.

[screm]

 

In Berwick in particular I genuinely don’t know what difference a few posters around town and the caravan park would make those are all things that have literally happened, people know about Speedway up and down the country, there just isn’t that many people who are interested in it.

 

There lies the issue, speedway is dying, with the supporters who are walking away not being replaced for many reasons, cost, complicated rules, etc.

[coolcol]

well well well whos bandits riding tomorrow den..

 

dyon needs his fix

[bigeddiechek]

I was speaking to a bloke at work a few days ago wearing a Berwick Rangers scarf, Speedway came up in conversation, he said he has been going since its inception but stopped this year? Why? He simply didn't enjoy it anymore, and he is starting to feel the same about Berwick Rangers.

 

There are always individual anecdotal tales, I can give you stories of new faces who have come over recent years and are now hooked. It's not any sort of evidence to build a marketing strategy on.

There can be any amount of reasons for people losing interest in activities, many not related to the activities themselves. Really nothing that can be taken about the product or marketing from this one story.

 

 

We shouldn't cater our advertising to pensioners just because that is our current largest market.

What evidence do you have for pensioners being the largest market?

 

We aren't getting the most out the social media, cut down on the amount of newsletters that go out, they are repetitive, long and boring, they should be used to conclude news not break it.

Mailshots have by far the largest ROI when it comes to electronic marketing. They are very effective. To try and give you an idea of the difference: FB conversion (top performer of the social media channels, incidentally) is around 1% at best, email marketing is in the range of 20% - 50%. So, 20 - 50 times more effective. I don't mean to be rude, but you are just wrong with this.

 

 

How do I know that Berwick are riding this weekend against Ryehouse by watching Belle Vue vs Kings Lynn on Sky?

Berwick Advertiser, Berwickshire News, Radio Borders, Club Website, Club Facebook, Club Twitter, Posters, Programme, BSPA Website.

Also, if you watch and EL meeting on TV and enjoy it, then feel inspired to go and watch something live, it doesn't take a genius to be able to go and find where there nearest speedway is.

 

 

[BigRackBandit]

There lies the issue, speedway is dying, with the supporters who are walking away not being replaced for many reasons, cost, complicated rules, etc.

There lies the issue, speedway is dying, with the supporters who are walking away not being replaced for many reasons, cost, complicated rules, etc.

It being boring is the main issue.. Makes no different me slavvering on about social media if the product is rubbish.

[sparkafag]

 

There lies the issue, speedway is dying, with the supporters who are walking away not being replaced for many reasons, cost, complicated rules, etc.

 

I don’t agree with that at all, I don’t think it is “dying” and I think the recent news from Newcastle and Redcar probably confirms that.

 

It is a niche sport that isn’t going to attract attendances in the 4/5,000 mark unless it is a genuine occasion like a Play-Off Final etc.

 

If sides like Edinburgh Rugby who play in a bespoke ground and a sport that is better marketed than most can only attract 4,000 average, then speedway, basically doesn’t stand any chance of doing anything even remotely comparable, times have changed people aren’t as interested as they were in turning out to see events at, what is basically grass root level, on a regular basis now, it is best to embrace that and accept it.

 

I genuinely feel that rather than constantly referencing what Speedway should do, and should be it is probably best to look at the trend of what has now been 10 years give or take, it is a sport that typically tends to attract crowds in the 500/2,000 range (depending on location and surrounding area) that is the general attendance now…the good old days are gone.

 

Fans who still want to attend would be best served to enjoy for it is rather than what it isn’t.

Edited October 2, 2015 by sparkafag

[BigRackBandit]

 

I was speaking to a bloke at work a few days ago wearing a Berwick Rangers scarf, Speedway came up in conversation, he said he has been going since its inception but stopped this year? Why? He simply didn't enjoy it anymore, and he is starting to feel the same about Berwick Rangers.

 

There are always individual anecdotal tales, I can give you stories of new faces who have come over recent years and are now hooked. It's not any sort of evidence to build a marketing strategy on.

There can be any amount of reasons for people losing interest in activities, many not related to the activities themselves. Really nothing that can be taken about the product or marketing from this one story.

 

I summed up what he said, if he gave his opinion to the promotion and explained it (he may already have, I don't know) should it be ignored as he is just one person?

 

What hooked them?

 

We shouldn't cater our advertising to pensioners just because that is our current largest market.

What evidence do you have for pensioners being the largest market?

 

I should have said aging market, in reply to screm. Wrong word, my apologies.

 

We aren't getting the most out the social media, cut down on the amount of newsletters that go out, they are repetitive, long and boring, they should be used to conclude news not break it.

Mailshots have by far the largest ROI when it comes to electronic marketing. They are very effective. To try and give you an idea of the difference: FB conversion (top performer of the social media channels, incidentally) is around 1% at best, email marketing is in the range of 20% - 50%. So, 20 - 50 times more effective. I don't mean to be rude, but you are just wrong with this.

 

Not trying to be funny, but where do you get your statistics from? .. So we shouldn't bother improving social media channels at all, despite it being free? I don't expect miracles either, however that doesn't mean we shouldn't make the effort imo. - What point am I wrong on? .. Not getting most out of social media, the news letters being boring or they should be used to sum up the news? .. Or all of those?

How do I know that Berwick are riding this weekend against Ryehouse by watching Belle Vue vs Kings Lynn on Sky?

Berwick Advertiser, Berwickshire News, Radio Borders, Club Website, Club Facebook, Club Twitter, Posters, Programme, BSPA Website.

Also, if you watch and EL meeting on TV and enjoy it, then feel inspired to go and watch something live, it doesn't take a genius to be able to go and find where there nearest speedway is.

 

Fair point.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2015 by DeeksYaMahaga

[bigeddiechek]

 

 

 

I summed up what he said, if he gave his opinion to the promotion and explained it (he may already have, I don't know) should it be ignored as he is just one person?

No, you just wouldn't make any strategic decisions based on that.

 

I should have said aging market, in reply to screm. Wrong word, my apologies.

Fair enough, surely all the more reason to incentivise youngsters to come along?

 

Not trying to be funny, but where do you get your statistics from?

Industry statistics, DMA and several other sources.

 

So we shouldn't bother improving social media channels at all, despite it being free? I don't expect miracles either, however that doesn't mean we shouldn't make the effort imo.

I didn't say that. Businesses need to be careful with regard to the resources the put into this channel. As ROI is significantly lower than email marketing, a business with limited resources would clearly focus more on email than social media.

 

What point am I wrong on? .. Not getting most out of social media, the news letters being boring or they should be used to sum up the news? .. Or all of those?

I was referring to your assertion that we should focus more on social media than newsletters.