Why is it so quiet with news coming out of the club?

Many of us went to that night at The Shay a while back, where we watched the Video and heard some grand plans. Since then its been a lot quieter.

Alex Simmons gave us a great speech and told us how excited he was to be working with Halifax, but other than his tweets about a trip to Australia to see what he could learn to bring back to Halifax, not seen or heard much else from him.

Tony Abbott has been quiet recently, which is out of character if anything.

The Membership scheme was "Coming Soon". How long is soon?

In 1 week's time we have the Cup Game against Widnes, what's been done to promote it?

Other clubs are already talking about next season, making announcements. What's our plan for This year, next season and beyond? Should we not be outlining a realistic five year plan? With realistic targets, or do we keep doing things as we are and potentially get left behind?

It's frightening. Going quiet at completely the wrong time. It's still early in the process but this time next year the game will be completely different IMO. Do we want to be in the mix or not?

It was quite farcical in a way today.

Pete Emmett telling us all that tickets are on sale for next weekend, but then having to come back later to confirm that it's not all ticket (as if it would be!). And why on earth is it at 2pm? Folk do other things, and certainly I gear my day around a 3pm kick-off - not a problem for me next week, but sometimes a 2pm kick-off would mean me missing the game.

Our marketing is really poor. FFS, we're playing SL opposition next weekend and we should be doing our utmost to fill the place to the rafters!! The Shay was a sell-out for Tonga vs. Italy, but we can't organise things to get folk to come down to support the team for a "real" competitive game??!!

all the cup games kick off at the same time next sunday followed by the draw for the next round on tv

Thanks, that explains it, but sort of makes it worse that we're pandering to the TV companies for very little recompense from a club/fan perspective!!

I admit. It's all a bit worryingly quiet. A good placing and good crowds this year will stand us in good stead for the big next season.

It's almost as if Tony has had the wind knocked out of his sails by not getting his hands on the shay. If you read Alex's twitter at the moment you'd have thought he was paid to do the PR for just Bradford and the rhinos.

Very very odd

vvvv

So can I just pay on the gate for the Widnes game? I haven't seen any announcements on this?

Does seem a bit strange!

Sort it out Fax

Yes you can, all are welcome.

The silence is deafening.

To be honest, I was intrigued by this 'Membership' idea and thought we were getting back on track with some good forward thinking. Would really like to know what's going on behind the scenes, it might lift the apparent gloom and doom we all seem to be feeling!

Come on Fax, keep us true fans informed.

A Big 2 weeks for the club with 2 good games to promote - so come on lets see some promotions guys!

Players and one director visit schools every morning promoting the club and what it is trying to achieve.

On another note, think about the cost to our fans with three home games, it could cost nearly sixty quid just to get through the door. if you would like to volunteer to hand out leaflets and put posters in shop windows for the Visit of the Vikings that would be great.

Once again we get the same answer. Shifting the responsibility to the fans/volunteers to promote the game.

It costs nothing to send an email (not when you have a direct marketer as a director), build up a database of email addresses and send out a weekly email, this is what's going on at Halifax RLFC, upcoming events, interviews with players etc. I am sure this was done at one time but it stopped for some reason.

If you want to stick with the old fashioned idea of leaflets then employ someone to do it, a grand a month and its all they do, drive from place to place giving out leaflets.
If they add 100 people to one gate they have paid for themselves that month.

I would think the Club have everyones e-mail so surely you could combine the two ?
I agree weekly e-mails should be going out but a poster can be seen by people who are not already fans or don`t have computers to try and drum up a bit of interest plus keeping the message reinforced .
But why can`t the poster be e-mailed as well like it has sometimes in the past ? That way people could print their own copy off and place it in their local pub/club /school /place of work /hairdresser / coffee bar/ .
It saves someone say from Tod ` a trip over to pick up a leaflet or someone from our Club running over that way with a leaflet .
An e-mail back to the Club to let them know where posters were being displayed would show the gaps and the Club or volunteers could fill the gap .
I`m afraid it has got to the stage where as a fan I would prefer to do my bit rather than sit back and wait for someone else to do it as the crowds are just not going to come flocking back and there apears to be no easy answer as to why many have stopped coming as there are several reasons when you speak to past fans
Not sure what Malfax means re` the cost of home games as I know it`s expensive but I think we lose more fans when we play away more during the enforced lay off due to the pitch being messed about with as people find other things to do .
When all said and done a concerted effort by fans and Club to raise our fan base should be Club led and be consistent .
Malfax can someone get a few of these posters to the Supporters Trust meeting tomorrow night ?
It`s at the East Stand and then it might be easier for anyone who would like to call in and get one or even two and let us know where they might be going up I`m sure that would be a big help.That is if they are available for us.
Or get a few in the Fax Club shops for people to pick up from there the town centre outlet may be handier than going down to the Shay .

Mal glad to help where I can you know that but I am disappointed that driving past the ground today the next match board still shows Donny!
I think the club need to stop being so defensive I was just giving you gentle nudge, like Linda has said why not email all fans on your database with a flyer and ask if they can put it up at work or in their local pub or shop?

Where's our marketing man that went to Australia to pick up all their current best practices and ways of working?
Fans above are coming out with great suggestions but the club should be co-ordinating this really-here's a few more suggestions:
Social Media
Schools
Local junior rugby clubs
E-mail to fans on data base
Cashfax/lottery customers
Local pubs and clubs
Local shops
Banner advertising in prominent places-roundabouts or like the one tagged onto punch bowl wallside
Leaflet distribution
Local radio competition for free tickets
Local bus external advertsing
etc.

Bit late in the day now to do all the above for Sunday which is disappointing. Have we got a strategy plan at Fax when it comes to marketing the club brand etc.? Do they need some help? There will be plenty of people with all sorts of skills out there- just needs co-ordinating.

I did'nt know that John, but if the club staff can't be bothered to walk 100 yards to put one up , what do they expect fans to do?

To be honest the issue of the Shay notice board not being up to date has been going on for a few years and it's probably the place people look to see who is on next.
I firmly believe having a local paper once a week has massively hit both teams' promotional ability as you no longer have the ability to build the excitement.

Totally agree Norman Bates but that's the way it is and we have to come up with a plan B to market the club and forthcoming games etc. Losing too many fans to simply think social media is the only solution.

I know it's a home game to widnes and we are expected to flock like pigeons to grain, but it no longer happens in fax.

Warrington are away to hull kr, free coaches to hull and only £12 a ticket. It's hard to beat don't you think.

All off season it's been dreadfully quiet and continues to be so, regardless of any issues when Calland was here the crowds increased. Marketing guru joins and we have gone downhill. Leaflets won't work, schools don't really work to be honest as parents just get letters home or kids that want to go, kids want everything and as parents we have to say NO, especially when it's £30 + food and drink for a few hours. Or some toy for £20 and longer enjoyment. It's a very difficult situation.

We have all seen things go viral on Facebook, with the share this post and you will be entered into a draw for a iPhone etc. these work!!!. Hundreds of thousands of likes and on your Facebook wall. Give away a season ticket to 1 fan if you reach £10,000 likes and it will spread locally expenencially.( bad spelling, sorry).

I nearly mentioned the Punch Bowl in my earlier post not just about the banner has anyone seen that large A frame trailer parked outside the front for all to see ? At the moment it is advertising some Ladies night or something is there any mileage in seeing if it can be of use to us seeing as the pub apears to be closed.
I fully agree re` strategy plan and given that the Club will more than like have little or no budget for marketing how about creating your own budget ? Aproach a few people who run a small business that cannot afford the pricier sponsorship deals and ask if they want to invest a few quid for mutual marketing .Even some Club fans would maybe do a fundraiser or chuck a few quid in ,it all just needs the dots joining up .
I was not brought up in a house where " Can`t do " was said it was always " HOW can we do "and that was a philosophy that I used in my own business there are enough fans who I am sure would be willing to help, how many other busineses have folk volunteering to market for nothing .
This is about our Club and raising it`s profile /fan base ,this is not a dig at the Club it`s an offer of help.

I got an e-mail today and will be booking 2 dining tickets for Sunday, hope to see lots of happy faces!