Lame Membership Numbers - Whats the fix?

[Adman]

Winning football games is the key. :crazy

 

[Knuckles]

I think there are a number of reasons for poor membership numbers:

First and foremost is we are not well managed from top down. From the board to the management to the marketing …...... its all unbecoming of a professional and successful football club. The second reason is we are still a joint venture and not one club. We are all over the place.

The club could do a lot better than it presently does ......... but hard decisions need to be made to maximise our performance.
Some independance on the board is a good start.

 

[Citizen_Tiger]

When Souths decided to make their cultural shift they had identified Memberships as the primary source of future revenue. They knew they needed to bring in people with specific skills, so they headhunted three specialists from the Swans.

Selling memberships is not unlike any other sales process. You need to create a relationship, be persistent, show flexibility and have a good understanding of the product you're selling. Do the membership staff ever accept a 'no' without understanding why? In the case of footy club memberships you also need to have been active in the target communities.

Souths target membership for 2014? 35,000

 

[steve-o]

The tigers have lots of fans but not many fanatics. At present, the fanatics are the only ones signing up as members

Membership department has two options as I see it -
1) Turn fans into fanatics
2) find a way to get regular fans to sign up as members

Option 2 is the way forward.

Simplistic view of the problem, but an underlying issue nevertheless

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[pHyR3]

The way to go ahead with option 2 is to create a culture of a person not being a true fan unless he's a member. For example, made a bit of fun of my mate for being a Chooks bandwagoner and he replied he'd been a member for 10 years. Nothing to do with games, it's about showing what team you support by doing something more than watching a couple of games and 'liking' the Wests Tigers page.

It requires a cultural shift, and the NRL/Tigers can only do so much. We as supporters have to embrace it by wearing our memberships proudly as something more than a couple of tickets in the season and pushing others who claim to be supporters to get one too.

Encourage them to get behind the club and go to a couple of games as a Wests Tigers Member rather than a mere 'supporter.'

 

[steve-o]

Agreed. The nrl needs all supporters to sign up as members, regardless of whether they attend games

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[pHyR3]

not exactly what i was getting at haha, but yea that too :slight_smile:

 

[Russell]

Ok Peeps, not sure of the facts but ready to get shot down - get ready.
Why can't there be a membership package available that is just a membership. no bells and whistles, no football jumpers and no - so many tickets to home games etc. This would be perfect for low income earners, pensioners, people who can't go to games for various reasons and interstate supporters. This could sell at price A
Then you have the various other packages that include tickets or jumpers or… at Prices B, C or D etc.

Keeps the numbers up by people showing their support that can't outlay or won't outlay a bigger sum of money.

You get people hooked up as members initially and as they get more into it (team winning etc. they will outlay more the next year for ticket packages and buy the jumpers and so on. Main thing is to get the horse to drink first...

Good idea, bad idea, can we improve on this ...... I'm ready to duck

 

[steve-o]

not exactly what i was getting at haha, but yea that too :slight_smile:

Haha sorry mate, it was meant to be another point. I shouldve started a new paragraph after "agreed" :slight_smile:

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[system]

I'm not a member and don't intend to sign up.
why?
i work shift and can't be guaranteed to make enough games to get my moneys worth
three home grounds is a pain

Unlink membership with game attendance.

and this

offer a membership with a jumper, some sort special which didn't include game tickets.
i know eels have a pack for non or minimal game attendance people

i live 10 minutes away from c'town, have good access to the city games, and I'm not a member, what about people interstate? or far away from the city?

What about supporting the club financially

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Knuckles]

As a full $450 member, I can honestly say I don't feel engaged. I don't feel like a member …. I feel like a season ticket holder which is all I really am.

 

[Corporate_Tigerman]

On field success is a part of it. Reasonable pricing points at lower level memberships also should see an increase

RL fans in general and in particular our fan base seems to have a skewed view of what membership represents.

Membership is about contributing what you can, at what level is appropriate to support your club. RL/WT fans seem to view membership as "what's in it for me". To build a club that is not what membership should be about. There needs to be a attitude shift over the base if WT are to grow and thrive as a club.

It used to be a badge of honor to be there for the bad times and it makes the good times all the more special. Now it is about chasing successful clubs for bragging and gloating rites.

This is 100% on the mark. The attitude of some of the supporter base baffles me. You are here because you love and follow the club. A way of actually showing that is fronting up and putting your money where your mouth is. Would it be nice if they threw a jersey in, a house and a car? Of course it would be but the expectations of some fans are ridiculous. If people want to throw all their toys out of the cot because we had a bad year, then you are kidding yourself if you just slide back in when we start winning.

I personally feel like the Memberships are good value and have been a member for the past 5 years. Not being able to go to one of the home grounds is not an excuse as the packages cater different packages for all the grounds. My old man is no chance of getting to all CS games so he gets the Sydney/LO package. It's that simple.

The one thing I really noticed last year was the club being a lot more proactive with deals and ideas in making the members happy when the season wasn't going too well. They are making some great headway in trying to give the fans what they want and deserve so I encourage everyone to sack up and buy a membership.

Quite simply, an automatic re-sign system is being used in the AFL whilst in some other clubs half the work is done as they offer membership as part of their Leagues club membership even if the patrons don't want it or want to attend games or don't even follow the team!

Don't be fooled by "fudged" numbers, you can rest assured Wests Tigers member numbers are the die hard fans that are attending our games week in week out, and the out of towner's membership is for those that can't make the game but still want to see our club survive….... WITHOUT members, your club will fold. So anyone that follows the Wests Tigers needs to jump on board or they might have to follow someone else as there won't be a club.... SIGN UP!!!!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[pHyR3]

As a full $450 member, I can honestly say I don't feel engaged. I don't feel like a member …. I feel like a season ticket holder which is all I really am.

Maybe you'll feel better after attending that 'exclusive' training sesh? assuming you signed up in the first week. also getting the member kit will bring a bit of reality to 2014.

what do you reckon they could do to improve that feeling?

 

[system]

When Souths decided to make their cultural shift they had identified Memberships as the primary source of future revenue. They knew they needed to bring in people with specific skills, so they headhunted three specialists from the Swans.

Selling memberships is not unlike any other sales process. You need to create a relationship, be persistent, show flexibility and have a good understanding of the product you're selling. Do the membership staff ever accept a 'no' without understanding why? In the case of footy club memberships you also need to have been active in the target communities.

Souths target membership for 2014? 35,000

this has plenty of relevance. Over the last 5 years, I feel our campaigns have targeted the converted, while being built from 'what the other clubs are doing'.

Members Days, Exclusive Training Sessions, Away Supporters Function only target those who are converted. I think the club needs to drop this approach as it separates and alienates tomorrows customer.

We need to adopt the 'if you build it they will come' mentality and open up all these events to the people of Australia whenever they are near. Promote Open Training Sessions in Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne. Promote Open Supporter Functions for each of these games and target Cowboy, Bronco, Newcastle etc current supporters and offer them the Tigers as there Second Team initially. Create a carnival atmosphere for every away game to get new customers in new target markets!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[alexaki]

When Souths decided to make their cultural shift they had identified Memberships as the primary source of future revenue. They knew they needed to bring in people with specific skills, so they headhunted three specialists from the Swans.

Selling memberships is not unlike any other sales process. You need to create a relationship, be persistent, show flexibility and have a good understanding of the product you're selling. Do the membership staff ever accept a 'no' without understanding why? In the case of footy club memberships you also need to have been active in the target communities.

Souths target membership for 2014? 35,000

this has plenty of relevance. Over the last 5 years, I feel our campaigns have targeted the converted, while being built from 'what the other clubs are doing'.

Members Days, Exclusive Training Sessions, Away Supporters Function only target those who are converted. I think the club needs to drop this approach as it separates and alienates tomorrows customer.

We need to adopt the 'if you build it they will come' mentality and open up all these events to the people of Australia whenever they are near. Promote Open Training Sessions in Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne. Promote Open Supporter Functions for each of these games and target Cowboy, Bronco, Newcastle etc current supporters and offer them the Tigers as there Second Team initially. Create a carnival atmosphere for every away game to get new customers in new target markets!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Good post

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Knuckles]

As a full $450 member, I can honestly say I don't feel engaged. I don't feel like a member …. I feel like a season ticket holder which is all I really am.

Maybe you'll feel better after attending that 'exclusive' training sesh? assuming you signed up in the first week. also getting the member kit will bring a bit of reality to 2014.

what do you reckon they could do to improve that feeling?

Yes totally agree ….... the training session is a good one. Have to give credit where credit is due and thats a good initiative.
That is getting me involved and will make me feel part of the team. I'd love to be a member that can have some input as to what goes on. It would be good to attend club meetings where you can say what you think and perhaps even vote on certain issues. We are still a long way from that. I'm not one for the "gifts" in with the membership ....... I can buy those anytime. I dont need a lanyard every year or another key ring. Would be good if they gave members a chance to be in the rooms before a game or at half time. Of course it would be a ballott as not everyone could fit in. But just do things that make the members feel they are part of it .......... thats why I think if we get away from being a JV to one club it would a huge step in the right direction.

 

[LaT]

http://youtu.be/kPgPrtOxvK4?t=9s

 

[innsaneink]

If the proposed redevelopment of ANZ goes ahead that should help our cause

 

[pHyR3]

could you enlighten us about that ink? i know they were putting in wifi, which is a cool addition for the young people, perhaps not so much you :wink:

 

[innsaneink]

Renovations are when you take a house, building or other such structure and improve it, add to it, install new features and modern fixtures….a spruce up- us old farts know what redevelopment means.

I have hi fi at home...why do I want it at the footy?