Improved PNE advertising.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

Various people have put forward ideas for better advertisng of PNE.

Would people like to continue the discussions on here?

That way we can collate all the ideas and put them together into a "Plan of Action".

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

Some ideas collected earleir:

"Make North End THE thing to do on a Saturday.
Radio, Billboard, Beer mats, leaflet drops, AAAAAARGH just bloody make it happen"

"Advertise and ticket sales in supermarkets."

"POSITIVE publicity EVERY week." Advertise games on the major roads around the town.

[brianherron]

PNE Mobile Shop onto the Flag Market on non match days

Mobile 'A' Frame advertising hoardings parked on all main roads into city

Selected Post Code leaflet 'drop' (showing next two (?) home games) distributed with local Free Paper (cost £16 per thousand in Huddersfield)

Advertising Poster Competition in all junior schools in Preston area (1st prize a ST - remember under 8 go free;))

Free PNE car stickers ie I SUPPORT PNE - MY LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM

[budgierustler]

No restrictions on ideas...nothing is too ridiculous, this is a blank piece of paper.

Ideas ideas ideas.........:D

[prestonsg]

Free PNE car stickers ie I SUPPORT PNE - MY LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM

I like that idea, they could run a comp were each week they "spot" a car with a sticker and they win a free match ticket for the next game etc?

To encourage people to do this.

[TuTu]

Free tickets and PNE shirts once a month to a different school.

If we get a big FA cup tie link the ticket in with a couple of home games, ie you get priority after season ticket holders if you buy the two home games.

Promotion.

[raefil]

A downloadable poster for people to put up in their cars advertising the next game at Deepdale. Wouldnt cost the club anything except a bit of time on design. people would download it and put in their own car, schools, shop windows etc.

The kid for a quid would have gone down well advertised on school notice boards.

[Randall Flagg]

PNE Mobile Shop onto the Flag Market on non match days


Really like that idea. We really need to target the town centre. Even bloody religious groups use the Flag Market to advertise.

[princeinpieces]

Really like that idea. We really need to target the town centre. Even bloody religious groups use the Flag Market to advertise.

That's true, there's normally some old guy with a bible in his hand near the cenotaph spouting on about how all children born out of wedlock are going to die one day.

Get a couple of Blind Faithers to spread the good word of PNE.

No seriously, this is one that NEST needs the co-operation of the club to make it properly work. PNE already has an advertising budget, spent on adverts in the LEP, local radio, for those banners outside the Finney Stand etc.

If the club let us know how much they already spent then we'd be able to come up with ideas of making that money go further.

It might be as simple as someone who knows someone who works in one of them banner making places who can get a 25% discount. Every little helps.

[Randall Flagg]

That's true, there's normally some old guy with a bible in his hand near the cenotaph spouting on about how all children born out of wedlock are going to die one day.

Get a couple of Blind Faithers to spread the good word of PNE.

No seriously, this is one that NEST needs the co-operation of the club to make it properly work. PNE already has an advertising budget, spent on adverts in the LEP, local radio, for those banners outside the Finney Stand etc.

If the club let us know how much they already spent then we'd be able to come up with ideas of making that money go further.

It might be as simple as someone who knows someone who works in one of them banner making places who can get a 25% discount. Every little helps.

Weird, seems like the club have beaten us to the punch:

http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10362~1840846,00.html

Need to do this every week though.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

A perhaps unsurprising outcome of some market research that we did on Saturday is that people don't know about PNE special offers.

People also thought a ticket outlet in the town centre would be a help to get more people to the games.

[whiteandproud]

People also thought a ticket outlet in the town centre would be a help to get more people to the games.

Its got to help hasnt it ??

To get to Deepdale during the week is a nuisance for people living in the outlying areas..

The advantage of having an outlet in town, is that people can always ask a family member to collect tickets whilst they are in the centre doing shopping and the like !!

Thats what Mums are for !!! ;)

[mozzchops]

The thing with new technology is you don't need a shop. Just one of the trolley things with a terminal in St Georges would do the trick. Pay your money, get your ticket, go to the game. Simples!

[prestonsg]

A perhaps unsurprising outcome of some market research that we did on Saturday is that people don't know about PNE special offers.

People also thought a ticket outlet in the town centre would be a help to get more people to the games.

A couple of years ago the club were in discussion with the council over having a Ticket Computer in the Guild Hall Ticket Office.

However they were having issues with "staff training"!

This would be a excellent place for a outlet, I guess the staff of the guild hall did not want to do it though.

[bayside]

I was using one of the shops near the Flag Market as an example to people on Saturday, basically "the replica shirts, tracksuits and the essentials from the club shop as well as been able to buy home & away tickets" would they purchase from there:

An unbelievable amount of yes's.

We've missed the trick (again) this year - think how many kids want a half-season ticket or a replica shirt for christmas, its how I got my first season ticket at North End by getting a half one for Christmas 2001.

All we'd need is a temporary twelve week base for the Christmas rush, coupled with an outlet for tickets and you'd get the revenue for it.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

A couple of years ago the club were in discussion with the council over having a Ticket Computer in the Guild Hall Ticket Office.

However they were having issues with "staff training"!

This would be a excellent place for a outlet, I guess the staff of the guild hall did not want to do it though.

It would probably be a good outlet.

But when I walked past on Saturday it was absolutley covered in posters on the front windows. If PNE had posters up they would get lost amongst the mass of other stuff.

If I was doing something I would want to use it as an advert too. A kiosk with all the latest offers higlighted would be better for me.

Arrange to have offers announced over the tannoys in shopping centres and at the bus station too.;)

[prestonsg]

It would probably be a good outlet.

But when I walked past on Saturday it was absolutley covered in posters on the front windows. If PNE had posters up they would get lost amongst the mass of other stuff.

If I was doing something I would want to use it as an advert too. A kiosk with all the latest offers higlighted would be better for me.

Arrange to have offers announced over the tannoys in shopping centres and at the bus station too.;)

FYI The reason they said they got rid of the old shop and ticket booth on the flag market, was because it did not increase sales, just made them more diluted.

Ie, people bought them from the one in Town instead of Deepdale.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

FYI The reason they said they got rid of the old shop and ticket booth on the flag market, was because it did not increase sales, just made them more diluted.

Ie, people bought them from the one in Town instead of Deepdale.

and they stopped selling kit through sports outlets because retailers were pushing for a higher discount.

[STRPNE]

The dilution effect is inevitable because many who currently go to the stadium because we are highly willing to buy tickets and will tolerate the inconvenience.

However, there is always the option to capitalise a little on the convenience of in town ticket purchase, just as you might have transaction costs on the internet so there could be such costs on buying tickets.

Why not give people the benefit of not having to go to Deepdale but split that benefit between the club and the supporters?

Done right, then even if there were no additional sales there would be no additional losses either.

Personally I would be willing to pay the bus fare to Deepdale and back to be able to pick up a ticket in the centre of town. Perhaps everyone else would not be but...

To me it would be about the revenue from extra sales at the ground price with town convenience, versus the value of convenience that supporters would be willing to pass on to the club.

Personally I think that the bigger value is in the latter, but I would love it to be the case that essentially lowering the price by making tickets more convenient would attract a large enough number back to Deepdale.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

The dilution effect is inevitable because many who currently go to the stadium because we are highly willing to buy tickets and will tolerate the inconvenience.

However, there is always the option to capitalise a little on the convenience of in town ticket purchase, just as you might have transaction costs on the internet so there could be such costs on buying tickets.

Why not give people the benefit of not having to go to Deepdale but split that benefit between the club and the supporters?

Done right, then even if there were no additional sales there would be no additional losses either.

Personally I would be willing to pay the bus fare to Deepdale and back to be able to pick up a ticket in the centre of town. Perhaps everyone else would not be but...

To me it would be about the revenue from extra sales at the ground price with town convenience, versus the value of convenience that supporters would be willing to pass on to the club.

Personally I think that the bigger value is in the latter, but I would love it to be the case that essentially lowering the price by making tickets more convenient would attract a large enough number back to Deepdale.

I think the dilution issue was more to do with kit sales, etc. rather than tickets.

Personally if tickets could only be bought in town it would be a massive inconvenience to a lot of people, me included.

Drive 50 miles to Preston, park near the ground and then have to catch a bus into town to collect tickets. No thank you.

[STRPNE]

Where did I say close the ticket office at the ground?

Clearly driving access is better to Deepdale.

I am just saying that if the argument for the town centre office is convenience then people are often willing to pay for convenience by definition

[Prince]

I think in order to establish the potential effectiveness of an off site ticket outlet you would need to look at the current sales mix i.e.
1. How many are bought in advance at the ticket office - and the busiest time of purchase.
2. How many are bought via the phone.
3. How many are bought via the internet.
4. How many are bought on the day from the various options available (STF, IP or cash on the BSK)

From this information it could be that trends are changing and more people now buy via the phone or web. If this is the case it would be more sensible to target these buying methods and scale back on 'traditional in person buying'.

If I ever buy a ticket for a concert etc. I do it online rather than go to a box office

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

Personally I would be willing to pay the bus fare to Deepdale and back to be able to pick up a ticket in the centre of town. Perhaps everyone else would not be but...


Where did I say close the ticket office at the ground?

Clearly driving access is better to Deepdale.

I am just saying that if the argument for the town centre office is convenience then people are often willing to pay for convenience by definition

Sorry I assumed that "taking the bus into town from Deepdale to collect tickets" indicated that everyone would have to do this.

This did seem odd at the time.:o

[STRPNE]

I meant I had to get the bus from the town to deepdale :)

I walk of course, which costs nothing but it would have some value in terms of convenience if I did not have to.

[Prince]

I meant I had to get the bus from the town to deepdale :)

I walk of course, which costs nothing but it would have some value in terms of convenience if I did not have to.

Serious question - have you ever bought tickets online? Would this not be easier than having to go to the ticket office?

[STRPNE]

No, last time I thought about it the site was not quite ready.

Usually I just call in after the game on a Saturday, but because we have not got Saturday home games for a bit there is a problem doing that.

Really I am just illustrating that the ticket office in the town centre need not be a revenue splitter as the opportunity to attract extra revenue for the convenience is there. (Or to make the real price lower, so attracting more supporters)

[Prince]

No, last time I thought about it the site was not quite ready.

Usually I just call in after the game on a Saturday, but because we have not got Saturday home games for a bit there is a problem doing that.

Really I am just illustrating that the ticket office in the town centre need not be a revenue splitter as the opportunity to attract extra revenue for the convenience is there. (Or to make the real price lower, so attracting more supporters)

Perhaps the club should look at incentivising on line purchase because that for me is the cheapest way for the club to sell tickets

[STRPNE]

Certainly once the database to offer the service has been paid for.

However a large percentage of the PNE support will not want to use the online service because they do not have credit cards or access to the internet.

There is a danger that if online purchase was subsidised too much, on top of its extra convenience, that the ticket office would become less viable, potentially harming its chances of existence without subsidy.

Balancing all of these factors is of course a very difficult task for the football club.

Personally I would look into allowing an agency to offer the service, accepting that advertising at that agency would be pro rata with all the other tickets they sell (as it would be at the guild hall ticket office)

[bayside]

Perhaps the club should look at incentivising on line purchase because that for me is the cheapest way for the club to sell tickets

Probably is, but surely during the Christmas period it would be financially viable to sell prodcuts in the city centre, such as tickets/half-season tickets and merchandise?

Even if it is just a temporary outlet, it has the ability to result in extra revenue with impulse buyers in the city, people only go into the club shop (with its location) when they know they want something.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

I think in order to establish the potential effectiveness of an off site ticket outlet you would need to look at the current sales mix i.e.
1. How many are bought in advance at the ticket office - and the busiest time of purchase.
2. How many are bought via the phone.
3. How many are bought via the internet.
4. How many are bought on the day from the various options available (STF, IP or cash on the BSK)

From this information it could be that trends are changing and more people now buy via the phone or web. If this is the case it would be more sensible to target these buying methods and scale back on 'traditional in person buying'.

If I ever buy a ticket for a concert etc. I do it online rather than go to a box office

Most of the recent discussion is a result of a small survey carried out in the town centre. Most people interviewed said that a ticket outlet in the town centre or at supermarkets would be better than the current system of having all ticket sales done at the ground.

The majoirty of these people indicated that they knew nothing about club special offers. Any different ticket sales plan would have to be backed by a serious advertising campaign. Only then would any benefit come from other ticketing outlets, including internet sales.

[Lostin Yorkshi_]

Probably is, but surely during the Christmas period it would be financially viable to sell prodcuts in the city centre, such as tickets/half-season tickets and merchandise?

Even if it is just a temporary outlet, it has the ability to result in extra revenue with impulse buyers in the city, people only go into the club shop (with its location) when they know they want something.

One of the things that surprised me from the survey was that people would consider buying PNE tickets as a gift. I expected everybody to laugh at this suggestion.

Although limited the bigeest thing coming out of the survey was the "ignorance" people have about club offers. Even occasional PNE fans said they knew nothing about PNE special offers.

It appears that a major problem is that the general public don't know that it only costs £25 for an adult and two children to attend a normal League game, etc.

Hopefully the club will have people out in the city centre handing out flyers publicising the BOGOF Derby/Plymouth offer and other general family offers.

[Kel's Hero]

a ticket machine like at airports train stations in the town centre put your card in diced which end, game,you want to go on put in your card away you go. Tickets printed, one staff member to make sure enough stubs in the machine how much space in the shopping centre would that take.
Plus if you were in a town centre boozer on sat you can just nip and get a ticket.

[theoneandonly]

a ticket machine like at airports train stations in the town centre put your card in diced which end, game,you want to go on put in your card away you go. Tickets printed, one staff member to make sure enough stubs in the machine how much space in the shopping centre would that take.
Plus if you were in a town centre boozer on sat you can just nip and get a ticket.Even easier, online system where you could print out a bar coded ticket that could be scanned at the turnstile. Initial investment yes but surely a us3r friendly method.

PNE could even use a direct debit system for the above so your ticket would be waiting online for you to print off.

[Kel's Hero]

Even easier, online system where you could print out a bar coded ticket that could be scanned at the turnstile. Initial investment yes but surely a us3r friendly method.

PNE could even use a direct debit system for the above so your ticket would be waiting online for you to print off.

yes this is a huge investment i was thinking of just one machine and them barcode machines cause nothing but trouble.