Securing a larger fanbase

[Ribbit]

Just thought I'd point out, you will need permission to dish out flyers on a station. Rail companies charge for that sort of thing, as it's advertising on their property, (unless you ask very nicely, that is) or they just refuse right-off.

Saying that, if it were to happen outside, they'd be pretty powerless to do anything.

[Matt H]

Some very good points there.

 

I feel many of the local businesses have been priced out by the Club in recent seasons. There are a lot of islanders that own and run their own small companies - Builders, Plumbers, Electricians, Decorators etc. run mostly from their own homes.

 

Along with all the Estate Agents and Takeaways on the island, I'm sure there are plenty of potential sponsors who are willing to have their company promoted a little on matchdays in return for some Club promotion by their business.

 

There are loads of businesses down at Charfleets that I'm sure wouldn't mind a bit of exposure, even if it means the programme's thickness doubling next season from all the added advertising.

 

If you blend the suits with the labourers, you could get a nice balance of productivity coming into the Club. Especially those that noted their skills down when they joined the Trust.

[Ribbit]

Maybe someone could approach Canvey Supply about sponsoring us. They're a major company with three shops - two on Canvey and one on London Road, so they may be interested.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

The local business angle is a very simple idea but a good one. This could go some way to helping one of my issues with the team over the years - the odd sign on the Rock saying when the next game is. Is that still the case? If some small shops go for this then a poster in their windows would help and/or some flyers on their counter.

 

You also need to keep the team in people's minds at home. How is the Echo nowadays with news/reports on CIFC? Regular stories so everyone knows the latest good or bad? BBC Essex ever cover a game these days?

 

In addition to this thought is bring back an un-official site. The official one is no more professional or easier to navigate/read than the old one IMHO. The reports for one have always been severly lacking on the newer site.

 

I am unsure of how much I could actually do myself on this front (I have M.E.) but living up in Cumbria now they can ban me from all the games they want <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Even if I could only assist a little I would be very happy to help where I can on a website or graphics for a site/advertising or anything else!

[Ribbit]

The Echo is a joke. Even in the Castle Point paper, Southend AND West Ham take priority over us. The only time we make the back page is if our major backer is pulling out... and even then there's a Southend headline above it.

[Matt H]

The last time I came home at Christmas and most of the time before that, CIFC took up the majority of the back page on the Yellow Advertiser. When I looked at this week's copy we had barely a couple of paragraphs in a small column.

[Ribbit]

The Advertiser isn't too bad. We need to harnace the full capabillities of that but more importantly, the Island Times.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

While the press sounds a bit down on us how about a letter campaign to ALL the local papers hoping they will take an interest and take local pride and...well, I guess that last bit could be a bit of an ask! Does that even sell papers?!

 

On the other hand, an open letter to not just the Island but Castle Point with a brief run-down on whats going on and that it is every bit THEIR club and we have "this" facility and "that" kind of family atmosphere.

 

Do we have any friends in the press who we can approach?

[mr c gull]

if we are going to a lower league we must try and keep the fans we,ve got first and make sure they attend before anything else.

[ken]

i have brought quite a few people down to the lane over the last couple of years and none have really stays, instead choosing to only come down every now and then. when i asked why this was the most common reason was the club house. because it is so small it feels very 'clicky' to new people. i remember the club house came up as an issue a few years back and alot of us bought bricks for a tenner, what ever happened to those plans

[Ribbit]

I think it should be more like a pub and that is definately the way to go if we ever get a new ground.

[ken]

definatly, tables and places to sit, as well as places for us stand and chat about the game we have seen or about to see. it has to be the kind of place that people want to come and spend some additional money.

[Ribbit]

To be honest, I think it shouldn't soley be a club-house. But that's a debate for another time, when we're likely to get a new ground.

[A Non E Mouse]

I can see Kens point and if people feel it's clique then it possibly needs to change.

 

We need money over the bar and as a self financing club the bar revenue becomes very important - you can't afford for it to become "exclusive".

 

I think - like the ground - you'll be restricted by the size. But I think it should be less formal and other events could be looked into - Probably to small but some live bands occassionaly, a variety of better beers - either way it needs to be treated seriously and people made aware of what it offers.

 

I'm not sure but I heard a rumour that the bar profits really started to creep up a few years back - if thats the case then well done to the staff who run and look after it. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" />