So hands up ( I think there are a couple on here) who attended the 'invite only' session at the club on Tuesday night on how the supporters think the communications at the club (particularly social media) could be improved.

The person who told me about it doesn't reside on this forum, but is a marketing guru, club knows he exists, has followed Carlton for 40 years....he thought I might know...sorry - apparently I wasn't on the invite list either...perhaps because I've been openly critical of nearly everything to do with Carlton and their handling of anything Comms related.

So apparently the people who were sent an invite were the ones who openly communicate with the club via Twitter...and think that what the club does with its social media and website is fantastic. God help us. It's becoming more and more difficult to support Carlton with the incompetency at staff and board level at that place. When will they realise that what they do is amateurish and inviting amateurs to provide suggestions is the epitome of amateur hour?

It is interesting the amount of stuff the club could add to its online content that would make them a leader in the competition.

So many clubs (read all) just seem so backwards. For something as simple or nominal as a $5-10 levy as a part of memberships (to hide it somewhat you could be given a username/password to access the content with your card) they could have a really good multimedia department in house. Weekly shows, segments, info, whatever... But no one does it.

I've had a number of ideas for things that fans and members of the club would enjoy (I think) and have had difficulties to the point of giving up communicating them with the club.

Another club will do it soon enough, and then everyone will copy them. I know for a fact Collingwood (surprise, surprise) are looking into it and have been for a while.

_________________
"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

You're not alone Sean. There are half a dozen people who could tell you the same thing - maybe if they weren't Carlton supporters and charged like a wounded bull the club would take their suggestions on board. The clubs' 'Twitter girl' just contacted me stating that they're working closely with Deloitte Digital with regard to their social media.

Doesn't matter - I'm not giving the club a cent next year.

I was there - are you actually curious about what was being discussed or do you just want someone to point at and call an amateur?

Social media is a crock. The positive of it is that it allows them to reach so many people. Which some people would say is the only thing that matters and the only important part of the process, and in part it is, but the problem is they don't put anything worthwhile on it. They don't use it to go that extra mile. They should use the access Facebook and Twitter afford them to their supporters to give them content better than the crap they serve up right now. Those are the platforms for them to launch off.

Since they've been given these outlets that cost them absolutely nothing they should use the money saved to produce content. That levy I mentioned would be unobtrusive and give them a budget (40k members at $5 a membership is $200,000) to do some awesome stuff.

As I said, someone will emulate the EPL/American sports systems of in-house media soon enough, and when one of them does it and it's a success they'll all do it.

Rather than a mamby pandering 2020 type summit of backslappers they'd be better off getting in contact with people who have actual ideas and criticisms of their services. As a fan of the club for my entire life I know exactly what I want to see from CFCtv in conjunction with Twitter and Facebook.

I'm happy to get a group of us together with ideas amd get in contact with the club and present a series of proposals to them. It could be on behalf of the members of forums like these as well as the club members and put to them a series of ideas for making their content better.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

I wouldnt mind a carlton pencil case thrown in with the memberships next year

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Please go ahead missnaut.

_________________
That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

That's one that just keeps getting better and better each time someone says it.

I honestly forget how incredibly funny it is until its said again. In the intervening time I wonder 'is it still funny?' and then when someone says it again I think 'sleep easy, of course it is!'

In all seriousness I'd like a good hat for once.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

me too - our hats are shocking

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

hand knitted pure wool scarves,knitted by Ron Weasley's mum.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Collingwood and Essendon* already have. They call it the Herald-Sun.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

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Click here to follow TalkingCarlton on twitter
TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

The whole thing is amateurish. Unless Deloitte Digital are doing this for free (doubt it) then they're charging the club a hefty consulting fee (I'm a consultant so I know) to provide some social media/marketing advice that shouldn't necessarily be being done.

Lots of outsiders who are professionals in Comms/Marketing/Advertising etc have offered their services probono over the years and have been ignored or told 'thanks but no thanks'. So the club throws money at getting the sort of advice they can get for free.

Or...they can hire someone who knows what they're doing. The Comms dept at Carlton has been amateurish for years....don't defend them Missnaut because you were one of the 'lucky' Gen Y people that got an invite...

As for the love-in earlier this week...

Love-in?? there was a Love- In??
geez..I miss all the good stuff.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

+1 Donstuie



Where have I defended the club's communications department? What makes you think I am going to?

I was "invited" over Twitter - I don't know what their criteria was for inviting people, but if it was for the biggest loudmouths then I would be close to the top of that list - I thought it could be interesting and I had nothing on that night so I went along.

Yes there were people from Deloitte there. Yes there were "amateur Gen Ys" there. There were also Gen Xs and BabyBoomers. They had a decent cross section of occupations and interests for a smallish group of around 12-15 (not sure if this was intentional or not - with the information on my Twitter account they could probably work out where I work but they would not have a clue what I do). A professional blogger (and Carlton supporter) was there.



Which is probably why they asked a group of supporters along and not entirely professionals - as fans of the club and users of social media we know what we want to see and don't want to see. Yes they realise they could better utilise social media and the club website (stitched up with Shitpond until next year) and the group definitely bought up the issue of the shithouse caps which they managed to look a bit sheepish about.

ps - your idea about a levy is a good one I reckon.

The brand ain't great at the moment Missnaut. Was the 'brand' brought up at all?

I've been in contact with the club on various occasions to volunteer my services on the webpage, especially during the off-season but didn't even get a reply. Haven't done it for two years now.

I have also been a consultant and know how to charge so maybe I should have offered my services for $1200 a day instead of for free.

Regardless, I've given up on the club website and don't even bother to read it any more it is so crap. I have a height/weight printout and that's all I need.

They lost several thousand members this year. Each one represents $100.

Look inwardly or look out!

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

What a great deal for members!



http://www.carltonfc.com.au/shopping/specialoffers/tabid/11351/default.aspx

A couples of weeks, and most of this will be 30+% off.

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

this is what our caps should be

in our dark navy and replace NYY with CFC

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

I mentioned this in a thread ages and ages ago, and I sent a template to the club but received no reply.

The Yankees have these, which are absolutely brilliant, cheap to produce, easy to produce, and they tap into a core market: nostalgia and fandom. Replace the NYY with CFC and you've got the shirt!

They have most, if not all, current players, as well as countless legends: Mantle, Di Maggio, Ruth, Maris, Mattingly, Gehrig et al.

Imagine walking into the Carlton Shop and seeing a wall of these, beautifully simple T-Shirts with Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Kruezer, Yarran etc next to Kernahan (or Sticks), SOS, Doull, Nicholls, Williams, Jezza, Hunter, Southby, Cresswell etc... The club could run polls and do legends in blocks, like a seasonal thing. Every so often they put forth a new batch of names and the top rated names get a shirt.

They could be sold for $40 each, and you'd see them absolutely everywhere at the footy. They'd sell like hot-cakes out the front of the ground and at the club. And, because they're a simple navy blue t-shirt, they'd go with everything.

But, alas, another opportunity gone.

_________________
"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.