Lost Members, I don't get it

[Bornadog]

Every year the club comes out and says there are 6000 members who have not resigned from last year. This is a big percentage of our total data base and I just don't get it. Is this true that 6000 members haven't resigned? I am starting to become skeptical about this figure. if true, what else can the club do to get these people on board?

[jazzadogs]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

I wonder if people who 'upgraded' to Social Club actually just registered new memberships. So they have bought memberships, but according to the club have not re-signed? I don't know how plausible that is...

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Send Bazza around to see them!

[Mantis]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Didn't we have the lowest churn rate a few years back?

I wonder what has happened since to make so many of our members drop off each year.

[EasternWest]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

I'm with you BAD. It's understandable to have some fluctuation with people losing jobs, people getting jobs etc, but I assume the majority just stop being members. And I don't get that. Whilst I would never do it, I understand those that drop off with our drops off in form and performance, but our team has given them no reason to do this. I don't get it. Maybe it's marketing hyperbole, maybe not.

On a side note, my partner said that if we had kids we might need to tighten the belts and cut a few costs, including my membership. I told her that she should prepare herself for a childfree life then.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

I'm with you BAD. It's understandable to have some fluctuation with people losing jobs, people getting jobs etc, but I assume the majority just stop being members. And I don't get that. Whilst I would never do it, I understand those that drop off with our drops off in form and performance, but our team has given them no reason to do this. I don't get it. Maybe it's marketing hyperbole, maybe not.

On a side note, my partner said that if we had kids we might need to tighten the belts and cut a few costs, including my membership. I told her that she should prepare herself for a childfree life then.

Yeah, I just don't get it either. I think money is an issue that could stop members from re-signing, but I just don't get it if it's related to team form! IMO, you stick with your team no matter what, I can remember many Saturdays trudging home from Whitten Oval after being smacked, but hey, you just dust yourself off and come back the next week - "there's always next week!".

Oh, I have to ask, is your partner a bulldog supporter? Kids are great, but for me, bulldogs are better

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

I
On a side note, my partner said that if we had kids we might need to tighten the belts and cut a few costs, including my membership. I told her that she should prepare herself for a childfree life then.

Gold

It is crazy to think that sooo many people don't re- sign... Do you think they wait for the real season to start?
As an incentive I think members should be able to access the NAB Cup games as part of their membership - it maybe one way to get people to sign up a bit earlier??

At the moment tho the numbers look really good members wise so hopefully those late comers can actually get on board - cause we are in for a some good times...

I want to go the a game against essendon, collingwood or carlton and have more bulldogs supporters there than our opposition!!!

[EasternWest]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

[/B]

Oh, I have to ask, is your partner a bulldog supporter? Kids are great, but for me, bulldogs are better

Nah stinking Hawks. We've since reached a compromise. She gets kids, I keep my membership, kids get junior Dogs memberships. Win/win. Except for the bank account, but it's a price I'm willing to pay.

She thinks the kids will be Hawks, but as I go to as many Dogs games as I can and she doesn't go at all, the reality is the chance of that is zero.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

[/B]
Oh, I have to ask, is your partner a bulldog supporter? Kids are great, but for me, bulldogs are better

Try watching a NAB Cup win with a Bulldog tragic 6yo who doesn't know the difference between NAB Cup and the real thing. All he knows is Barry got the medal and the Bulldogs won the trophy.

His elation was similar to that any one of us will feel when we win the real thing.



Watching the Bulldogs with kids >>>>>>> watching the Bulldogs without kids.

Find something else to sacrifice, besides, the easiest way to get new members is to breed our own.

[Greystache]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

There's always mitigating circumstances why some people don’t renew, for example we had an English guy come over for a year on secondment last year, I sold him on supporting the Bulldogs because of the link between England and the Bulldogs (colours, British Bulldogs, Footscray’s link with English working class immigrants) and even convinced him to buy a membership. He’s now returned home, and while he loved watching us play, he isn’t going to keep paying for a membership he can’t use. But I agree some people just drop off for no reason, and given how this season is shaping up I can’t understand why.

As a side note, with the volume of English people moving to Australia I’m surprised the club doesn’t try to make more of the link between them and the Bulldogs, could be another way to entice more supporters.

[chef]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Try watching a NAB Cup win with a Bulldog tragic 6yo who doesn't know the difference between NAB Cup and the real thing. All he knows is Barry got the medal and the Bulldogs won the trophy.

His elation was similar to that any one of us will feel when we win the real thing.



Watching the Bulldogs with kids >>>>>>> watching the Bulldogs without kids.

Find something else to sacrifice, besides, the easiest way to get new members is to breed our own.

How true, my 6 year old son now has a new hero named Barry.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

[QUOTE=Greystache;141774]There's always mitigating circumstances why some people don’t renew, for example we had an English guy come over for a year on secondment last year, I sold him on supporting the Bulldogs because of the link between England and the Bulldogs (colours, British Bulldogs, Footscray’s link with English working class immigrants) and even convinced him to buy a membership. He’s now returned home, and while he loved watching us play, he isn’t going to keep paying for a membership he can’t use. But I agree some people just drop off for no reason, and given how this season is shaping up I can’t understand why.

As a side note, with the volume of English people moving to Australia I’m surprised the club doesn’t try to make more of the link between them and the Bulldogs, could be another way to entice more supporters.[/QUOTE]

It's funny you say that I've been saying that to my wife for the last couple of years. Great minds think alike.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

I never understand this fixation with how many members a club has. As long as we are financially viable is all I care about. 2 members or 50,000 makes no difference to me. Being successful will bring in the members and the dollars.


If we only end up with 28,000 members and make a good profit due to every one upgrading there memberships then I am happy.



Just enjoy the season and the rest will take care of itself.

[GVGjr]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Didn't we have the lowest churn rate a few years back?

I wonder what has happened since to make so many of our members drop off each year.

Yes, apparently that is true. We have one of the lowest churn rates of all the clubs. 6,000 sounds a lot for us though and it's a shame some people who can afford it don't maintain their memberships.
It's a lot easier now to become a member especially with all the payment options.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Yes, apparently that is true. We have one of the lowest churn rates of all the clubs. 6,000 sounds a lot for us though and it's a shame some people who can afford it don't maintain their memberships.
It's a lot easier now to become a member especially with all the payment options.

I wonder how many of those 6,000 are those who in the past have bought 'sympathy memberships' ie those who have bought memberships purely to help the club, but are not neccesarily supporters?