An update

[uvm87]

[quote:c0a540dab7="ehlekev"]Bernie, I just recently convinced a new guy (Bill Clark) to give this game a try (screen name: feb 1154) last week. Even though he has the money, the initial "sticker shock" is tough to overcome. Now that he has a team set up and playing, he thinks it's pretty cool.

I have at least one suggestion if that's OK:

**Offer incentives to current users to bring in brand new people (a finder's fee, if you will). As mentioned earlier, it's a tough sell.... even to our buddies to give it a try.... due to cost.

I think that your users (particularly guys like me who have been around since day 1) could be incented to drum up business for a fraction of the cost it would be to market this thing. The incentive certainly doesn't have to be anything big (i.e. free entry to the league the new person enters, etc.).

Kev[/quote:c0a540dab7]

I've been bugging some friends to join for a while now, but the cost is always an issue. Maybe offering a couple of bucks off of one team for both the referrer and the newbie would be enticing.

[gorshar]

All the incentives (referrals, free trials, etc) sound nice but the underlying fact remains - the price of the games is too high.

Lower the price of the games. Period.

No specials. No sales. No complicated or even uncomplicated promotions.

Just... lower.... the.... price.

[Gondwana]

I played strato as a kid and bought the card sets in the 90's. Nonetheless, I never heard of Strato online until recently. You really need a larger presence in the sporting world. Couldn't you make a contra deal with ballparks to have a little signage or once a season promotion. Howabout showing players card on the screen, rolling the dice and giving a prize if the player does the same as predicted by the card.
Why is their no online basketball,football, or hockey league to cross promote with. Why don't we ever hear about strato ('the original fantasy league') during sporting broadcasts. I sure hope you send every MLB player their yearly card. How come my cornflake box dosn't have a strato card(s) promotion. What are your contractual relationships with MLB ? Surely it is in MLB's interest to promote Strao so they can increase all of your revenue. It's like you make few attempts to promote the game outside of the traditional methods employed since the 1960's. Strato should be the premier sporting fantasy game site in the world. If you weren't on the Headline TV news in New York for the 50th birthday you should summarily fire the promotion firm.
In summary, you may need new blood in the office and on the board. Your loyal lifetime fan, Phil (wizbase) PS. Their are 20 insane Cricket fans for every Baseball fan. PSS Do not decrease the cost.

[theClaw]

great idea....

[LMBombers]

The price is cheap enough already. We just need better promotion so more people know this game exists. $20 (5 pack purchase) to be entertained for 2 months is dirt cheap IMO.

[Roscodog]

[quote:a5f08cda2f="LMBombers"]The price is cheap enough already. We just need better promotion so more people know this game exists. $20 (5 pack purchase) to be entertained for 2 months is dirt cheap IMO.[/quote:a5f08cda2f]

I have to agree. If I spend $100 every 2 months that's 12.50/week for entertainment. That's a pretty good deal. Not to mention if you get 1 or 2 free credits in there the price is even better. Not even my wife can get mad at me for spending that much. :wink: That being said I don't want to see it get more expensive, unless it was that or the game not existing. :cry:

[cvjs91184]

I noticed the other night where one of the on-line sites similar to this one was offering a one time only special for new managers, buy one team at full price, $24.95, and receive a second one free. I have tried, without success, to recruit fellow co-workers and their main reason for not joining is the single team price. Something along the lines of this might entice a few of these guys to join and I believe once they try it we'll keep most of them.

I also agree with the other managers in that the game needs to be promoted better. I've played APBA and Stratomatic for over 40 years and only found out about this site 2 years ago by chance. Just think of what kind of numbers Nev and Petrosian would have if I had started playing at the inception of the on-line game.

[Valen]

There needs to be some type deep discount for new users. Very few are going to buy a 5-pack to try out the site so that price is irrelevant for newbies. The $24.95 first team price is a significant barrier for new players. I have talked to people trying to get them to give online strato a try and conversation always ends when price is mentioned.

You cannot get new people addicted if you cannot get them to at least try a sample.

I would like to see the free trial brought back for all games with one additional feature. Do not limit the number of trials one can try. Once the 21 game trial season is completed have an option of buying or applying a credit to the team and joining a full league with the same exact draft list. Do not limit the number of trials one can try.

[Salty]

IMO-
what you need is a 3 Team starter pack for $30.
Thats just enough to get people addicted so they will buy more teams.

Personally, I think the price of a single team should just be $20- and maybe a 10 pack you would give some discount- like an 11th team free.