Our new growth initiatives

[keyzick]

As has been echoed and needs to echoed again: MARKETING

Right now they're trying to limit investments in Marketing, by having their existing customer base take on that role (I have no problem with that by the way).

So theoretically, revenue from existing customer base should remain relatively flat, revenue from new customers should increase (although at a lower "per head" count due to the reduced price)...really the only expense is in the form of reduced revenue to new customers, and whatever special deal it is they offer for referrals.

Low risk, high reward (although "high" is the operative word).

I love the product, don't mind the price, and don't want it to go away; however, if they have a need to increase revenue to make it a viable part of their business, then they need to spend real money for real advertising.

[beavis]

[quote:14dc17fe17]But if we are not going to put any real thought in to the issue and make suggestions that could actually work within the environment which TSN operates in why should anyone listen?[/quote:14dc17fe17]

How about a link on the home page?

/echo chamber

[13Baseballs]

[quote:a5a28cc816="The Rabid Wolverines"][quote:a5a28cc816="Petrosian"]Bernie isn't the issue here, as I see it. Yes, he has done much for the game, especially over the past three years. However it was not always so. It took considerable prodding by Nev, myself and other members of the community to get him to where he was fairly responsive. Prior to that, Bernie's communication was next to non-existent and the customer service abysmal.

I'm really not looking to partner with the TSN bean counters with their latest strategic initiative. I won't be introducing any friends to the game because frankly it tends to devolve into just another addiction. That's not something I would wish on a friend. Plus it is not inexpensive and our economy is tottering on the edge of a precipice.

All that aside, I think it is poor business strategy not to throw the existing customer base a bone now and then. They did it last year for Father's Day. Did that backfire and cost TSN money? I'd love to get an answer to that question but I won't hold my breath.

TSN's approach to the existing base seems to assume that addicts will come up with the money to get their fix. Not always. When was the last time Don Ferry started a new team? So many regulars have faded away. Some come back, many don't.

Why on earth would you adopt a business strategy that is likely to alienate much of your core base? Is the cost of a promotion, i.e. 3 days of a reduced price on the five packs, so great? Again, we haven't even established that generating that good will costs TSN any money at all. But I bet that the current approach to existing members won't help TSN in the long run.[/quote:a5a28cc816]


I absolutely agree with Petro. I consider myself one of the regulars Petro refers to. I was addicted for around 5 years playing 8-10 leagues per month. I haven't purchased any credits since last December. And that mainly started because I asked about a Xmas sale on credits.

I don't remember exactly how it started back in December (Nev probably remembers better than I), but I basically called out Bernie & TSN management to step up and be more reponsive to the current customer base.

I know Bernie listed some initiatives when this thread first started. But there's still nothing in it for guys like myself to come back & play at the same rate we did before.

If you go to the mangers ratings page, it shows the number of games each owner has played. And while I have no idea what TSN's revenue or profit/loss is for SOM, it appears that fewer games are being played than ever before.

I would like to come back into the fold & still keep tabs on the MB's, but at this time I have no incentive to do so.

I am sure there are others who feel the same...[/quote:a5a28cc816]



I normally buy anywhere from 10-15 5 Packs, when there are discounts... have not bought any this year... other Managers probably feel the same way... how much money is TSN loosing from me and others...

[Knerrpool]

[quote:8afbc19e08]I normally buy anywhere from 10-15 5 Packs, when there are discounts... have not bought any this year... other Managers probably feel the same way... how much money is TSN loosing from me and others...[/quote:8afbc19e08]

I might not be understanding correctly, but are you saying you'll buy 50 - 75 teams if they are $16 per team, but will not buy any at $20 per team?

[nevdully's]

That might be exactly what he's saying...As soon as TSN understand buying is an emotional decision and "feeling" like you're getting a good deal is sometimes more important than actually getting one. Ask any Car salesman about that....Also isn't nice as a loyal customer to feel visible and appreciated once in awhile, something TSN obviously knows nothing about...It isn't any different than the proven fact that 19.99 of something sells much more than 20.00 of the exact same item... :roll: :roll: :roll:

When it comes to caring or even understanding their customer here TSN doesn't.

And in my opinion once again as "The Man here, the face of Strat online etc...Bernie should be all over this thread and weighing in...but his silence is deafening.

[The Last Druid]

We could try to mobilize people here to agree to a moratorium on buying new teams for a given period -- say two months. That would certainly send a message in what I believe to be the only language the bean counters at TSN seem to speak, or at least care about.

United action can be most effective in achieving specific, desired results.

Otherwise I fear we are just spinning our wheels here.

[13Baseballs]

[quote:acc02ed245="Knerrpool"][quote:acc02ed245]I normally buy anywhere from 10-15 5 Packs, when there are discounts... have not bought any this year... other Managers probably feel the same way... how much money is TSN loosing from me and others...[/quote:acc02ed245]

I might not be understanding correctly, but are you saying you'll buy 50 - 75 teams if they are $16 per team, but will not buy any at $20 per team?[/quote:acc02ed245]


That is correct. That extra $20, for every four 5 packs bought, I would get another 5 pack, for basically nothing... having 10 or 15 additional teams, with the discount... makes a big difference... especially, with my win/loss record (few free credits)... :oops: :P

[TRW]

[quote:92f034255c="Petrosian"]We could try to mobilize people here to agree to a moratorium on buying new teams for a given period -- say two months. That would certainly send a message in what I believe to be the only language the bean counters at TSN seem to speak, or at least care about.

United action can be most effective in achieving specific, desired results.

Otherwise I fear we are just spinning our wheels here.[/quote:92f034255c]


So what happens if TSN decides to stop SOM because everyone has stopped playing?

[The Last Druid]

A mere two months shouldn't do them in. Just make a point.

But if it did, so what?

We then organize via Facebook and create our own net play community. Save a ton of money and actually get to play the games instead of read about them the next day.

:shock:

[Salty]

[quote:839c47e781="Petrosian"]

We then organize via Facebook and create our own net play community. Save a ton of money and actually get to play the games instead of read about them the next day.

:shock:[/quote:839c47e781]

wow- thats quite a provactive suggestion.

Facebook is the home of many 'traditional' games as well as new ones- some a LOT more complicated than strat-o;
having said that, it would take a huge effort to be able to bring the game to Facebook- not even thinking of the rights etc; but in all honesty, short of a big campaign by TSN on its main site, its probably the best way to actually get a large volume of new/old people to play the game.