Official site

[ruins]

http://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news/ne ... row-clash/

I like the way Harrogate have displayed their match report on their site.

Looks like Champ Man 96

[barrowfan]

Maybe just me but the site looks a lot 'busier' and cluttered than when it was first introduced, as though it's trying to send out all its messages on the homepage. It needs to be far more simple on the eye.

[boyliegladbach]

Got a text off a friend down south asking if I can ask if online shop will be coming soon?

[themaster]

Is there any news on when the online shop is making an apperance ?

[barrowaberdeen]

Hey you, is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone home?

In the interests of work avoidance, have just had a look. Am I missing the bit that tells you what you can buy from the club?

Basically, at first look, I can sponsor a stand if I ring someone up, but no one else seems to have sponsored anything (which I know not to be the case as we've been doing all right with corporate I think??) and there's a bit advertising for sponsors at Gloucester at home, which happened a while back.

There was something about Christmas ticket packages which I was vaguely thinking about getting my oldest stepson to try and tempt him back more regularly. Couldn't find it. I will probably get my grandbairn some Barrow stuff if there is anything but I can't see it online. Now, as I spend a fair bit of time at Barrow, I probably will do some of these things anyway, despite being mildly perplexed by the lack of info. Anyone with a more intermittent interest- nae chance.

I don't usually look on the club website at all because I get my info here and from the 'SNIM' (Stu Nipps Information Motherlode -ie a mixture of conjecture and opinion through the medium of a large supermarket chain) and judging from that look I am right to do so.

On the credit side, info about the team etc, results, clips, are all much much better. Well done for that.

[Jonty]

Many clubs are now using perform group as their official site partner (Stockport from our league, Macc, Cambridge, Carlisle Mansfield, Lincoln are a few clubs who use it) Easy to navigate and user friendly with mobile and desktop version. I can't even find basic info on ours, such as ticket news? The official site should be bookmarked as the first port of call for all news and moving over to something like a perform group official site platform would add another bit of extra pro touch that we are aspiring towards as a club.

[Richard Ingham]

No, NO and thrice NO Jonty.

Look at what all those clubs have in common. All ex FL sides, some longer ago than others admittedly but still.

All FL clubs signed up to a common provider some years ago which seems to have been taken over by Perform Group. It seems these clubs are STILL tied into

Fans from numerous clubs have moaned about the style and content on them which does not vary (probably because they have to use the standard template) from club to club, and especially the media player for radio/video content. I would bet on them "owning" the rights to all the match footage etc which IMO is a backward step.

Yes, our site needs improving and the firm doing it are so called professionals so it should be better than it is now. I co-sponsored Rob Williams' kit again this season but it isnt there. Why? Probably because the website team haven't been told. Comes back to the age old Barrow AFC phenomon of lack of communication!!!

That said the site is a marked improvement on previous efforts and really just needs some fine tuning and final sections (online shop for example) adding and we have something to be proud of. Hopefully it is something Jnr is looking into as part of his commercial role? It certainly should be. We can have a "professional" looking website without signing our lives away.

Going this way and not an "identikit site" like Perform Group gives us the freedom to incorporate all sorts of features and revenue streams, such as the Youtube channels that an "idenikit" site would restrict us on. We can also move with the times technology wise where some of the other sites look dated.

We are Barrow for Cowps sakes, when did we ever follow the sheep and not do our own thing? It may be that if we did ever get to the FL we HAVE to sign up to the corporate machine, but let's now rush in to that until we absolutely have to.

[K-Man]

Yeah we're Barrow lets do our own thing and continue to have a shit website. The fact there's no on line club shop is a farce and if it were the Keens in charge they would be getting slated.

The only saving grace is the match highlights. I rarely go on the website and I use twitter and this forum to see information because it's usually there first. Long way to go.

[Uncle Peter]

Progress has been slow as the website is my area, and unfortunately I've been off work since mid October due to ongoing illness.

Apologies for the slow development.

[Jonty]

Sorry to hear of you still being under the weather Pete. The point I'm trying to make, and it's nothing to do with following what other clubs do, it's about looking at what other clubs do and doing some benchmarking in order to improve. The new site has been up and running for some months and now is probably a good time to consider the feedback the official site is getting from fans. Some parts are good, other parts need a tweak and from what I've seen from other sites, ie Macclesfield, Carlisle, etc, the layout and navigation just seems easier. Sorry, this is not meant to be a criticism, just an opportunity to consider some fan feedback.

and hopefully you are on the mend to getting well soon! health first always.

[boyliegladbach]

Surely the whole site can't be just down to you Pete can it?
In most professional organisations if someone's off ill then someone covers for them.

Pretty poor they haven't managed to get a shop bit online in build up to Christmas.

Like Steve said, about 5 weeks ago there were some leaflets in the bar about a cheaper ticket for the 3 home Christmas games, I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere again since, should have been advertised all over town.

3 home games in a week is expensive and club will complain when attendances are not good.

Any news on them new shirts?

[PRR]

Number one priority has to be an online store. Good social media is now more important than a website imo.