The Mail Bag
The much maligned Everton PR machine
Comments (11)
I understand the sentiments of everyone who feels the club does handle a lot of their press releases/information badly (currently being documented in the Lucas Neill post lower down) but I have to stick up for the club a little on this point.
My ill son was filmed for a BBC documentary that was shown in Wales this evening. I e-mailed Everton on Tuesday to let them know about it as they had donated a kit to my little boy during his stay at hospital. I received prompt replies back and they have even run a story on the OS about it, would link it here but don't appear to be able to (maybe Michael or Lyndon could help me out).
Anyway, on top of the Press Office reply, I had asked for the e.mail to be forwarded to Messrs Kenwright, Moyes and Elstone just to pass on our best wishes etc. So far I've already had each of their PAs write back assuring me they will be reading the e.mail and to expect replies, along with best wishes and numerous other nice comments from Everton staff I have never met who have seen the e.mail and the information as it has worked through the chain.
So, while I agree they can balls it up, they can also get things very right. Many of my non-Everton supporting friends have got a massive and new-found respect for our club and acknowledge that they doubt some of their beloved clubs would do the same. So yeah, we're right to have a pop at them but maybe, just maybe, they deserve acknowledgement for getting it very right sometimes as well.
Darren Watts, Posted 14/01/2010 at 21:01:47
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Given my recent experiences at Goodison, I would like to back up your comments in relation to customer care. If us fans are looked after so well, I can imagine how much they do for the playing staff that we never hear about.
In relation to the point about PR - Is the official website not the most central point for the PR machine to operate? If this is the case, how does evertonfc.com compare to other official Club websites? "compare and contrast" as they say in all examination papers!
Quick wins — yes, they get this right.
Normal staff at Goodison — you know, the ones you meet face to face and those that are more than willing to answer the phone — superb.
Sponsorship staff — when they think they can get money in — superb.
Handling the press, handling the questions, handling rumours — dreadful.
Lucas Neill is just one incident amongst hundreds - he was on Sky sports telling the world about his move and the evertonfc.com website had NOTHING!
Awesome — glad you got something out of them but do you not think that they are latching on to a bit of good fortune given that your son is involved in a documentary? They will reply and thank you all day because they know you wont reply with a question on Kirkby or money!
On another note — I didn’t see the documentary or know what is up with your son — but good luck and I hope that good times lie ahead for you and your son.
I’m sorry but I think it’s a bit of bad form to pour piss on someone’s support of the club’s dealings over their son. You may be right and the club may have been relieved it was not a complaint communication but I very much doubt it.
Because they are awful at PR to the wider world and attrocious at keeping us fans up to date does not mean they are not human or genuine. I prefer to believe their good wishes for Darren’s son are as genuine as yours and mine. Sorry mate, but I think it is a bit unfair to paint it as otherwise, even if you are cynical enough to believe that is the case. Allow the man the celebration he clearly has in his team.
Darren, every good wish for your son’s speedy & full recovery.
And it makes the heart fond.
Hope your son gets better mate.
Also, talk about a PR disaster - what about the Reds sending out texts to fans about the Liverpool v Burnley FA Cup match before the Reading game had finished?!
All the very best to your son. Hope he gets well soon.
The story goes that the much unfancied Borough Utd won the Welsh Cup and qualified for the Cup Winners Cup. They started the following season with £4 in their coffers and were short on the £4,000 to travel on their first ever European away game.
They decided to run a raffle with a bungalow as the first prize and sent all the top flight clubs in England a book of 100 tickets to sell on matchdays. Most clubs including Spurs, Utd, City, Arsenal and Liverpool returned theirs... Everton sold theirs and sent another £100 in a cheque.
Sometimes it makes me bloody proud to follow this club.
Darren, all the best to your young lad and I hope he is on the mend very soon.
I think Everton FC are probably the only major league club who at least try to hold on to the traditional values of a "family club" which seem to have been discarded in the Sky Premier League days by our fellow teams. However, our ability to promote the club leaves a lot to be desired... highlighted by our CEO making a video to tell the world how bad Goodison Park is?!? Inexcusable!
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1 Posted 15/01/2010 at 08:37:02
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I am glad that the club have acted so well in this case. However, this does show is that Everton is very much a family club and takes care of its own.
Sadly though this isn’t so much PR as just good customer care.
The PR department are charged with ’selling’ the clubs image on a grand, world scale and unfortunately, time after time, they screw it up