Anyways, while I was going around looking at certain promotion's websites, I realized that many of these sites are never updated at all. Roster pages have not been updated in almost 2 years on some of these sites, and there are people on there that I know for a fact do not even wrestle there anymore. The news section is all out of whack and does not even have updated information on it. The last results posted were from a show that happened over last Summer. It's pathetic, to be honest with you.
I always learned that your website is "the window to your product." Basically, that means that your website is the first thing that people see when it comes to whatever you are selling. Nowadays, if someone wants to find something, they get on Google and they find it. So if someone hears about a wrestling promotion, they will Google it and take a look at your website or subsequent websites that talks about your company. If your website looks like shit and is not updated, then the people either think, A.) this promotion sucks because their site looks like shit, or B.) this promotion is not running anymore because the information is not updated.
Having a shitty website that is not updated will turn customers away. Let me put it to you this way; you can have the shittiest wrestling company in the world running shows, but they have an amazing website, so they have people coming to shows because those people think that this wrestling company is a bigger deal than what it really is, just based on what their website looks like. On the flip side of that coin; you can have the best company in your state running top-knotch shows, but their website looks like shit and does not translate what their product is to the end-user (the fan). Therefore, fans look at this website and assume that this place is a shit-hole and do not go to their shows.
This all becomes EXTREMELY important if you are trying to sell DVD's, shirts, or anything else through your website. If your site looks like shit, that fan assumes you are shit, and does not buy your products. Also, many of the sites that I ran across had way too much bullshit on their site that did not need to be there. What I mean by bullshit is JavaScript that makes pictures scroll or makes shit flash or blink or something like that. Many people call these "bells & whistles."
The overal goal of a wrestling promotion's website is to:
- Give information about what the wrestling company is all about.
- List a roster of wrestlers that actually wrestle there (not guest appearances or "legends").
- List results from previous shows.
- List upcoming events with information.
- Showcase products for fans to purchase (DVD's, shirts, posters, etc...)
- Provide contact information for whatever reason it is needed.
There are so many other things that I could list here, but that would take way too long. Another piece to this website puzzle is social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. If you have social media sites on top of your actual website, then all of the sites should be linked together somehow, so that the fans can visit all of them, which will increase your web traffic and web-presence. Also, all of these site's information needs to match up with the other ones. Don't just post something to Facebook or Twitter and expect everyone to see it. Put the information on all of your sites so that you can ENSURE everyone will see it.
The biggest issue that I have with the advent of websites for wrestling promotions is the fact that promoters feel that this is the only way to contact people anymore. This is a two-fold problem as well, so let me start with the first part. The first part of this problem has to do with the fans. Promoters feel that they can just post their information about their upcoming shows online and expect everyone to see it and come to the show. Well, that may work for the people that frequently visit wrestling sites or your site in particular, but what about the "normal people?" What about the people that are not necessarily die-hard wrestling fans, but would probably enjoy checking out your show? How do they find out? That's why it is important for promoters to still use outlets like radio, tv, newspaper, or just good-ole-fashion fliers to promote thier shows as well.
The second part of this problem involves the promoters contacting the wrestlers who they want on their shows. I can count on 1 hand how many times that I have been formally contacted to wrestle on a show within the past few years. Many of these promoters just assume that I know that I am on a specific show. Fuck that. Pick up the phone and call me or send me an email or direct message somehow. I have no idea that I am on your next show asshole, and if you don't say something to me, I AM going to take another booking. Just because the promoter knows about the upcoming shows does not mean that all of the wrestlers do. It's a give and take relationship between promoters and wrestlers, and it takes both parties cooperation to make things work.
I think the point here is to just make sure that if you have a website, it is updated regularly, simple, and easy to use. Promoters, don't sit there and assume things. Contact your talent for the shows personally, make sure they are good to go and let them know what is going on. Post the info for your shows everywhere that you can and use other methods to reach "normal people" so that we can turn them into fans. When you assume things, that's when you get 50 people at your show, with 20 guys in the back that you need to pay. That's when promoters skip out at intermission and no one gets paid at all. That's not the way to do business. Be smart and do things the right way. I would say that 80% if business is common sense and that your website is a vital part of any business today.
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