If you're a regular visitor to MyFootballClub, you'll have noticed the site looks a little different.
The relaunch of the public site reflects the changes we are making as we celebrate our 2-year anniversary, and allows us to promote the Society and Club to attract new members, and to keep casual members informed by embracing social networking and other internet marketing tools.
In the past, Social Media like Twitter and Facebook were never used or integrated with the site, but we have the opportunity to correct this, and although it won't be a drastic overnight change you will see a gradual and steady shift towards social media and new methods of communications.
The previous front page had changed little since 2007, was not very inviting. It didn't tell the casual visitor about the MyFC experience and why they would want to join. It didn't say anything about what's happening at the Club and Society. It didn't say anything about the victories we've had as a Society and the passion and drive from individual members that's kept us going.
The new website aims to keep not only members informed with the latest news and buzz from the community, but will also share much of the content and news with the outside world, inviting the rest of the world to join what still remains the only internet community-owned professional Football Club. Obviously the governance and ownership aspects of the Society will remain private and in the forums, but we believe openness and transparency will open the doors to a whole new generation of MyFC members in the medium term.
As members, we sometimes forget in all our moaning that MyFootballClub have inspired people round the world to change football for the better, and we continue to interest new members because of that.
We should be promoting what we're doing from the Crowdsourcing point of view and having a dialogue with that community, you remember: those people that came to the club and made a documentary about us. Those people that write long articles in the newspapers about us. Even the cynics who have never wanted us to succeed.
We should be having a dialogue with other similar organisations, like Newcastle United Supporters Trust, FC United of Manchester, Wimbledon AFC, Supporters Direct, as well as the clubs that have been shafted by the traditional football management model in one way or another, Chester City, Portsmouth. We have a lot to learn from each other and can provide support and build connections.
Once we have a better idea of where we are, we can start work on developing the rest of the site.
Take a look at the webteam's blog to stay up to date on website developments.
