blonde Live Updates - your opinions needed please.

[kinboshi]

This won't be popular with the updaters, and I apologise to them, but you could always cut your EPT costs in half by only sending one of them to each event instead of two?

It also means leaving a laptop, camera, etc., unguarded.  Now I know you press types are all honest  people - but anyone could swipe the equipment whilst their on the floor.

doesn't quite work like that. A lot of the bloggers work on their own.

Not really. I do the updates for Blue Square at the GUKPT's and there are 2 of us. Every site that has media access at the GUKPT also has at least a 2 man team...I believe Blonde had a 3 man team for the grand final.

However, I have also done some APAT updates, mainly on my own, but Des takes all the pics so I don't have to worry about that. It's still a heavy job for one person though, and I'd personally hate to go to somewhere like Prague EPT on my own, where I don't know any of the players.

Must have just been me who blogged on my own at EPTs, then

Like I said, I don't know how they work.  Weren't you doing it for PokerStars?  Didn't they provide you with any support whilst you were there?

[SuffolkPunch]

This won't be popular with the updaters, and I apologise to them, but you could always cut your EPT costs in half by only sending one of them to each event instead of two?

It also means leaving a laptop, camera, etc., unguarded.  Now I know you press types are all honest  people - but anyone could swipe the equipment whilst their on the floor.

doesn't quite work like that. A lot of the bloggers work on their own.

Not really. I do the updates for Blue Square at the GUKPT's and there are 2 of us. Every site that has media access at the GUKPT also has at least a 2 man team...I believe Blonde had a 3 man team for the grand final.

However, I have also done some APAT updates, mainly on my own, but Des takes all the pics so I don't have to worry about that. It's still a heavy job for one person though, and I'd personally hate to go to somewhere like Prague EPT on my own, where I don't know any of the players.

Must have just been me who blogged on my own at EPTs, then

Like I said, I don't know how they work.  Weren't you doing it for PokerStars?  Didn't they provide you with any support whilst you were there?

Look, we're going round in circles here. All I was trying to suggest is that you could halve costs by having one updater and still provide a service

[snoopy1239]

This won't be popular with the updaters, and I apologise to them, but you could always cut your EPT costs in half by only sending one of them to each event instead of two?

It also means leaving a laptop, camera, etc., unguarded.  Now I know you press types are all honest  people - but anyone could swipe the equipment whilst their on the floor.

doesn't quite work like that. A lot of the bloggers work on their own.

Not really. I do the updates for Blue Square at the GUKPT's and there are 2 of us. Every site that has media access at the GUKPT also has at least a 2 man team...I believe Blonde had a 3 man team for the grand final.

However, I have also done some APAT updates, mainly on my own, but Des takes all the pics so I don't have to worry about that. It's still a heavy job for one person though, and I'd personally hate to go to somewhere like Prague EPT on my own, where I don't know any of the players.

Must have just been me who blogged on my own at EPTs, then

Like I said, I don't know how they work.  Weren't you doing it for PokerStars?  Didn't they provide you with any support whilst you were there?

Look, we're going round in circles here. All I was trying to suggest is that you could halve costs by having one updater and still provide a service

I did the 2006 Amsterdam Master Classics on my own and it nearly killed me. It's simply too much work for one person.

[AndrewT]

There's a difference between a blog style update ('Here's what I've seen in the last 20 minutes') and a full Blonde-style interactive update, with updaters taking requests, responding to readers' posts and writing entertaining descriptions of what's going on, in addition to getting correct chiip counts and hand details (which some other sites struggle with - I'm reminded of the disasterous Cardplayer 2006 WSOP updates).

The first can be done by someone on their own - I don't think the second one can without sacrificing something (usually quality and frequency of posts).

[Colchester Kev]

Heres my view ...

The updates are expensive

the updates are popular

the card room and sponsorship pays for the updates

the updates aren't impacting card room revenue

reasons for this are probably the fact that we don't "Sell" blonde at live venues as well as we perhaps could, there is a marketing opportunity that we haven't harnessed and our brand awareness has not been visible enough at venues. with the Big Slick partnership in Ireland, we saw what brand awareness was, and how important it is ...

In short, we pay quite hefty amounts of money on travel and accommodation to provide FREE updates to not just blonde members, but anonymous guests etc. etc. .. there comes a point (like when sponsorship is being reviewed and maybe not renewed) where you have to look at outlay against return ... if the figures don't add up, and there is no one willing to sponsor the updates and make up the shortfall, then the purse strings have to be tightened and revenue targets have to be set and adhered to. IMO it really is that simple.

[vegaslover]

This probably isn't a popular view but I think you should cut back on the number of live updates period. You just don't get anything out of it for your business model. I know blonde isn't just about that but as you are completely and utterly free, people don't even need to sign up to see the updates.
For ones to cut back on then the WSOP, WPT and far flung EPT should all go, as stated there is limited interest in them at the best of times.

[Karabiner]

Heres my view ...

The updates are expensive

the updates are popular

the card room and sponsorship pays for the updates

the updates aren't impacting card room revenue

reasons for this are probably the fact that we don't "Sell" blonde at live venues as well as we perhaps could, there is a marketing opportunity that we haven't harnessed and our brand awareness has not been visible enough at venues. with the Big Slick partnership in Ireland, we saw what brand awareness was, and how important it is ...

In short, we pay quite hefty amounts of money on travel and accommodation to provide FREE updates to not just blonde members, but anonymous guests etc. etc. .. there comes a point (like when sponsorship is being reviewed and maybe not renewed) where you have to look at outlay against return ... if the figures don't add up, and there is no one willing to sponsor the updates and make up the shortfall, then the purse strings have to be tightened and revenue targets have to be set and adhered to. IMO it really is that simple.

You really give the impression of being surprisingly intelligent at times....




For a spud 

[byronkincaid]

Heres my view ...

The updates are expensive

the updates are popular

the card room and sponsorship pays for the updates

the updates aren't impacting card room revenue

reasons for this are probably the fact that we don't "Sell" blonde at live venues as well as we perhaps could, there is a marketing opportunity that we haven't harnessed and our brand awareness has not been visible enough at venues. with the Big Slick partnership in Ireland, we saw what brand awareness was, and how important it is ...

In short, we pay quite hefty amounts of money on travel and accommodation to provide FREE updates to not just blonde members, but anonymous guests etc. etc. .. there comes a point (like when sponsorship is being reviewed and maybe not renewed) where you have to look at outlay against return ... if the figures don't add up, and there is no one willing to sponsor the updates and make up the shortfall, then the purse strings have to be tightened and revenue targets have to be set and adhered to. IMO it really is that simple.

Yes but 90% of it goes on repairing all the accident damage on your company Bentley...

[taximan007]

A very good thread, and most of the reasons for covering tournaments have already been covered. But i will still post my thoughts.

I would imagine the majority of people that join Blonde in the first place, do so because they wish to view an update, reason for this, probably because they have a "friend" playing and want to see how they are doing and pass on good wishes.

The reason Blonde is so good IMO is that it is about community and it is interactive, a big majority of us members know a lot of the players personally, having met, played against them at some stage and therefore wish to know of their progress, we are allowed/encouraged to ask for requests and the 'team" do their best to provide the answers, this is why sometimes it sounds like the "same old faces" all the time.

I follow ALL the updates and as good as the overseas events are, if they don't have "recognised" names in come the latter stages my interest wains slightly, I am sure others feel the same.

Another thing that needs to be considered is the way that the updating team is treated by the event itself, i.e access to the tournament playing area, the feedback here is that it is not always possible to provide the "service" we have come to expect.

I think when the "list of events" to be covered is drawn up, the home grown events are given priority and then dependent on finances left over you decide from past experiences which overseas ones you will attend, ( this is probably done anyway).

On a personal note if it meant the difference between getting the updates and not getting them then I would be more than happy to pay an annual fee to be a member of Blonde ( you don't get much in this life for FREE ).

For those members that feel the updates are not good enough or they are not getting the service they feel they should be, you have no obligation to view Blonde you can always go elsewhere (I don't know where you think you will get better ) it's your choice.

Anyway thats just my thoughts.

I love the Blonde updates and look forward to 2008 very much, so a BIG, BIG thank you to everybody that is involved into bringing them to us in the comfort of our own homes.

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[tikay]

The suggestion of a single Updater is an interesting one, & is noted, & we tried it a long time ago - I began the blonde Updates by Updating Solo, & snoops did a few "solo" I believe. But it's just too demanding for one person, in my opinion. And not fair on the Updaters.

But thanks for the idea, & keep them coming.

I think this thread is giving us the answers we were looking for - most of you seem to prefer the domestic ones. The probable outcome - though I need to chat this through with Rich, the Updaters, & my Management colleagues - is a bit of mix 'n match - mainly domestic, including we hope, DTD, GUKPT & GBPT Events, the blonde-Ireland Events, & a selection of the "better" EPT's. 

[GlasgowBandit]

How about selling advertising space during the live updates?  I am sure some of the big poker sites/casino groups would love to attract the audience that blonde can deliver too - poker enthusiasts, players etc as well as selling some advertising space there could be an affiliate link added to the advert giving blonde more money!!

I'm not a big fan of pop-ups etc but I am sure most blondes wouldn't mind a bit of external spam on the updates if was subtle and not to in your face??

Do blonde staff always wear blonde clothing when they are doing live updates?  Free advertising in the card rooms where they update from is precious isn't it? who s

also I assume players who satelite into events via blonde wear blonde clothing as well?

[TightEnd]

Do blonde staff always wear blonde clothing when they are doing live updates?  Free advertising in the card rooms where they update from is precious isn't it? who s

also I assume players who satelite into events via blonde wear blonde clothing as well?

yes and yes

as to external spam on the updates, a reluctant yes if we had to but we've tried to not go that route

[GlasgowBandit]

Do blonde staff always wear blonde clothing when they are doing live updates?  Free advertising in the card rooms where they update from is precious isn't it? who s

also I assume players who satelite into events via blonde wear blonde clothing as well?

yes and yes

as to external spam on the updates, a reluctant yes if we had to but we've tried to not go that route

How about a small banner for a poker room/casino as a signature for the updaters during a live update?  its not to bad especially if the dimensions werent so in your face.  With a link so if anyone clicks on it then they are directed to that site?  Know doubt these ideas will have been brought up but its money for old rope.  Its not too intrusive and either.

[77dave]

Which updates are peoples favs   which ones create the most traffic?

[TightEnd]

the problem with us accepting any advertising from rival sites is that it could detract from our main revenue generator, our card-room.

Thats the way our business model is compared to say a poker news/forum site which might promote a load of rooms
and get affiliate income from all of them. We have a cardroom and thats where we need our members to be, playing as and when they wish to.

We have accepted third party poker room advertising and sponsorship business in the past (Virgin, Sky, dtd, Full Tilt etc etc)  probably still would do if the terms were attractive, but we'd like to stand on our own two feet and not cut off our nose to spite our face and theoretically encourage you guys to play elsewhere