We’ve made no secret of our love of Scottish football, and there’s no better way to demonstrate that love than sharing it with like-minded fans. This can be a tricky pursuit, however, especially if you’re not in an established football hotspot like Glasgow or Aberdeen. The problem is even greater if you live out in the countryside, where even the most dedicated and diehard supporters can feel like yelling into the wind.
With this in mind, what should fans looking to connect search for, and what actions could be taken to build the football watching or fan group that suits you best?
Audience First
Football fans run the gamut of, let’s say, varied and extremely high levels of passion. Some might prefer the rowdy approach, going all out and expressing outrageous excitement. Others might prefer something a little more restrained, opting to save their energy for the more specific moments. Neither approach is wrong, but different people might bring conflicting energies, which is what we want to avoid so everyone enjoys themselves.
Changing a group that already existed for years can be nearly impossible. If you’re starting from the ground up, however, you have ample opportunities to craft exactly what you want. Understand the environment you want to foster, target that, and you’ll have a better experience going forward.
Give People a Reason to Join
Once you know exactly what you want, the breadth of football fans in Scotland means you’ll have at least a few people whose views on how to watch and enjoy are similar to your own. This doesn’t mean you can expect people to turn to you automatically; you need to give them a reason to join. Every industry in the world understands this as a core component, and while your setup isn’t a business, the concepts remain similar.
Consider, as an example, what goes through the mind of a big business in a competitive marketplace that seeks interaction. Digital betting parlours are perfect demonstrations, with each service taking part in an environment of extreme competition. To succeed, the best platforms lean on a variety of casino offers to entice newcomers. In this case, it’s the likes of free games and deposit bonuses that draw attention. In your case, you’re going to have to target something a little more football-specific.
This could be a high-quality viewing setup with a solid sound system and a comfortable environment for fans. One popular approach is to pair big speakers with a quality projector that you can roll out for the Scottish Premiership. Pair this with comfortable seating and an exclusive invite list, and you’re already head and tails beyond what the average pub can offer. With snacks and drinks, you can take this to the next level, especially if you get specific with catering to each person’s tastes.
Getting the Word Out
Letting people hear about your group could take time, but it’s not an especially difficult task. To start with, you could try local physical message boards in places like supermarkets. From here, creating a Facebook group for your setup and linking to it on local community pages can be extremely helpful. Once you’ve vetted a few people, word of mouth about similarly minded fans can help plug any more gaps in your lineup. Don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t happen right away, and remember that there is a boatload of similarly minded football fans out there looking to share the experience with others. Give it some time and work, and there’s no telling the friendships and opportunities that could develop.