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Marketing, Websites & Selling Online

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Edward, Mar 2, 2009.

  1. Edward

    Edward Member

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    I'm interested to find out how other lines, especially the larger ones go about the above activities.

    Do you find it's possible to put your publicity material together with a group of volunteers? Or do you find that it is essential to retain the services of one specialist agency in order to get the required "brand identity?"

    Is your website run "in house?" Can you attract enough suitable volunteers to keep it fully updated, and of a suitably professional standard?

    Do you attempt to sell online? Can you book tickets, diner seats, footplate courses, etc remotely? Do you sell other products online too? The NYMR has an Ebay shop - I've got my views on that, which I'm not about to go into on here. Do any other lines attempt to sell by this means?

    Be interested to see what comes back. Thanks for your time in responding,

    Ed
     
    Edward, Mar 2, 2009
    #1
  2. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    I’m a member of the SVR http://www.svr.co.uk/, but hold no position and don’t speak for them. The following is basic information and unofficial.

    It has a very active marketing manager, John Leach. I’m afraid I don’t know if it uses an outside agency.

    It has a director as editor of its magazine.

    If I understand correctly it does not host its own site – it uses another organisation to host it.

    It is of a suitably professional standard, and fully updated.

    It has a marketing manager (see above). I’m aware it also uses a volunteer to load certain news items.

    Tickets are now available for all services EXCLUDING 'Santa Special' trains. Its online shop “is in development and will be available soon”. I don't think it sells dining car seats, footplate courses or other products online.

    Any errors are mine. I hope this helps.

    Regards

    Patrick
     
    D1039, Mar 2, 2009
    #2
  3. Small Prairie

    Small Prairie Part of the furniture

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    Ive found with the MHR , there website is very well kept and has very little down time ( ive never looked on it and found anything wrong )

    Tony Wood , who looks after it i think is just a vollenter with a computer but dont quote me on that .

    Tickets are very easy to buy on the site both normal service trains and specials / galas etc .

    So i think its possible , just needs some work being put into it to get it going in the first place
     
    Small Prairie, Mar 2, 2009
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