So a couple of recent threads got me to thinking. What can TNA do to improve their product? One rule though. Nothing to do with booking, hiring, or firing. Also since they are having financial problems. Cheap fixes. These aren’t things that will make them competitive with WWE or even put much money in the bank, but things that can change the perception of the company for the better.
There was this program in New York a few years ago where they would go into bad neighborhoods and clean them up. Fix broken windows. Get up garbage. Paint over graffiti. And it worked. Things got better. People started to take pride in where they lived. So they valued it more and the neighborhoods improved. Same idea. Make the casuals and the regular fans see you as caring about the product you put out. Little things matter and they can add to your image in many ways.
1. A few changes to the TNA web site. They have no title history on their site. I know it can be looked up on wikipedia, but I think they need it. It makes it seem like their titles aren't important to them. They need a whole section detailing every title change. If some casual fan stumbles on their website they might be more impressed if they found out Christian, Kurt Angle, RVD, Jeff Hardy, Mick Foley, and Sting have held belts. Makes the company seem more big time and gives the company a legacy that lends credibility.
They need to make sure they keep things updated. Over the past few years I've noticed that if someone leaves the company they leave them up on the roster page for months. Or if someone has an image or gimmick change they don't change the profile. Look on their roster page right now. Hogan is still up on it. Gunner still has a goatee instead of his big beard. Bobby Roode cut his hair a while ago and only recently have they put a pic of him with short hair. It seems lazy not to make small changes to keep the site current.
For the PPV sub site have a history of the PPV. What happened in previous years? Show why this event has been important in the past.
2. If they move back to the Impact zone permanently, take advantage of it. Since your ring and set are in the same place it allows you to be more creative with your setup. You have more time to plan the layout. Have the staff come in and change things up every couple of months. One month have a ramp to the ring. Next month have two entrance tunnels like the old days. Then back to the regular entrance way. Maybe for one month have a six sided ring. Then back to four sides. Make it seem like you company is always changing. It will seem less stale. Someone tunes in after a few months of not watching and sees everything is exactly the same. Subconsciously they may think if everything is the same why do I need to tune in every week? You want them to think they've missed something. Perception is reality and making things look different tricks people into feeling like they are different.
3. In the Small complaint...but major issue thread WrestlingMATTERS brought up a good point. Make PPVs look different from impact. Different sets for PPVs. ring mat, rings skirt, ropes, pads on floor. Demoslasher put up a lot of good ideas on changing the look on the cheap in that thread. Have the announcers dress better. In suits or tuxes. Have the refs wear different outfits for PPV. Loopee suggested white shirts with bow ties. Maybe throw in a TNA logo on the pocket.
4. Get creative with marketing. For example, buy advertising on podcasts. Podcasts adverts are dirt cheap except for the biggest podcasts. Add promo codes for ShopTNA.com specifically for the podcasts.
5. Try to add avenues like Netflix or Hulu. No matter what they’re offered for the content, take it. It's like advertising. People get turned on to shows through Netflix. How many people caught on Breaking Bad or The Walking Dead because of Netflix and then started tuning into AMC? Like someone sees a "You watched CM Punk Best in the World. You might like TNA Best of Bobby Roode". Or they see Best of Kurt Angle and wonder what he's done since leaving WWE. Maybe they watch and get hooked. I know they have a deal with YouTube’s subscription section, but I think Netflix or Hulu would be better to grab new eyes.
So what ideas do you have?