Status Update: Kendo on Facebook

Alan Thomson, GB Squad Member and the new BKA Events Officer has just created a Facebook Group for people doing kendo in the UK. He says that the BKA website will be undergoing an update and so if you want to be kept up-to-date with the most recent news to sign up. Any problems let me know and I'll 'add you' in.

And for those that didn't know Liverpool Kendo Club is also on Facebook some of you may check your status update every five minutes and this website, erm, never. However through some arcane jiggery-pokery I have linked this news blog and our Google Calendar RSS to the group. Every time we post anything here it is mirrored on the group so you can still keep in touch with what's going on if you join the Group.

'So DO IT! DO IT NOW!'

Getting to Hope University for the BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai

For all those travelling to Hope University by car and in particular those coming from the M62. Currently there are roadworks in one direction at Taggart Avenue so the best approach is via the Five Ways Roundabout on the A5058 taking Childwall Priory Road. You will come to a triangular shaped roundabout which you can only go one way until you double back to Taggart Avenue. I will adjust the Google map to show what I'm talking about.

Additionally I've been told there should be a refectory open on campus for light food should anyone not bring a packed lunch.

Just checking

As in previous posts I've stated I will always try to keep the Club Calendar up-to-date. Sometimes this isn't always possible so if you have any doubts if Kata, or even normal Wednesday practice, is on then please ask on the forum. I check it numerous times a day in case there any questions from members that need answering so please make use of it.

I would rather answer a simple question on the day and save someone some hassle than field a phone call at 7:30 in the evening where one of you is alone in Crosby going 'where is everyone?', only to worry how you're going to get home and what a wasted journey you've had. Yes, they know who they are ;) So any question, no matter how trivial - ask. We are keen to get the forum used more to ensure that questions can be asked all week, not on a Wednesday when really we should be practicing instead of chatting.

Beginner's Night 26th January 2011

Just to remind everyone that Wednesday is Beginner's Night. For existing members please try to be on time so we can get ready and please bring any spare shinai you have.

Beginners please be in the dojo no later than 7:15pm so we can go through all the Health and Safety aspects. Please remember to wear loose fitting clothes, tracksuit pants or three-quarter shorts are ideal. For more information click the Beginners link on the website. Just a reminder that your first session is free and if you cannot manage it this week then we will only accept new beginners up to February 2nd [next week]. If you miss these dates anyone wishing to start kendo will have to wait until the next Beginner's Night in April. The 2011 Beginner's Nights are provisionally:

• Wednesday January 26, 2011
• Wednesday April 27, 2011
• Wednesday July 27, 2011
• Wednesday October 26, 2011

Status Update: Liverpool Kendo Club on Facebook

For those that didn't know Liverpool Kendo Club is also on Facebook some of you may check your status update every five minutes and this website, erm, never. However through some arcane jiggery-pokery I have linked this news blog and our Google Calendar RSS to the group. Every time we post anything here it is mirrored on the group so you can still keep in touch with what's going on if you join the Group.

'So DO IT! DO IT NOW!'

Kata Monday

Sensei didn't get chance to say but it is Kata on Monday, the first of 2011. Please attend, although I will be otherwise engaged. A reminder will go up on the Liverpool Kendo Google Calendar later this week so if you haven't already put it in your RSS reader then do so. If you need help with any of this ask on the forum and I'll direct you. These communications tools are really important particularly over the coming year, please make every available opportunity to engage with them so you know what's going on, thank you.

Google Advert

A while back I registered Liverpool Kendo Club as a business with Google. This means when you zoom into The Egg on Google Maps we have a little marker that hopefully has been seen by people browsing the area [7420 views since I set it up in June and 562 clicks for 'More info' or click-thru to our website!]. This then links through to another page in Google Places which has a descritption, links, reviews, pictures and videos of the club to drive traffic to our Beginner's Nights. Hopefully it has, the success of our recent Beginner's Nights back this up. Although not many people [here I mean none] have filled in my simple survey to find out how they discovered the club.

One of the unexpected benefits of this was Google sent us a £50 voucher for Google Adwords. So I set up a campaign to advertise our upcoming Beginner's Night on Wednesday 26th January. Half the voucher will be used to promote this event, the other half will be used to promote the British Kendo Association Kyusha Taikai and Seminar we're hosting in Liverpool on April 2nd and 3rd.

So, if you do a Google search [or map search] for 'Liverpool' and 'kendo', for instance, you might see a little box at the top of your search results saying:

Liverpool Kendo Club
Learn the Japanese Martial art of
Kendo free Beginners Night 26.01.11
www.liverpoolkendo.co.uk

So far there have been over 1,400 views of this advert in 3 days, which isn't bad and that translates to 7 clicks through to our website. It's very exciting and when I see the advert I do get an urge to click it myself. I shouldn't have to explain to you all but this would be a mistake. Every click costs part of the advertising budget. So, I would ask if you do see the advert you now know what's going on behind the scenes and please resist the temptation to click it.

It's almost as if we're actually getting organised with stuff!