Last August 22, we had some fun with screen shots of the Empire’s lousy website. Gotta say, the Empire has responded to our biting commentary (of course we take full credit!) with not just an update, but a complete web overhaul.
Without any splash screen, you are immediately informed of upcoming shows at the club. Don’t even have to wade through the week preceding’s shows! There’s forums, and videos, and probably most uniquely, a way to make your own personal page or group. It’s now almost like its own Facebook for Portland’s musicians. It is a feature that seems to be painfully under-utilized – perhaps Facebook, on top of MySpace, and actual websites – is enough effort to maintain, but we stamp a fat A for effort on this new site’s forward thinking. What better way to feel connected to a local club than to have your own identity for all to see? There’s even google ads targeted at exactly what we want: we just got a new DVD about sexy dance moves that will surely make its way quickly around the Portland Point office!
The framework for a vibrant plugged-in community is there, perhaps the folks at the Empire could let its patrons know about their cool little site. Put some flyers out on the bar: Have you created your own Empire profile yet? No? Why the hell not? Get the hell out you scalliwag!
We’d suggest they get their marketing department to come up with a zingier slogan, but a little in-house ad campaign to promote the site can’t hurt. Even better, take a page from twitter’s book and let people link their Facebook to their Empire profile! Well, that could be taking it too far.
Kudos to Empire for plowing onward into the 21st century and exploiting the internet’s unique ability to attempt something new.
