Social Networking Now Show from Feb 25th includes interview with the CEO ServicePals. Listen at WebmasterRadio.fm or Download Radio Show
SNW INTERVIEW -- Dec 20 -- ServicePals.com serves the forces in the UK. It’s run by Gus Goodall. I interviewed him to find out more about ServicePals and where he’s steering the site. - Mark Brooks
What is your background Gus?
I served 22 years in the British Army. I kind of fell into web development and web design in the closing years of my Army career. The Army rooked me into web design/creating welfare packages for the armed services and fortunately they became quite successful. The Army started using the internet for contacting families while the guys were out on operational tours. I finished my Army career as the Senior Web Designer for the British Army.
What inspired you to start ServicePals?
I kind of jumped on board rather then found it. The main founder was Ross Williams. They needed someone who had the military know how. The site is basically refining itself now because it’s never really had a military background.
How do you plan to refine the site to be more specific to the military community?
I think it’s a question of look and feel. There is going to be some sort of military presence, the military colors – the Army red, the RAF and Navy blue. The tone of voice and use of localized military jargon will add to the military feel but not so much as to detract from the whole social networking environment and associated membership we have!”
What do people use it for?
At the moment, contacting lost friends. Unfortunately we’re in such a mobile world in the military that you move every 2 to 3 years and you just lose touch with people. ServicePals has a database of 130,000 plus people now. Most of my, ex-Army colleagues have at some point stumbled across ServicePals. We’ve got numerous testimonies from users saying they’ve contacted people from 40 or 50 years back and longer.
Who would you regard as your closest and most respected competition?
If I was brutally honest, probably no one. We do have views of going to the US, Australian, South African and New Zealand markets and I suppose Military.com in America is going to be our biggest competition should we approach the USA.
How is ServicePals differentiated from the likes of Military.com?
Military.com is very American. The American market is different, the whole set up, everything is abbreviated, it’s very black and white, there is no real design spec for any American military site.
Being a soldier for 22 years what you worry most about is security. I want to provide an online platform for soldiers to talk in a secure environment. And that’s why it’s going to be constantly monitored as opposed to anything out there including Military.com which probably have a very large audience but very small moderation.
What is ServicePals going to look like in a year’s time?
The site is in development and it will constantly be in development. Also we’re going to get involved with charities. We’re already involved with the British Legion.
At the moment our demographic is about 55 years old. Most of our members are somewhere around that age and absolutely love it. They arrange reunions, they get in touch with their old comrades and they’re constantly on the forums. It’s been successful and we’ll continue to move on as long as the audience requires it. We have just been endorsed by General Sir Anthony Walker KCB (Former Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff).
