Mediaboss Marketing

I'm not what you would call the most "tech savvy" person on the planet. Both my iPod Touch and smartphone are several years old, and I'm still really not sure what a Klout even is. When I was told about KYCK, which was described to me as "Facebook and Twitter combined, but for soccer fans," I was largely "meh" regarding the service. After all, I already have Facebook and Twitter. Do I really need another social networking tool, one specifically related to soccer?

Yes. It turns out that I do.

On the surface, KYCK really is like a combination of the best parts of Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. You can choose your favorite teams and get news articles regarding those clubs posted onto your feed, follow and interact with players, friends and random fans, and even "check in" at live matches. In short, KYCK is an ideal tool for soccer fans who also use social networking services on a daily (hourly) basis.

Mac Lackey, KYCK founder and company CEO, has soccer in his blood. "I've been a lifelong soccer enthusiast," Lackey told me during a brief chat on Tuesday. "I grew up playing, played my whole childhood, and my dream was to play for a career." He went to college on a soccer scholarship before playing in the USL League, formerly the USISL. With Major League Soccer not yet in existence and a move to Europe "not a realistic option," Lackey found other ways to make a living via the beautiful game. Prior to KYCK, he built and sold four separate companies, including InternetSoccer.com, a "global (soccer) news portal" that he created in the late 90s. With KYCK, Lackey is now looking to bring the world soccer community together like never before.

KYCK, technically in private beta at the moment, is set to (hopefully) officially launch at the end of July 2012. After being tested by a small group, the service was opened up to a larger but still limited audience. After receiving over 500 requests from roughly 26 countries, KYCK reentered a test phase. It is now in the "request process," meaning those looking to join KYCK can either request an invite or be added by a friend who is already using the service.

One KYCK application that I find especially interesting is the "Events" option, which allows users to "check in" at a game. Such event pages list starting elevens and other information regarding that particular match. KYCK users who have linked their Facebook and/or Twitter accounts with the service will share that event page via their other social networking accounts, allowing individuals not on KYCK to view the event page. KYCK users will also have the opportunity to discuss the match with other fans via the event page. Potential users worried about spamming their Facebook and Twitter feeds with KYCK links should know that users can choose which non-event check-in posts are shared via their other social networking accounts.

Current KYCK users should notice two major improvements to the service in the near future. Videos that are shared via KYCK will be embedded on account feeds, allowing users to watch that video without having to navigate to that file's home website. The biggest change that's coming is what Lackey referred to as "media layers." "Right now, if you're on KYCK, there is your feed...a very traditional feed (comparable to what you'll see on Twitter), and this area called Top KYCKS," Lackey explained. "That is based upon your preferences (teams and user accounts you follow on KYCK). Right now, you have to switch between the two feeds. In the upcoming Version 3, the screen is split 60-40. 60 percent will be your feed, but 40 percent is your real-time content." The 40 percent portion will include both content that deals with teams you have selected to follow, as well as news items that are trending on KYCK.

The mobile KYCK application is a must for users who also own an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Photos and videos can be uploaded to your account directly through the mobile app. Coming soon, the app will also be taking the check-in feature to a new level. Upon checking in via the app (once the latest version of KYCK is launched), you will be informed of other KYCK users who are also attending that match. Lackey told me that he's also interested in working with pubs and other establishments that are close to stadiums in order to inform users of the KYCK app about soccer-related food and drink specials in a particular area, as well as about meet-ups occurring before and after a match. The KYCK app is currently free, although there may eventually be an "enhanced version" sometime down the road.

KYCK isn't just for fans. Lackey told me that several players, such as Jozy Altidore and Omar Cummings, have accounts, and that the company will be reaching out to more players once the service is officially launched.

After playing around on the KYCK website for a brief amount of time, I have to say that I'm both very impressed with the current product, and that I'm also looking forward to the launch of Version 3. Social networking websites are how soccer fans from all over learn about breaking news and how they locate articles, and it's very useful to have one place to find such posts without having to scroll past comments regarding somebody's lunch or pictures of my friend's dog. It doesn't matter if you support a club that plays in Major League Soccer, the English Premier League, Serie A, La Liga or any other professional organization. There's something for all soccer fans on KYCK.

Continue reading here:
KYCK: The Social Networking Tool for the Soccer World