Boston Restaurant crushes Cinco de Mayo with an epic pig roast:

Boston Restaurant crushes Cinco de Mayo with an epic pig roast:

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So Cinco de Mayo fell on a Sunday and you always want your restaurant to celebrate it right and profitably… Chef Michael Schlow knew how to do it when he threw a huge pig roast at Tico.

Sure enough hundreds of Bostonians showed up to partake  including yours truly.

There is something about a whole pig, expertly roasting in the middle of a party that makes it that much better.

On both fun and business accounts this idea was a huge success, from the crispy skin to the demolished piñatas there wasn’t a sad face in the crowd.

I am Spirocks on Twitter.
Filed Under: Boston, Restaurant Marketing Tagged With: ,
Instagram for Restaurant Marketing

Instagram for Restaurant Marketing

So you know instagram, land of self centered duck faced ‘selfies’ and look where I am rub in your face pics from your connections.

But you know what it works great for?

Food.

Its simple really, when people see food they want to eat it, and when they see a restaurant consistently post food pics that they want, it leads to them visiting.

Tips:

Be passionate about your food, pictures of poor food will have poor results.

Be pragmatic about how much you share, five dishes a week is one thing five in a hour is another.

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Find me on instagram or twitter (@spirocks)
To see how I am doing it for Andolinis and Sauce in Andover Ma.

I am Spirocks on Twitter.
Filed Under: Facebook, Local Market Strategy, Restaurant Marketing, Tools Tagged With:
Video Marketing Example for Restaurants

Video Marketing Example for Restaurants

We are always looking to find ways to use video for restaurant marketing.

Each video has a common goal which is to highlight that which makes the restaurant unique, and when you use video to market your restaurant you should do the  same. Where video stands head and shoulders above the other mediums you may choose is the human aspect, you get a feel for the person in the video and that is a key part of connecting with your audience. I have said this before but you can not be marketing the fact that you have food and drink. If you are doing that you are wasting your time. Most likely there is a subway or other processed food vendor that is selling cheap calories somewhere around you.

They have food and drink.

Your restaurant marketing should be about the things that set you apart, the one of a kind things that make your restaurant a unique destination and a value to the community that it is in. One thing that makes it that way is the people who make and serve the food and drink, it is their passion for the process and the end product that is of interest and value to the audience. Your restaurant marketing should be highlighting these things, and naturally the food and drink will be noted.

Here is and example of Video Marketing for Restaurants:

As you can see, this is as much about Lindsay, and the Process, as the product. It is an invitation to come see her and the rest of the staff. Video allows a window into what it would be like to sit at the bar and have Lindsay make a cocktail for you, it is personal and only possible in person or on video.

Have you used video for your business marketing or are you thinking about it? If you want ideas for how it could work for your particular business, just ask, its what I love to do.

I am Spirocks on Twitter.
Filed Under: Local Market Strategy, Restaurant Marketing Tagged With: , ,
Kaskade Demonstrates Why To Blog

Kaskade Demonstrates Why To Blog

I blog.

I do it here.

I also do it for my other businesses, Andolinis Italian Restaurant, and Sauce Wings.

I do it so I can talk directly to my customers and extended audience.

No filters, no reporting, no mistakes, and no doubt that I mean to say what I do. Thats the affect of this medium, its me, talking to you. But the truth is I dont have a terribly big podium to speak from so maybe you discount the whole blogging thing. As if its not that valuable a tool to communicate what I am doing, and what I think needs to be said.

What if I stood in front of an audience like this and I still chose to blog to get my thoughts across?

What if I had topped billboard charts, was paid $200k a concert, and had sold millions of albums? 

That would make my audience pretty large, and much like Kaskade’s.

Why then would I turn to a blog to get my ideas across, when magazines, radio stations, and crowds would assemble to see and hear me? His reason for blogging is the same as why I do it, so that his message can be delivered in his words, exactly as he intends it.

Recently when the LA Times attacked the Electronic Dance Music scene, (EDM) Kaskade didn’t do an interview on SIRIUS BPM or rant at a concert, he took to his blog to effectively and directly take issue with what he felt was unfair criticism. Here is a snippet:

As far as a music culture goes, EDM is the one who will accept the kids on the outliers, the ones who get bullied, the ones who feel like they may not quite fit in. This community is exceptional in its ability to bond all types together, and I am not exaggerating when I say it saves lives. Our audience is intelligent and kind, discriminating only in regards to which sound they like best. Our audience is unprecedented in their drive to proactively support each other.

There’s your story, LA Times. Do the world a favor and dig into that for a change, punks.

Read the whole post here: Kaskade

Whatever way you look at it, delivering your message, on your terms, in your words has value. Building that connection with your audience however big or small, can only lead to you and your business being better understood. Whether you are standing up for a group of people, or explaining a new product, nothing is left to interpretation when you blog.

So, Can you still afford not to?

 

 

I am Spirocks on Twitter.
Filed Under: Just Think, Local Market Strategy Tagged With: , ,
Instagram Used for Small Business Marketing

Instagram Used for Small Business Marketing

Instagram is a powerful tool for your business, three reasons:

  1. It is simple to use for both the business and the consumer.
  2. It is visual and addictive.
  3. It is integrated with all the big players on the social media landscape.

So why isn’t every business using it?

Most likely they are unaware of how useful it can be. So today we are going to take a look at how it can be used by examining one of the best at using it. Ronnie Fieg.

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Ronnie Fieg, owner of KITH NYC, which is in Ronnie’s words:

 I tried to create a friendly and personal environment with the highest quality footwear and attire for any occasion. I want people to come into the store and leave with a dope pair of shoes, and a feeling that they are a part of something special.

Ronnie Fieg is an Instagram Luminary, Here is Why:

His use of Instagram is a three pronged success. First, his focus is clean, it is approximately 90% shoes and accessories and 10% lifestyle.  His followers know what to expect and a simple scroll through his images delivers. The second prong is the quality of his images, as a designer that is to be expected, but the originality of his images reflect his devotion to the shoe culture that he is an ambassador of and the urban backdrops and features of his images resonates with his audience and lends veracity to his visual messages that are lost on so many corporate accounts. Thirdly he isn’t hyping shit, his products are exclusive, original, unique pieces that he has hand picked or created. That prong may sound the most daunting to learn from, and it should, marketing can not solve any issue that a shitty product creates. What your business needs to find is the message that is unique to itself. What makes you better, brighter, more effective? What do you offer that people should want even if they don’t know it yet?

Ronnie Fieg knows that answer.

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His followers, which number north of 39,000 as of today, are living proof that there is an audience for marketing on Instagram. It isn’t in your face deals and promos that I am talking about, it is eye catching imagery, unique subject matter, and the use of the system to let it it be known that his shop has something you might want. Today, for a limited time. Find him on Instagram at RonnieFieg.

As for you and your business. First know your value, then frame it and share it.

I am @spirocks on Instagram.

I am Spirocks on Twitter.
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:
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