#286 - Don't be Boring: Sharing the News & Looking Good in 2010
Customers want fresh, not stale, and for a few weeks, people are asking 'what's new this year?' Let's face it, the 'news' from most restaurants and bars is just a sell-job: BOOK NOW, new wine list, 10% off for groups over 500 etc. A little is OK, but it's often ignored: you need regular fresh content and new angles to attract attention. Start the year with a splash...
So what's new?
- Our favourite local events coming up over the next few months
- A walk down our street - this month's 'special place'
- Our best selling menu item last week...what a surprise!
- Photos from the Christmas events - link to your photo collection
- What we found at the markets yesterday...
- Customer bloopers - our recent favourites (be nice!)
- Our favourite iPhone applications
- Meet the local wine supplier/butcher/vegetable supplier etc
- Staff Profile of the month - Peter Tran/Danni Smith etc
- Our fifth annual customer awards - list of prizes for 'customer with best smile', 'customer with most food knowledge', 'customer most passionate about food', 'customer who most loves their Blackberry' etc
- Green is our favourite colour - new ways that we're saving money and energy
- Why we're using Twitter and how to find us there
- Birthday of the business - don't know when that is? Make it up!
- Interesting hobbies and sporting activities of a staff member
- Our chef's favourite cookbooks and latest purchase
- The chef's favourite knives - brand and type
- The bar staff's favourite cocktail ingredients and why
- What the staff really think about Jamie Oliver
- Two words on the menu that no-one knows how to pronounce
- Information about where our coffee beans come from
- Make friends with us on Facebook - here's how
- Fun Fact of the Week: if you stacked up all the burger buns we serve in a month, it would reach...etc
How to spread the word quickly:
- Start simple today - on the blackboard or plasma screen
- In a one-page newsletter - print or using email
- A small news slip with the account (3 to a page and cut them up)
- Letterbox drop in your neighbourhood (usually quite cheap)
- On a free or local online event site
- In the window - who says the only thing you can display is the menu?
Yes - there's lots of great material for your 4-hour Marketing Manager.
Remember: Perfection can be the Enemy of Progress. If you've been agonising for months about how to do a newsletter, stop! Just get it up on the blackboard. Constipation does not create sales, but customer interest and chit-chat does...
Smart Staff Management with Profitable Hospitality Resources:
220+ Staff Management Forms & Documents - standard industry formats ready to use.
Staffing & Human Resources Dept is a goldmine of indepth information and advice.
Employment Law Changes in Australia: we've added new content to keep you informed on the latest changes.
1st Class Membership for 2010 - a Gift to Yourself with wide-ranging information and resources in every area, it's an investment with a fast return - Join Online Now or by Fax or Invoice.
Check margins with Profitable Recipe Manager. On CD or instant download - accurate recipe costing is another essential 'business basic'.
2009 & 2010 Training & Events Calendar NEW: 25 Great Ways to Promote your Hospitality Business Online - Melbourne 15 March, Sydney 7 April, Brisbane 14 April - full day workshops.
NEW: 25 Great Ways to Promote your Club Online - Sydney: 17 February 2010 - full day workshop.
NEW: Food & Beverage Alive: Queensland 2010 23-24 March 2010 in Brisbane. Two intensive days for club professionals.
Starting a Cafe or Restaurant Workshop 27 February in Sydney; 13 March 2010 in Melbourne
With warm regards -
Connect with Ken Burgin on Twitter!
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Restaurant Management
