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 href="http://www.profitablehospitality.com/members/department58.cfm" target="_new">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!