Social Media

Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Your Cafe or Restaurant

September 27, 2020 No Comments

It’s an important annual event in October and might be forgotten with all the COVID issues on our minds. It’s had less publicity in the last few years but is no less valued – we all have mothers, sisters, daughters and friends who have been affected. The purpose of the month is to raise money for breast cancer medical care and research. It also raises awareness of an issue that affects tens of thousands of

How to Use Special Weeks for Cafe & Restaurant Marketing

September 2, 2020 No Comments

The Aussie Artisan Week promoted by Pepe Saya Buttery got me thinking about how else the ‘Week of…’ idea could be used for interesting promotions. They can be short and punchy, and bring in outsiders or employees, or run with different food & beverage themes – an easy way to create some restaurant marketing action. Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with so far. Run the week over 5 days or 7, and

Real not Fake: How to Build a Positive Reputation for Yourself and your Restaurant

July 31, 2020 No Comments

Customer BS radar is on high alert – they’re swamped with hype, and can learn a lot about your business before they even visit. Have you googled your name and business lately? Make those buzz-words ‘transparency’ and ‘integrity’ your marketing advantage – share real, honest information about the management team, staff and daily activities. Consumers find ‘behind the scenes’ of hospitality endlessly fascinating, so give them facts to feast on. Keep the Menu Honest: is

Nat shares his dislike of crap food, and millions agree…

May 18, 2020 No Comments

What is it about Nat the muso cook that people love? [warning: lots of swearing]. He’s raw and real (his dad was a chef), he hates fake food, and he’s getting media attention. What can we translate from this into restaurant & cafe land? Enthusiasm ✅, energy ✅, love of real food ✅, potty mouth 🤔. … I asked a bunch of restaurant mates if Nat actually helps the industry: Absolutely yes I love him.

How Restaurant & Cafe Owners Can Learn from Sport Teams and Violin Players

April 27, 2020 No Comments

What can sporting clubs and a classical violinist teach us about staying in touch with our customers? And not just ‘don’t forget me’ messages, but spending this time of enforced separation to build their love, enthusiasm and loyalty? Two widely contrasting social media posts landed in my feed recently – one from ‘sports fan engagement specialist’ Blair Hughes, and the other from young violinist rock star Ray Chen. Blair is a lifelong sports nut, and

My interview on hospitality and the Coronavirus crisis – Sky News Australia, March 21, 2020

March 21, 2020 No Comments

I had a short interview on Sky News today about the state of the hospitality industry. I was given four questions to consider, and prepared some bullet point reminders. In the event, only the first three were asked… and I was relaxed! 1. You’ve been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. What we’re seeing right now is unprecedented – what should restaurant & cafes owners be doing? Communicate like never before with

Taking the Stress & Shame Out of Self Promotion

February 24, 2020 No Comments

Where did we learn that self promotion is a bad thing, and why do we accept that as the truth? Marie Forleo feels you should feel ashamed if you don’t promote your skills and achievements. This should resonate with people in hospitality – by definition most of us have to be ‘out there’ with the public and promoting the next event, tomorrow’s lunch or just an extra round of coffees. In many small operations, the

Be careful with fundraising – protect your reputation…

January 6, 2020 No Comments

The bushfire catastrophe in Australia has gripped the nation, and the world! It’s truly horrifying with the loss of life, buildings, businesses, forests and native animals. It’s natural that there’s an outpouring of generosity and fundraising – many cafes are raising money by collecting tips, donating money from every drink sold or even a day of profits. And… where there is money in large quantities, there are risks. Transparency and squeaky-clean care are essential when

Simple Ways to be a ‘Hospitality Thought Leader’ and Build Your Reputation

May 8, 2018 No Comments

A recent comment on LinkedIn got me thinking: “LinkedIn is an amazing B2B lead generating tool, but if you are not actively reaching out to prospects and showcasing your thought leadership through regular posting it’s unlikely that you will generate any quality leads…” ‘Thought Leader’ – I can’t say I love the term, but I realised there are many ways to share ideas and observations, so people become interested in your experience and opinions. You

Make LinkedIn More Effective: for Chefs, Restaurant Managers & Owners

April 26, 2018 No Comments

Want to be taken seriously as a professional? A good LinkedIn profile is essential, and this means more than just dumping your CV into a new location. LinkedIn for Restaurants, Cafes and Foodservice can be a powerful marketing channel. People who want to know more about you for a job, as a referee or even for a presenting opportunity will always Google your name. Your LinkedIn profile will appear high up on the first search

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