Restaurant Marketing Ideas Blog

Salty's Restaurant Marketing vs. GuestPulse and Social Media

Share

 

One of my favorite restaurants is at Salty's Seafood Grill Restaurant in Redondo Beach. (Des Moines, Washington).  I am also a fan of GuestPulse and Gary Tripp of Inside Hospitality (Who is also recommended by Jeffrey Summers from RestaurantWorx.  I listen to Jeffrey and you can too at Hospitality101Radio.) 

If you can stay with me for a moment because this is not a plug.  (Even though I just plugged Salty's Restaurant, GuestPulse AND RestaurantWorx.)

Since I no longer own a restaurant, I miss some of the good times when I can play around and test the fun stuff.  I can't resist any longer, I am now testing GuestPulse personally.  

This will be a personal challenge as I use my expertise in Inbound Marketing, restaurant marketing, guerrilla marketing, magic marketing and tricks up my sleeve.  I will be using Twitter, Facebook, Stumble, Blogging and commenting on Blogs.  The bag of magic marketing is pretty deep and I will be pulling out all the tricks of the trade.  Rather than wait for the news about Salty's Restaurant, I will be using social media tools to create a buzz.  Well, at least a mini-buzz.  After all, I am but one person.

This is not a restaurant marketing plan, it is but an outline.  A simpler format to share.

The purpose:  

• Shine on Salty's Restaurant. 
• Create more traffic; Get more eyeballs; Get more clicks to Salty's in Redondo Beach.   Shine the benefits of GuestPulse.  
• Prove the value of Social Media.
• Show the benefits of a tools like GuestPulse from Inside Hospitality.
• Show how someone brand new to GuestPulse can get up and running quickly to maximize its use.
• Give a real example to those restaurant owners and managers in need of how to get it done.
• Help you "get it" as you watch the good and bad, the success and failure first hand.
• Show how to get it done in less time and have fun along the way.
• Make a point that every business is in danger of an excessive fan.

How:

• Two hours a week (15 minutes at a time)
  
• - Just about the same pattern as found in a restaurant.
• Blogging about it here does not count.  
• Inbound Marketing, Social Media, Restaurant Marketing Savvy, Magic Marketing.
  
• Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs, Stumbleupon, and other Bookmarking sites.
• A few tricks I know  --  Don't worry, you will find them out. 
• "Free" - (no cash) 

Why:

• Nuts (That's me)
• To empower those in need to improve business and are willing.
• To take a stand and make a point. (See the warning below)
• To inspire you to take action (15 minutes at a time)
• To remove risk for those who have low cash and no time to do R&D.
  

What's in it for me:

• Satisfaction. 
  
• This has to be pure otherwise the purpose will get twisted.  The principle of making decisions based on People, Purpose, Profit must be included with the first 2 P's the priority.  Profit is a symptom. If I can help you, Salty's who will pay it forward, Gary at GuestPulse, etc., then that is my satisfaction.  Sometimes that is all that is needed.  Knowing that you are doing the right thing.
• This is my candy and one of my top five passions: All things marketing.  Thus I get to enjoy my candy and share both the good and bad.
• Call it a "Internet Reality Show" if you want.  

What you Get:

• Low risk trial.  Watch the success and failure and apply the results to your operation.
• Opportunity to ask specific questions via blog.
• 
  

Measures of Success:

• Website Grader
• Facebook Grader
• Twitter Grader
• Alexa Rank
• Backlinks to Salty's Website
• Buzz on Internet (via GuestPulse)

Barriers:

• Brand new to GuestPulse
• Not employed by Salty's and no access to any accounts
• Two Hours a week. 
• Budget is zero. (ok I might spend $10)
  

What I won't do:

1. Promote seafood restaurant competitors of Salty's for 90 days.
2. Say derogatory things about competitors.
3. Share the negative comments from Social Media about Salty's.
4. Share any private responses to comments I become aware of.

Will Google Alert get it faster and better than Guest Pulse?

I should mention:  Even if it does, Google services stop at the notice where GuestPulse organizes, shows graphs, and allows searching for specific terms within the comments.

Can GuestPulse prove to have the inside scoop better than SocialOomph for Twitter alerts?

Again, GuestPulse is more than a "notification service" but it will be fun to watch. 

Will Salty's Seafood Grill Restaurant team appreciate my odd sense of commitment and appreciation? 

I hope so.  How will they respond to the unexpected comments that will crop up?  That is to be seen and their responses will remain private.  

Is Social Media the Answer?

This is not really about social media though it will be a major tool in the arsenal.  If you subscribe to the blog and follow along, you will understand the five W's as I share.  If there are questions or comments?  The blog will be a great place to get interaction going.  I will answer every comment.

Can an outsider be an influence?

Is it possible for one crazy fan to improve the ranking and visibility of a restaurant business.  I say it is.  If it can be done for the good?  THEN BE WARNED THAT IT CAN BE DONE FOR THE BAD.

If a person can influence and move the bar online of a restaurant business to the good having knowledge with a tool like GuestPulse?  Would this help you make better decisions about your business?

This is NUTS - It Doesn't Matter!

There will be people who will say I am nuts.  "Don't give it away".  If everyone knows, then you will have competition.  Nope.  Even after I show the results, few will take action.  Most will sit and think and wonder how and why.  This is nothing new to me.  It takes about six months to a year for people to catch up and by then I have moved on.

Won't the Competition Use This?

Will Salty's Restaurant have competition as others learn from this and copy cat the processes to get the results?  You would think so but the answer is NO.  Very few will follow along.  It is strange but true.  Too little time, energy, belief or maybe they just don't care enough.  I will not be helping any other Seafood restaurants in the vicinity during the next 90 days.  My focus is exclusive to Salty's.  After that?  We shall see. 

Your Prediction?

What do you think is going to happen?  Get your crystal ball out.  Put your forecast in the comment below.  How important is Social Media and the Internet?  Can it help a business?  (I know it can and will show you how)

Off to the RACES.  Really Awesome Challenges Everyone Sees.