At the NRA Show this year, one of the most exciting attractions was the Tech Pavilion: a hub for all things technology-related — from cutting-edge digital marketing solutions to smart software that can help restaurants track customer behavior and consumption patterns. To add to the diverse array of product demonstrations at the Pavilion, attendees of
5 Tips on How to Make Video Work for Your Restaurant
Video killed the radio star. If this savvy adage sounds familiar to you, you might have been watching burgeoning music television in 1980. But whether or not you know the song, the truth of it still holds. The advent of video-making did separate the music industry into two groups: those who held tightly to older
Pay to Play? Paid Online Advertising for Restaurants
The Internet has expanded the ways small businesses can reach out to potential new customers, and in no way is that more true than with social media. Restaurants who succeed with online marketing use social media to attract new customers and engage with past guests. 51.2 percent of Rewards Network restaurants reported that social media
5 Ways Restaurants Can Capitalize on Black Friday
Black Friday. For American retailers, the day after Thanksgiving can be an exceptionally profitable or nightmarish time of the year, depending on how well managers and staff have planned for the day. From advertising to crowd management, it’s likely the most stressful day of your staff’s year, if you let it become that. But it’s
Timing: When is Social Media Marketing for Restaurants Smart?
You get it – you know your restaurant needs to be active on social media. Whether Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram, these platforms are great (and free) tools for social media marketing for restaurants, allowing you to promote your business to an engaged consumer audience. But it’s not just tech-savvy 20-somethings and teens using these
The Secret to Eating Like a Local When You Travel
We’ve been there: It’s day three of your trip, and you’re rocking that relaxed vacation vibe like no other. But you’ve also tried every concierge-recommended restaurant within walking distance of your hotel — and you’re already tired of each and every one. What’s a visitor looking to completely soak up the culture of their new
Why Smart Restaurateurs Are on Social Media
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: We’re living in a digital age, a time when nearly everyone is online — and increasingly so. It’s no longer a question of whether your restaurant should be on social media. Now, it’s just a question of how you can leverage social media for your business.
How to Stay in Business for 90 Years and Counting
The iconic Lexington Candy Shop, a luncheonette at the heart of New York’s Upper East Side, is turning 90 this year and life couldn’t be sweeter. Owner operated for three generations, the sustained success of this restaurant is remarkable in an industry continuously seeking to reinvent itself. So how does a restaurant, especially a traditional
How to Show Your Employees You Appreciate Them
Mark your calendar for a special holiday tomorrow – Employee Appreciation Day! This isn’t just a day of recognition designed only for Corporate America, though. It’s a day set aside to acknowledge all employees from all industries, including restaurants. From my 7 years of experience working in Chicago-area restaurants and bars, I know it’s important
Ahead of the Curve: Making the Most of Scheduling Your Social Media
Have you ever looked at your competitors’ Twitter or Facebook pages and thought, “Who has time to log in every few hours to post and respond to comments?” We know that with everything that goes into running a restaurant, you certainly don’t. But the truth is, most of those social media mavens out there don’t
